Category Archives: recalls

Another Two Honda Recalls for Fires and Tailgate Struts

Honda is experiencing something similar to Toyota’s well publicized quality meltdown. During the past year or so, Honda has issued more than 26 public statements about various safety defects and recalls in the U.S. The question remains will NHTSA fine Honda, absent the high profile, highly critical Congressional hearings that Toyota and NHTSA endured, or the egregious behavior of BMW that NHTSA just called out? Last week NHTSA fined BMW of North America and its German parent company $3 million for not reporting safety defects promptly. It was the second highest fine in history after Toyota paid almost $50 million in 2010 for not disclosing safety defects promptly. Continue reading

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Autoliv Side Curtain Airbag Recall Grows – Now Includes Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Honda and Acura Vehicles

What was an old munitions plant in Utah now owned by global auto supplier AutoLiv is sending shock waves into auto plants around the world because the side curtain airbag inflators it made are defective. The charge that releases the compressed gas that inflates the airbag may not explode during an accident, thereby rendering the airbag ineffective. Factories in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan and China are affected by the growing recall. Continue reading

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Honda Safety Recall Grows to Civic and Acura MDX vehicles

While this recall appears relatively minor, another Honda airbag recall at the end of last year was not. That was when Honda once again expanded a recall covering the driver’s side airbag installed on its most popular cars, crossovers and minivans built in 2001 and 2002. The ongoing global safety defect has now resulted in recalls in North America, Japan, Australia and other regions. Millions of defective Honda and Acura vehicles are now affected this manufacturing flaw. Honda is experiencing something similar to Toyota’s quality meltdown. During the past year or so, Honda has issued more than 24 public statements about various safety defects and recalls in the U.S. The question remains will NHTSA fine Honda, absent the high profile, highly critical Congressional hearings that Toyota and NHTSA endured, or the egregious behavior of BMW that NHTSA called out last week? Continue reading

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Nissan Recalls Versa for Unsafe Auto Transmission Shifter

Mechanical interference between the shifter actuation rod and the shifter handle can cause the safety defect, which could lead to ‘untended acceleration’ and injuries to people both inside and outside the subcompact Versa. Mexican supplied parts from GHSP Mexico are responsible for the defect. Continue reading

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BMW Follows Toyota by Paying $3 Million Fine for not Reporting Known Safety Defects within Five Days to NHTSA

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has levied a $3 million fine on BMW of North America, after the German automaker failed to comply with requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act that BMW report safety defects and so called non-compliances to the federal government in a timely manner. Continue reading

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Autoliv Airbag Inflator Causes Honda and Toyota Recalls

The problem first showed up in China at a Takata plant when the explosive propellant that inflates the airbag failed an incoming batch test. Due to the international nature of the supply chain, the safety defect also affected plants in Mexico, Canada and the U.S. Continue reading

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Mazda Tribute Recall Follows Ford Escape Defect for Fires

Mazda is recalling 2001-2002 Mazda Tribute SUVs because the master cylinder cap can leak brake fluid, corrode an underhood ABS wiring connector and possibly start a fire. The recall follows one announced by Ford two weeks ago for the same safety defect on Escape SUVs, which mechanically are the same as Mazda Tributes. Like Ford, Mazda said it will tell owners to park their vehicles outside until parts are ready. Continue reading

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BMW Conducts Second Smallest Recall in NHTSA History

In third place with a Bronze medal resides Toyota, the reason for the renewed emphasis on following recall regulations to the letter, after Toyota was fined in 2010 millions of dollars for covering up safety effects. Continue reading

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Hewlett-Packard Fined $425,000 for Not Reporting Defective Lithium Ion Batteries that Seriously Injured Consumers

The controversy is of interest to the auto industry since its use of lithium ion batteries in electrical vehicles and hybrids is growing at exponential rate, with millions of battery packs soon to be on U.S. roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed its investigation of fires in Chevrolet Volt EVs last week. Nevertheless many consumers remain wary of the emerging technology and it remains to be seen if the Volt brand is damaged. Continue reading

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Kia Airbag Recall Active for Optima and Rondo Models

If the so called clock spring contact assembly becomes damaged, the driver’s air bag electrical circuit will have high resistance condition, which will cause the “AIR BAG” warning lamp on the instrument panel to illuminate. It’s possible the resistance would prevent the air bag from inflating in an accident. Continue reading

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NHTSA Closes Volt Battery Fire Investigation with No Recall

NHTSA also said it remains unaware of any real-world crashes that have resulted in a battery-related fire involving the Chevy Volt or any other electric vehicle. The world’s most prominent auto safety agency set a precedent back in November by opening a safety defect investigation without any supporting data from real-world incidents. Continue reading

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NRC Agrees Toyota Unintended Acceleration Mechanical – but NHTSA Didn’t Address Auto Electronics Safety Concerns

One simple step – the requirement of electronic data recorders that would show the actual driver or computer inputs immediately before and during an accident – doesn’t appear immanent. While this will end many false accusations used by product liability attorneys to garner huge fees from large lawsuits against automakers, there appears to be little appetite for the reform in lawyer- dominated Washington. Continue reading

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NHTSA Scolds Ford over Minivan Torque Converter Recall

In an unusual acknowledgement of the Ford recall (11S25 or 12V-006) just made public, NHTSA said Ford made assertions – also unusual in my experience – in its required defect filing that are untrue and violate federal safety regulations. Continue reading

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BMW Mini Recall Active for Turbo Engine Fires

BMW is recalling almost 90,000 Mini models equipped with a turbocharged engine because the electric pump that cools the turbo after engine shutdown can fail and catch fire. Models built from 14 November 2006 through January of 2011 are covered by the Mini recall. Previously BMW had trouble with a similar pump used on V8 engines. Continue reading

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Ford Escape Recall Active for Engine Compartment Fires

A Ford Escape recall for engine fires is now in place for 245,000 2001-2002 model year vehicles, after a previous recall didn’t solve the safety defect. However, due to a parts delay, the latest fix may not be immediately available. Ford said it will instruct owners to park their vehicles outside until parts are ready. In April of 2007 Ford had recalled connectors on the Escape anti-lock braking system for improper seals. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was in the process of conducting an engineering analysis of the ongoing Escape fire problem. Continue reading

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