Volkswagen is recalling certain 2012 Audi Q5 vehicles because the sunroof was installed with a glass that could shatter in extremely cold weather conditions. If the sunroof breaks while the vehicle is being driven, the occupants could be injured by falling glass, increasing the chance of an accident. Volkswagen will be notifying owners of the problem starting in August, and will replace the sunroof glass free of charge. For more information on the defect, owners can contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
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Toyota Acceleration Pedals Still A Problem
Toyota’s 2009 unintended acceleration problems continue as Toyota announces a recall for certain 2010 Lexus RX350 and 2010 Lexus RX450H vehicles manufactured between November 2008 through September 2010. According to the recall report, the accelerator pedal could get trapped under an unsecured or incompatible floor mat, allowing the vehicle to accelerate out of control. An accident could result if the the driver fails to rectify the problem quickly. Lexus will begin notifying owners of the problem starting in August, and will modify the accelerator pedal and replace any floor mats not specified for the vehicle. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Chrysler And Ford Vehicles Investigated
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into certain Chrysler 200 vehicles after receiving 15 complaints alleging the engine stalled without warning. The vehicles investigated are the 2011 Chrysler 200 vehicles equipped with 3.6L V-6 engines. All complaints reported the vehicle stalling without warning during low speed decelerations. If the investigation leads to a recall, almost 90,000 automobiles could be involved.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has also opened an investigation into certain 2011 Ford Explorer SUVs with Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS ), after receiving 15 complaints of power steering loss. Owners reported power steering warning messages as the failure occurred and in some cases the problem was corrected by turning off and restarting the vehicle. There have not been any reported accidents related to the problem, but if the investigation should lead to a recall, over 80,000 vehicles could be affected. Owners with concerns about their vehicle are asked to contact their Ford dealer.
BMW Steering Problem
BMW has announced a recall for certain X5 and X6 crossover vehicles because of a machining error of the steering gear surface. The problem could lead to power steering leaks that could spray onto hot exhaust parts increasing the risk of an engine fire. BMW will begin notifying owners of the recall starting in July, and will inspect and replace the steering gear as necessary. The vehicles included in the recall includes:
Owners wanting more information about the defect can contact BMW customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417.
Chevrolet Cruze Fire Risk
General Motors (GM) has announced two recalls for certain 2011-2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles, both of which could result in fire, possibly causing injury or death to the vehicle occupants.
- The first defect involves fuel tank strap attachment welds which may have been omitted during manufacturing. In an accident the tank could come loose resulting in a fuel spill that could ignite in the presence of an ignition source. GM will inspect the vehicles for missing welds and will secure the tank bracket attachment with fasteners as necessary.
- The second problem involves the engine shield belly pan. Spilled or dripping oil could accumulate in the shield, and the hot engine or exhaust system surfaces could cause it to ignite. Dealers will modify the shield to prevent the fluid build up and will apply a protective tape to the electronic power steering wire harness to vehicles with manual transmissions.
Owners wanting more information about the problems can contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
Mercedes Connecting Rod Failure
Mercedes Benz has announced a recall for almost four thousand 2007-2009 E350 4Matic wagon vehicles manufactured between July 2006 to April 2009. According to the recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a manufacturing defect with the connecting rod for the load leveling rear suspension system could cause it to fail. If the rod fails, the driver could experience a loss of control of the vehicle. Owners wanting more information about the problem can Contact Mercedes Benz at 1-201-573-0350.
Defective Window Switch Investigation Expands
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is expanding an investigation into defective power window switches in some Toyota and GM vehicles. Both investigation began in February after vehicle owners reported intermittent power windows, the smell of smoke, and in rare occasions fires. If the investigation leads to a recall, approximately 1.4 million Toyota and 342,000 GM vehicles could be involved. The vehicles under investigation includes:
- 2007-2009 Toyota Camry
- 2007-2009 Toyota Yaris
- 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUVs
- 2006-2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SUVs
The NHTSA said that it also will evaluate other GM vehicles with the same underpinnings. They include:
- Buick Rainier
- GMC Envoy
- Isuzu Ascender
- Saab 9-7X SUVs
2012 Automobile Quality Reports
According to the 2012 J.D. Power & Associates quality reports, released earlier this week, automobile manufacturers are producing higher quality vehicles than ever before, except when it comes to audio, entertainment, and navigation technologies. The overall quality of all automobile manufacturers increased by 5% since the 2011 quality reports, but “problems” related to the usability of the systems increased by 8%.
David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power & Associates, says that this does not mean that the quality is getting worse. “At one time, these sophisticated technologies were found only on high end vehicles. Over the past couple years, it is becoming more prevalent in mainstream automobiles. An increase in users who expect the same innovative technology found in their smartphones can quickly become dissatisfied when they can’t get it to work. Automobile manufacturers are listening to the consumers and work hard to meet their expectations but need to keep safety in mind as well. There is a learning curve for drivers to get adjusted to new features.”
This is the 26th year that J.D. Power & Associates has done their initial quality study. It not only serves as an industry benchmark for initial quality measured by the consumer, but it is also used by manufacturers to help them design and build better vehicles. Initial quality is a sign of long-term durability, which directly impacts consumer purchase decisions.
