Toyota will be contacting the owners of certain 2016 Toyota Sienna vehicles about a problem that could leave occupants unsecured during a collision. The subject vehicles may have been equipped with an incorrect front seat belt height adjuster. In the event of a collision with significant loads, there is a possibility that the stresses could cause the adjuster to separate, increasing the risk of injury to occupants. Continue reading

Tesla will be contacting the owners of certain 2016 Model X crossover SUVs about a safety problem affecting the third row seating. According to the defect report, variations in recliner manufacturing could lead to insufficient tooth engagement and failure to meet the required holding torque specification. In a severe collision the seat could exhibit excessive forward movement, increasing the chance of injury to occupants. Continue reading

Hyundai will be sending notices to certain 2011 Sonata owners instructing them to return to their dealership to fix a problem affecting the Electronic Power Steering (EPS). According to the defect report, a change in the manufacturing process of the protective coating on the circuit board in the EPS control unit could result in damage to the circuit board over time. If this happens, drivers may notice an illumination EPS warning lamp accompanied by a loss of steering assist and increased steering effort. Continue reading

Some 2016 Ram ProMaster vehicles equipped with a 3.0L diesel engine, hydraulic brake boost compensation and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) could experience a loss of ECS due to a software glitch. The affected vehicles have an Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) control module that may not reset the ESC to active status if the key is turned off and back on within 10 seconds. If the vehicle operator does not notice that the “ESC Off” indicator is illuminating on in the cluster the vehicle may be driven without ESC engaged. Continue reading

General Motors will be contacting a small number of 2016 Chevrolet Silverado and 2016 GMC Sierra owners about a problem relating to vehicle safety. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, the mounting stud used to secure the airbag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) to the vehicle may be incorrectly positioned and could cause stress to the SDM housing. A fracture to the housing could allow water to enter or subject the SDM to excessive vibrations, hindering the proper deployment of the air bags. Continue reading

Ford will be asking the owners of certain 2010-2011 Fusion and Milan cars to return to their dealerships to repair a defect affecting the fuel system. According to reports, some cars may have an evaporative emissions canister purge valve (CPV) that may develop an internal leak and allow excessive vacuum to build up in the fuel tank. Repeated cycles of this condition could cause cracks to develop in the fuel tank. Drivers may detect a smell of fuel around the vehicle, observe a fuel puddle under the fuel tank, and/or experience a malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination. Continue reading

The owners of certain Toyota and Lexus cars will be receiving an interim notification for a problem affecting the Pre-Collision System (PCS). According to reports, the vehicles involved could have a PCS that may interpret a steel road joint or steel plate in the road surface as another vehicle or obstacle in its path. This could cause the system activate, apply brakes, tighten seat belts, and illuminate a PCS warning. Continue reading