Feds Probe E65/E66 BMW 7-Series after Cars Break Free in Park

U.S. safety regulators are investigating an estimated 120,000 BMW 7-Series sedans from the 2002 to 2008 model years (E65 and E66) after receiving a complaint from a consumer alleging a roll-away incident after parking and exiting a 2006MY BMW 7 Series.

According to the complaint filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], the vehicle was fitted with BMW's Comfort Access electronic access and ignition system and an electronic transmission shifter with the gear selector mounted on the steering column.

Read more »

Not So Fast: NHTSA Says No to Pagani Huayra Because it Doesn’t Comply with New Airbag Rules

Pagani’s new supercar, the V12-powered 700HP Huayra, will not be sold in the United States unless its maker conforms to the latest airbag regulations.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) denied Pagani’s request for an exemption to the 11-year old safety rule that mandates the existence of “smart” airbags.

Read more »

NHTSA Investigates 2011-2012MY Ford Mustang Over Sticky Manual Gearbox

The feds have opened an investigation into the latest generation of the Ford Mustang to look for possible transmission problems.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration [NHTSA] issued a statement saying that it has received 32 complaints from owners of the 2011 and 2012MY Ford Mustang that were unable to change gears on the car's new six-speed manual transmission.

Ford had introduced the new six-speed manual gearbox on the refreshed 2011 Mustang replacing the previous five-speed unit. You can read NHTSA's statement after the break.

Read more »

Honda Recalls 2.3 Million Vehicles Over an Auto Transmission Problem

Honda has issued a worldwide recall for 2.26 million vehicles, 1.5 million of which were sold in the US. The recall concerns certain 2005-2010MY Accords, 2007-2010MY CR-V SUVs and 2005-2008 Element crossovers, all equipped with four-cylinder engines and an automatic transmission. Read more »

Nearly 300,000 Chrysler and Dodge Minivans Recalled Over Airbag Issue

The Chrysler Group has issued a recall on 299,718 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans from the 2008 model year to fix a problem that could cause the airbags to deploy unexpectedly.

The automaker said that the issue is related to the Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) modules that controls the airbags. According to Chrysler, the OCR module may have been exposed to moisture. If this happens, it could lead to the airbag warning light going on while in some cases, the airbag could deploy for no reason.

Read more »

NHTSA Investigates Lotus Elise Oil-Cooler Ruptures

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is investigating oil-cooler leaks on 4,400 Lotus Elise sports cars from the 2005-2006 model years. The safety agency instigated the search after 33 owners complained that their cars’ oil-cooler ruptured, spraying oil on the wheels and /or the engine bay. Read more »

Chrysler Recalls 243,000 Ram Pickup Trucks over Steering Flaw

Chrysler’s Ram brand has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Association that it is recalling 242,780 pickup trucks over a steering failure that could lead to “a loss of directional stability”.

The safety agency reported that the left tie rod ball may fracture during low speed parking maneuvers when the driver is making a sudden turn. This could lead to the loss of directional stability in the left front wheel.

Read more »

GM Recalls More Than 7,500 Trucks and SUVs Over Separate Gearbox and Steering Issues

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a recall campaign for two separate issues concerning GM trucks and SUVs.

The first recall concerns 6,768 units of the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon from the 2011MY due to a failure in a transmission clip that may not engage the “Parking” mode even though the driver has moved the lever to the appropriate position. GM’s dealers will repair the faulty automatic transmission free of charge, and the recall is expected to begin on July 19.

Read more »

GM Warns Police, but not Civilians, on Defective Impalas, Faces Lawsuit

A class-action suit has been filed against General Motors in Detroit concerning a defect in the suspension rods of more than 400,000 2007-2008MY Chevrolet Impalas that causes premature wear to the rear tires.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a woman from Pennsylvania named Donna Trusky, who wants GM to replace the defective suspension rods on 423,000 Impalas from the 2007-2008MY the company sold over a two-year period.

Read more »

Toyota and Lexus Hybrids Recalled Over Stalling Issues

A problem with the electronics of the hybrid system, which could cause certain Lexus RX 400h and Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUVs to lose power or stop running, is the reason behind the Japanese carmaker’s latest recall.

Toyota said about 45,500 Highlander Hybrid and 36,700 Lexus RX 400h vehicles from the 2006 and 2007 model years sold in the USA are affected by the voluntary recall.

Read more »

Multiple 2011MY Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep Vehicles Recalled to Fix Steering Columns

A dozen vehicles from the three core Chrysler brands covering more than half of the company’s 2011 models are being recalled in the United States to fix a potential problem with the steering column.

The recall covers 11,351 vehicles and affects certain 2011 model year Dodge Journey crossovers, Jeep Wranglers, Chrysler 200s, Chrysler 200 Convertibles, Dodge Avengers, Dodge Nitros, Jeep Liberty SUVs, Dodge Calibers, Jeep Compass crossovers, Jeep Patriots, Dodge Grand Caravans and Chrysler Town & Country minivans.

Read more »

Porsche Recalls 911s in the US Over Faulty Wheel Hubs

Porsche has announced that it is recalling 1,702 911s equipped with center locking hubs. The affected 911s were sold in the United States and are from the 2010-2011 model years manufactured from May 18, 2009 through to September 17, 2010. Read more »

One More Time: Volvo Recalls 2012MY S60 Sedans to Fix Fuel Pumps Again

For the second time in a month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Volvo is recalling certain 2012 model year S60 sedans because of a potential problem with the fuel pump assembly. This time, the recall affects 448 S60 saloons built from January 18, 2011, through January 28, 2011.

The Swedish automaker informed the safety agency that the male part of the fuel line quick connector end shape was produced with dimensions out of specification and could detach from the engine. If this were to occur, the engine could stall while the driver may also notice a fuel smell and leakage, which could result in a fire.

Read more »

GM Recalling 47,401 Cadillac SRX Crossovers Over Airbag Software Issue

A potential issue with an air-curtain air bag that may not deploy during a crash has prompted the U.S. recall of 47,401 Cadillac SRX crossovers from the 2011 model year. For the same reason, 3,099 vehicles are being recalled in Mexico and Canada, with GM stating that the problem is only in North America. Read more »

Toyota Recalling 106,000 Prius Hybrids Globally Over Steering Wheel Issue

The newest Toyota recall affects approximately 106,000 Prius hybrids globally built from 2001 to 2003 for a fault with the electric power steering system. The Japanese automaker said the voluntary action affects around 52,000 Prius models sold in the United States.

“If the steering wheel is repeatedly and strongly turned to the full-lock position, there is a possibility the nuts securing the pinion shaft in the steering gear box assembly may become loose,” Toyota said in a statement. The company added that if the owner leaves the condition uncorrected, over time they will gradually notice significant increased steering effort when making a left turn.

Read more »

Citroen C3 Picasso Recalled in the UK because the Brakes can be Activated from the Passenger Side!

Citroen announced it will recall over 20,000 C3 Picasso models sold in the United Kingdom for a rather unusual reason. It seems that the car's brakes can be activated accidentally by the front passenger when pushing their feet into the footwell! The discovery was made by a BBC TV show called Watchdog that was alerted about the problem from a cleaning company owning three C3 Picassos.

The reason for this malfunction is a manufacturing flaw occurring in France during the right-hand drive assembly of the C3 Picasso for the UK market. Even though the brake pedal is switched to the right, it remains connected to a mechanism on the left passenger side, BBC's Watchdog explained. It was discovered that the mechanism was covered only by a thin piece of felt, and that it could be easily activated by the passenger’s feet.

Read more »

Audi A6, S6 and RS6 Models Recalled Over Valve Nipple Crack Fears

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] has released a recall notice for certain model year 2001-2004 Audi A6, 2002-2003MY S6 and 2003MY RS6 vehicles equipped with 4.2-liter V8 engines and manufactured from June 19, 2001, through June 8, 2004. Overall, 5,992 A6, S6 and RS6 models are being recalled in the States over a potential problem with a part described by the company as the rollover valve nipple. Read more »

GM Issues Recall for 2011 U.S.-spec Chevrolet Cruze Models

After the initial 2,100 inspections triggered by a detached steering wheel, General Motors announced a new recall involving 154,112 units of the 2011 model year Cruze - pretty much all models built for North America since production started in summer 2010.

The reason for this action is related to a steering issue as well, with GM saying it wants to check that the steering shaft was properly installed. The company didn't say whether or not the two recalls are related, but added it will use the latest one action to check on another issue that might affect some 120,000 models with automatic transmission. In this case, GM wants to verify whether the transmission shift linkage was properly installed.

Read more »

NHTSA Investigates 200,000 Ford Escape and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs for Shattering Tailgate Glass

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it has opened a preliminary investigation concerning 200,000 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs from the 2010 and 2011 model years, after receiving several complaints that the window glass in the tailgate allegedly shattered without warning.

The safety agency said it received 18 complaints noting that “the liftgate window glass shattered spontaneously, while opening the liftgate or while closing the liftgate. In one alleged injury incident, the complainant and her 10 year old son were cut by glass fragments."

Read more »

Kia Recalling Spectra Models Over Fears that the Fuel Tank May…Fall Off

South Korea’s Kia Motors said Friday it will recall certain Spectra LD vehicles from the 2004-2007 model year in the United States over a corrosion issue that could cause the fuel tank to fall from the car. The recall covers 58,322 Kia Spectra models build from November 7, 2003, through March 6, 2007, and sold or currently registered in states that rely heavily on road salt to melt ice in the winter. Read more »