Rides : Toyota recalling 550,000 vehicles worldwide for potential steering problem

Toyota has announced that it is recalling more than 420,000 vehicles in the United States for a potentially faulty crank shaft pulley. A total of 283,200 Toyota vehicles as well as 137,000 Lexus vehicles may experience a pulley failure in which the inner and outer rings become misaligned. If that happens, owners may experience noise, vibration and a check engine light. If the problem is left untreated, the power steering belt may slip off of the crank shaft pulley, resulting in more steering effort. Toyota says that this could cause an accident, though no problems have been reported so far.

The recall covers the 2004 Toyota Avalon, 2004 and 2005 Toyota Camry, Highlander, Sienna and Solara as well as the 2006 Highlander HV, 2004 and 2005 Lexus ES 350 and RX 330. The 2006 Lexus RX 400h is also included in the recall, which covers a total of 550,000 vehicles worldwide. Toyota says that the company is currently in the process of acquiring the parts necessary to replace the faulty crank shaft pulley and that the company will inspect and replace the faulty piece free of charge.

 

Press Release

TORRANCE, Calif., November 9, 2011 – Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. (TMS), today announced that it will conduct a voluntary safety recall involving approximately 283,200 Toyota and 137,000 Lexus vehicles to replace the crankshaft pulley on the V6 engine.

There is a possibility that the outer ring of the crankshaft pulley may become misaligned with the inner ring, causing noise and/or illumination of the discharge warning light. If this condition is not corrected, the belt for the power steering pump may become detached from the pulley and the driver may notice a sudden increase in steering effort. There are no reports of accidents or injuries related to this condition.

The vehicles involved are certain:

* 2004 Avalon
* 2004 and 2005 Camry, Highlander, Sienna, and Solara
* 2006 Highlander HV
* 2004 and 2005 ES330 and RX330
* And 2006 RX400h

No other Toyota or Lexus vehicles or these Toyota models with 4 cylinder engines are involved.

Toyota is currently working on obtaining the necessary replacement parts. Once the replacement parts have been produced in sufficient quantities, Toyota will send an owner notification by first class mail advising owners to make an appointment with an authorized Toyota or Lexus dealer to have the crankshaft pulley inspected and if necessary, replaced at no charge. The owner notifications will be mailed by first class mail beginning in January, 2012.

In the meantime, if an abnormal noise is heard coming from the engine compartment, the owner is asked to make an appointment with any Toyota or Lexus dealer to have the vehicle inspected for this condition.

Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and the Toyota Customer Experience Center (1 800-331-4331) or www.lexus.com/recall and Lexus Customer Satisfaction (1 800-255-3987).

Rides : 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 recalled over airbag concern

General Motors is recalling around 38,000 Pontiac G8 sedans from its 2008 and 2009 model years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the cars may have a passenger-side airbag flaw that might prevent proper deployment in certain scenarios.

According to NHTSA, the airbag might not adequately protect a fifth percentile woman – that is, a woman around four-foot, 11-inches weighing 108 pounds. The New York Times indicates that the anomaly was found during a crash test conducted by GM's Australian branch, Holden, which was testing the G8's twin (read: Commodore) for head injuries. According to that report, the test in question is specifically tailored to simulate injuries to females, so the results do not apply to men or children.

The issue has been blamed on a seat position sensor that governs airbag deployment rates. NHTSA indicates that when the front passenger seat is moved all the way forward, the faulty sensor may inappropriately trigger a 30-millisecond delay between airbag stages, potentially leading to greater injuries.

With the Pontiac division closed, other GM dealers will reprogram the sensor module of models covered under the recall at no cost to vehicle owners. GM says that no injuries have been reported as a result of this issue.

 

Press Release

Report Date :
November 7, 2011 at 11:35 AM
NHTSA Campaign ID number :
11V534000

Vehicle Make / Model:

Model Year(s):
PONTIAC / G8

2008-2009
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
Mfr's Report Date: NOV 03, 2011
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11V534000
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
Potential Number of Units Affected: 38,444

Summary:
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 PONTIAC G8 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 2, 2007 THROUGH JANUARY 22, 2009. A 5TH PERCENTILE FEMALE ANTHROPOMORPHIC TEST DEVICE (ATD) IN A 30 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER TEST EXCEEDED THE HEAD INJURY CRITERIA (HIC) REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD. WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT POSITIONED FULL FORWARD, THE SEAT POSITION SENSOR WILL CAUSE A 30 MILLISECONDS DEPLOYMENT DELAY BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND STAGES OF THE DUAL-STAGE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG.

Consequence:
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THIS DELAY MAY RESULT IN INCREASED HEAD INJURY TO CERTAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.

Remedy:
GM DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Rides : BMW recalls over 32,000 cars and CUVs over fire risk

BMW has issued a recall of five different model lines covering the years 2008-2011 due to a fire risk. Turbocharged eight- and twelve-cylinder engines in the 5 Series, 5 Series Gran Turismo, 7 Series, X5 and X6 could suffer from overheating circuit boards that control the electric auxiliary water pump.

The overheating board could cause the pump to smoulder, and in extreme cases among the 102 failures, BMW has found there were two engine compartment fires. BMW will send recall notices for 32,000 vehicles and dealers will replace the pump free of charge.

 

Press Release

Report Date: October 30, 2011 at 04:45 PM
NHTSA Campaign ID number: 11V521000

Vehicle Make / Model:
BMW / 5-SERIES 2008-2011
BMW / 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO 2008-2011
BMW / 7-SERIES 2008-2011
BMW / X5 2008-2011
BMW / X6 2008-2011

Manufacturer: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC
Mfr's Report Date: OCT 20, 2011

Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO-CHARGER

Potential Number of Units Affected: 32,084

Summary:
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 5-SERIES, 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, 7-SERIES, X5 SAV, AND X6 SAV VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.

Consequence:
THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy:
BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Rides - Motorcycles : Harley-Davidson recalling over 300,000 motorcycles

Harley-Davidson has announced that it is recalling 308,474 motorcycles and trikes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the rear brake switch may be exposed to excessive heat from the exhaust system. If this happens, the rear brake light may fail to illuminate. It's also possible that the rear brake system could leak fluid, causing a brake failure. NHTSA says either condition could lead to an accident. Harley-Davidson will replace the brake light switch free of charge, though it's unclear what will be done to prevent the same condition from reoccurring in the future.

The recall covers 25 different Harley-Davidson models manufactured between 2009 and 2012. Around 250,000 of the motorcycles were sold in the U.S. while the remaining 50,000 were sold elsewhere. Reuters reports that the recall is expected to cost Harley-Davidson between $10 million and $12 million.

 

Press Release

Vehicle Make / Model:

Model Year(s):
2009-2012 H-D / FLHP

2009-2011 H-D / FLHPE

2009-2012 H-D / FLHR

2009-2012 H-D / FLHRC

2009-2010 H-D / FLHT

2009-2012 H-D / FLHTC

2009-2012 H-D / FLHTCU

2009 H-D / FLHTCUSE4

2010 H-D / FLHTCUSE5

2011 H-D / FLHTCUSE6

2012 H-D / FLHTCUSE7

2009-2012 H-D / FLHTCUTG

2010-2012 H-D / FLHTK

2009-2012 H-D / FLHTP

2009-2012 H-D / FLHX

2010 H-D / FLHXSE

2011 H-D / FLHXSE2

2012 H-D / FLHXSE3

2011 H-D / FLHXXX

2009 H-D / FLTR

2009 H-D / FLTRSE3

2010-2012 H-D / FLTRU

2011 H-D / FLTRUSE

2010-2012 H-D / FLTRX

2012 H-D / FLTRXSE

Manufacturer: HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

Mfr's Report Date: OCT 19, 2011

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11V506000
NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Potential Number of Units Affected: 250,757

Summary:
HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 TOURING, CVO TOURING AND TRIKE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 6, 2008, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16, 2011. SEE THE ABOVE LIST FOR THE MODELS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY BE EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

Consequence:
THE EXCESSIVE HEAT MAY CAUSE THE SWITCH TO NOT ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LAMP OR ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LAMP WHEN NO BRAKE IS APPLIED AND/OR CAUSE A BRAKE FLUID LEAK AT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, AFFECTING REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE. EITHER CONDITION MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy:
HARLEY-DAVIDSON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL A INSTALL A REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH KIT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

Notes:
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SAFETY RECALL NUMBER IS 0145. CUSTOMERS OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Rides : 2011-2012 Chevrolet Corvette recall hatched over faulty hinges

General Motors is recalling 5,755 2011-2012 Chevrolet Corvette coupes for potentially faulty hatch hinges that could break loose in a crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the rear hatch hinges on Vettes built between January and September don't meet federal weight capacity requirements.

The recall was scheduled to start on Oct. 7. According to the recall, dealers will notify owners of the recall and inspect and replace both hinges for free as necessary.

 

Press Release

text

Report Date : October 9, 2011 at 12:45 PM
NHTSA Campaign ID number : 11V491000

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
CHEVROLET / CORVETTE 2011-2012
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS LLC Mfr's Report Date: OCT 03, 2011
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11V491000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 5,755
Summary:
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 24, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS". THE REAR HATCH HINGES MAY NOT MEET THE LOAD REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN THE SAFETY STANDARD.
Consequence:
THE REAR HATCH COULD SEPARATE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy:
GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR HATCH HINGES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 7, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
Notes:
GM'S SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 11258. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Rides : Chrysler Group LLC to recall some V6 equipped models

The Chrysler Group LLC is announcing some bad news for customers that have bought some V6 equipped models of the 200, Town & Country, Dodge Journey, Durango, Grand Caravan and Jeep Grand Cherokee, saying that the vehicles may have some loss of engine power caused by debris from the manufacturing machining processes.

According to the Chrysler Group LLC, only 667 vehicles of the models mentioned above will be affected by the recall, all of them being powered by the same 3.6 liter V6 engine.

“The condition was caught early at the plant during a scheduled audit only 657 potentially affected vehicles were delivered to dealers, the majority of which have not been sold”, said the head of Product Investigations and Campaigns, David Hillon.

The major US automaker said that no failures in customer’s hands, injuries or property damages have been reported because of this issue and the Chrysler Group LLC will replace the engines for all affected vehicles at no cost for the dealer or customer.
Owners of the 3.6 liter V6 powered 200, Town & Country, Dodge Journey, Grand Caravan and Jeep Grand Cherokee will be informed by Chrysler Group LLC to make a trip back to the dealership. The recall will begin in October.

Rides : Recall - 2011 BMW 328i and 335i

 

The North American Division of BMW has announced a recall involving the 2011 made 328i and 335i because of a problem with the front driveshaft that could result in a collision.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the bolts on the vehicles’ front driveshaft may not be tightened to specifications and they could loosen in time, resulting in a loss of power to the front wheels meaning one out of two things: breakdown in the best scenario or a collision.

Apparently BMW didn’t receive any complaints from customers regarding this problem and the NHTSA didn’t say if accidents, injuries or deaths have been reported because of this issue.

The German automaker says that about 190 units of the 2011 328i and 335i will be affected by the recall and owners of the two models will have to make a trip back to the dealership starting next month for no charge.

If you own a 2011 BMW 328i or 335i and you have questions about the recall you can contact the automaker directly at 800-525-7417 or the NHTSA at 888-327-4236 and reference campaign number 11V476000.

Rides : 2011 Subaru Legacy, Outback models recalled over fly-away moonroofs

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just announced a safety recall affecting 69,590 model year 2011 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. The recall concerns adhesive, or a possible lack thereof, used to affix moonroof glass to its retainer. This action covers 2011 Legacy and Outback models manufactured from August 3, 2010, through July 1, 2011.

NHTSA says an inadequate amount of adhesive on the moonroofs of affected models could allow the glass to loosen or even detach while the vehicle is in motion. This flying glass, says the agency, could become a road hazard and possibly even lead to a crash.

Subaru will contact owners of affected Legacy and Outback models in October and says its dealers will inspect the adhesive and, if necessary, apply more of the sticky substance to ensure the glass doesn't detach. As is always the case with a federal recall, dealers will inspect and repair components free of charge, and owners are urged to contact Subaru for more info. Click past the jump to read the official recall notice.

 

Press Release

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
SUBARU / LEGACY 2011
SUBARU / OUTBACK 2011

Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Mfr's Report Date: SEP 06, 2011

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11V467000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: VISIBILITY:SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY

Potential Number of Units Affected: 69,590

Summary:
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 OUTBACK AND LEGACY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 3, 2010, THROUGH JULY 1, 2011. THE MOONROOF GLASS MAY COME LOOSE OR DETACH. THE AMOUNT AND POSITION OF THE ADHESIVE BETWEEN THE GLASS AND RETAINER WAS INADEQUATELY APPLIED.

Consequence:
THE MOONROOF GLASS CAN LOOSEN AND DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE DURING DRIVING, RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD FOR OTHER VEHICLES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy:
SUBARU WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE GLASS ADHESION CONDITION AND EITHER APPLY ADDITIONAL ADHESIVE OR REPLACE THE MOONROOF GLASS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Notes:
SUBARU'S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER IS WVW-33. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Rides : Recall - 2007 – 2008 Kia Sorento

Kia has announced a recall involving its Sorento SUVs because of an issue with the airbag sensor fault, which can lead to deactivating the front passenger airbag, classifying the occupants as children.

According to the South Korean automaker, the recall will affect the Sorento model made between June 15, 2006 and November 27, 2007. Owners of the mentioned model will have to make a trip back to the dealership to recalibrate the front passenger seat occupant classification system or OCS, which is designed to deactivate the passenger airbag when the seat is not occupied or when a child or child seat is occupying it.

Kia says that the automatic deactivation of the passenger airbag will trigger a “Passenger Air Bag Off” warning light and may also lead to the risk of front seat passenger injury in case of a frontal collision. The South Korean car manufacturer has announced that no injuries or deaths have been reported yet because of this problem.

Owners of the 2006 – 2007 Kia Sorento will have to make a trip back to the dealership to reprogram the OCS control module in the affected vehicles and the automaker says that no replacement parts are required, so the campaign starts immediately.

Customers can contact their local Kia dealer for a service appointment, call the automaker’s hotline (800) 333-4542 or contact the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) at (888) 327-4236.

Rides : Honda Recalls 2010 and 2011 Pilots for Seatbelt Issue

The Japanese automaker Honda has just announced a recall involving about 310.000 units of its 2009 to 2011 Pilot model because of an issue with the driver and front passenger’s seat belt.

“Honda initiated this voluntary recall due to a manufacturing error on a small number of front seat belts, where the stitching connecting the lap section of the belt to the outboard anchor webbing may be incomplete or missing. In a crash, affected seat belts may become disconnected from the anchor webbing, increasing the risk of injury”, as it is written in an official Honda statement.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t reported any injuries or deaths related to this condition. According to the automaker, 310.773 Pilot SUVs will be affected by the recall in the United States.
The Japanese car manufacturer said that the issue with the seat belts will be fixed free of charge. Honda didn’t announce an exact date when owners of the 2009 to 2011 made Pilot owners will have to make a trip back to the dealership.

Rides : Subaru recalls 2010-2011 Legacy, Outback for windshield wiper issue

Japanese automaker Subaru has issued a recall for Model Year 2010-2011 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from January 7, 2010, through May 20, 2011. Subaru says faulty components inside the wiper motor's bottom cover could overheat.

According to Subaru, if the motor's bottom cover overheats, the windshield wipers may no longer function, which could lead to reduced visibility and increase the chance of a crash.

Subaru will notify owners of the 195,080 affected Outback and Legacy vehicles by the end of November. As is typically the case, dealers will replace defective components free of charge and owners are urged to contact Subaru for more info. 

 

 

Press Release

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
SUBARU / LEGACY 2010-2011
SUBARU / OUTBACK 2010-2011

Manufacturer:
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

Mfr's Report Date:
SEP 06, 2011

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number:
11V469000

NHTSA Action Number:
N/A

Component:
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

Potential Number of Units Affected:
195,080

Summary:
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 OUTBACK AND LEGACY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 7, 2010, THROUGH MAY 20, 2011. COMPONENTS INSIDE THE WIPER MOTOR BOTTOM COVER MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence:
IF THE BOTTOM COVER OVERHEATS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY BECOME INOPERABLE, REDUCING THE OPERATORS VISIBILITY, WHICH MAY INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CRASH OR A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy:
SUBARU WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WIPER MOTOR BOTTOM COVER ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Notes:
SUBARU'S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER IS WVV-32. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .