Suzuki Recalling Grand Vitara and SX4 in the States

.fullpost { display: inline; } More than 32,000 Suzuki Grand Vitara and SX4 vehicles are being recalled in the United States over an improperly manufactured component of the tension adjuster pulley that could cause the drive belt to either slip or come off and lead to engine overheating or stalling. Suzuki said the recall concerns the 2009-2010 model year Grand Vitara SUVs equipped with

2011 Ford Explorer Receives its First Recall

.fullpost { display: inline; } Ford's freshly launched 2011 Explorer SUV has received its first safety recall for a problem concerning the second row of seats. The recall affects approximately 1,658 Explorers made between July and December of last year. According to a filling with federal safety regulators, the manual recliner mechanisms of the second row seats may "have components that are

Saab Recalling 2010-2011MY 9-3 Models Due to Faulty Fuel Pumps

.fullpost { display: inline; } Saab is recalling 4,400 passenger cars from the 2010-2011MY 9-3 series manufactured from June 2010 through October 2010 to fix fuel pumps that can seize and cause the engine to stall. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), some of these fuel pumps may have internal components with incorrect specifications. The Swedish

What Grinds My Gears about the Recent Developments in Toyota's Unintended Acceleration-Saga

.fullpost { display: inline; } A few things happened in the past 24 hours that grind my gears on the subject of Toyota Motor Corp.'s "unintended acceleration" saga. The first thing that ticked me off were some smart-ass headlines for the findings of NHTSA-NASA study from the same sources that were bashing the Japanese company with Daily Mirror-like titles a little over a year ago. That's

NHTSA Investigates 490,000 Volkswagen Passat Models Over Engine Compartment Fires

.fullpost { display: inline; } The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] has upgraded an ongoing investigation into the Volkswagen Passat with 4-cylinder turbo powerplants over reports of engine fires to include all sedans from the 2001-2007 model years and Wagons from the 2006-2007 model years. Last summer, the government agency had opened a preliminary examination into the

Wobbly Roof Spoiler Prompts Recall of 14,000+ VW Touareg SUVs

.fullpost { display: inline; } Volkswagen's U.S. division has issued a recall notice on 14,416 Touareg SUVs from the 2007-2009 model year. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, on these particular models, the fastening struts on the roof spoiler may crack, causing the spoiler to become loose and quite possibly, fall off from the vehicle without any warning at all. The

Door Handle Issue Prompts Recall of 281,000 Ford F-150s

.fullpost { display: inline; } A recall has been put out for certain 2009-2010 model year Ford F-150s built from January 18, 2008, through November 30, 2009, because of a potential problem with the interior door handles. More specifically, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] said that the interior door handle spring may fracture during normal usage resulting in

NHTSA Probes 2010 Ford Fusion Over Wheel Stud Fractures

.fullpost { display: inline; } The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] today announced that it has opened a preliminary investigation to assess a possible safety concern on certain 2010 Ford Fusion models, following four complaints that allege wheel stud fractures. Three of the four Fusion’s exhibiting the claimed defect belong to the same 22-vehicle strong fleet and

Lexus Issues Voluntary Recall on 245,000 GS and IS Models in the U.S.

.fullpost { display: inline; } Lexus has issued a voluntary safety recall involving some 245,000 cars in the U.S. because of a potential defect that may cause fuel leakage. The models affected by the recall include the GS300 and GS350 from the 2006-2007MY, the IS 250 from the 2006-2009MY, and the IS 350 from the 2006-2008MY. The company said that due to insufficient tightening, the

Honda Recalling 2010MY Accord and CR-V Models in the States for Engine Stalling Problems

Honda has issued a new recall for certain 4-cylinder Accords and CR-Vs from the 2010 model year to check a potential failure with the engine wiring harness connector, as it may cause intermittent spark firing or the engine to stall.

"The wire harness coupler could have been damaged during vehicle assembly, which can lead to engine stalling over time," the Japanese automaker said in a statement, adding that it identified this problem through warranty repairs, and that no related accidents or injuries have been reported to date.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall affects 2,277 vehicles in the States.

Under the recall, the firm's dealers will inspect and replace the ignition wiring harness connector free of charge. Notification to customers is expected to begin in early February, 2011.

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Ford Recalling F-Series Trucks, Edge and Lincoln MKX Over Fire Hazard

Nearly 15,000 Ford trucks and crossovers are being recalled in the States because of problems with electrical systems that can short and create a fire. The recall concerns certain 2011MY Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550 and Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles.

"During a six-day production period, the supplier of the body control module manufactured modules that may have the potential for an internal short," Ford said in a posting on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] website, adding that if a short occurs, it can result in an "unattended vehicle fire".

The Detroit-based automakers said that dealers will replace the body control module if necessary free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before January 10, 2011.

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Triple Recall for Dodge Affects Over 144,000 Journey and Ram Vehicles

The Chrysler Group is recalling certain Dodge Journey crossovers and Ram trucks in three separate actions to repair defective steering wheels, airbags and noisy rear axles.

The largest of Chrysler's recalls involves 65,180 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured from November 1, 2007, through September 7, 2008. According to a posting on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], the wires within the front door wire harnesses may fatigue and break. If this happens, the side-impact sensors may not work resulting in inoperative side airbags. Chrysler said it will replace the left and right door wiring harnesses free of charge.

The second recall affects a total of 22,274 Model Year 2008-2011 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 trucks to address a problem with the steering system. NHSTA said these vehicles may experience a weakening and fracture of the left ball stud on the tie rod resulting in the potential loss of steering. The Detroit automaker will fix the aforementioned issue by replacing the left outer tie rod free of charge.

Finally, the Chrysler Group is recalling 56,611 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured from September 2009 through December 2010 to fix components within the rear axle. "Some vehicles may experience a noise (growl, grind) coming from the rear axle bearing which could eventually seize," said the NHTSA posting.

All three recalls are expected to begin in February 2011.

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Report: 20 Million Vehicles Recalled in 2010, Toyota Led the Way with 7.1 Million Recalls

Some 20 million vehicles were recalled in 2010, according to a study of preliminary federal data conducted by the Associated Press. It was the highest recall level in the U.S. since 2004, when a record number of 30.8 million vehicles were recalled.

Toyota led the way with around 7.1 million recalls to fix faulty gas pedals and floor mats that could trap the accelerator, as well as numerous other problems spanning from defective brakes to stalling engines. General Motors recalled about 4 million vehicles in 2010, while domestic rival Ford is said to have recalled 500,000 cars and trucks, and Chrysler approximately 1.5 million. Japan's Honda and Nissan are said to have both recalled over 2 million vehicles in 2010.

However, not all is bad, as Transportation Department spokeswoman Olivia Alair pointed out. "More and more recalls are being voluntarily initiated by automakers and we think that's a good sign," Alair said Wednesday. "Safety is NHTSA's first priority and improved cooperation from automakers will help resolve safety issues more quickly and comprehensively."

Wade Newton, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents companies such as General Motors, Toyota and Ford, said carmakers "are doing a better job of identifying and pinpointing safety-related issues and taking faster action," adding that safety advances in the latest generation of cars and trucks helped decline traffic deaths to the lowest level since 1950.

Source: Associated Press , Via: NPR