Volkswagen will be asking owners of certain 2015-2016 vehicles to return to their dealerships to repair a problem affecting the engine and brake system. According to reports, the lobe of the sintered cam which drives the high pressure fuel injection pump and the vacuum pump, could shear off from the camshaft. If this happens, vacuum supply will be shut off to the the brake booster, the vehicle will go into limp home mode, and the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) will illuminate. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Manufacturer defect
Fiat 500L Airbag Manufacturing Defect
A manufacturing error will have a small number of 2015 Fiat 500L owners returning to their dealership for repairs. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, the passenger airbags may have experienced irregularities during the folding process and may not meet the design specifications in accordance with FMVSS 208. During an accident which requires front passenger airbag deployment, the airbag may not inflate as intended, increasing the risk of injury to a front passenger in certain types of crashes. Continue reading
VW Golf & Jetta Inaccurate Occupant Classification
A small number of 2015 Volkswagen E-Golf, Golf, and Jetta owners will be receiving notices about a problem affecting the front passenger airbag in their vehicles. According to the defect report, an electromagnetic coil inside a module in the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have been manufactured with improper insulation between the coil layers. Over time, the characteristics of the coil could change and give erroneous front passenger classification readings. Vehicle occupants will be alerted of a problem by an illuminating airbag warning light or by false indication of the Passenger Airbag OFF indicator. Continue reading
2014-2015 Chevy & GM Trucks Added To Ignition Defect List
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, these vehicles may have an ignition lock actuator manufactured out of specifications. The problem, combined with warm ambient temperatures, could make turning the ignition key difficult and/or the ignition key could get stuck in the start position. If the vehicle is driven with the key stuck in the start position a significant jarring event or cooling of the ambient temperature could result in the ignition snapping back into the accessory position, shutting off the engine, power steering, power brakes, and airbags. Continue reading
Cadillac ATS Window Defroster Could Overheat
General Motors have announced a safety defect affecting certain 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedans and will be asking owners to return to their dealership for repairs. According to reports, these vehicles may have a rear window defrost coil antenna that may have been manufactured with a weak terminal connection. If the weak connection is subject to excessive cycling or continuous operation a fire could develop inside the rear pillar on the driver’s side. Continue reading
2015 Chrysler 200 Engine Stall Due To Electrical Defect
Chrysler will be notifying the owners of certain 2015 Chrysler 200 vehicles about an electrical problem affecting their cars. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, the Power Distribution Center (PDC) electrical connector may have been manufactured with spread terminals that could have an intermittent connection between the connector and the PDC. An intermittent loss of power to electrical components could cause a vehicle to stall or go into neutral without warning. Continue reading
Dodge Journey Engine Cover Could Detach
An investigation into certain 2011-2015 Dodge Journey crossover vehicles will have approximately 144,416 owners returning to their dealership for repairs. According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, under rough driving conditions, the engine cover could become displaced and contact the exhaust manifold. If this happens, drivers will experience an increased risk of a engine compartment fire. Continue reading
2015 Ferrari Airbag Safety Defect
A safety defect affecting certain 2015 Ferrari sports cars will have owners returning to their dealership for repairs.
According to reports on the NHTSA website, a combination of insufficient gluing of the leather skin of the driver’s air bag module cover to the plastic base and an improper orientation of the air bag cushion could result in the airbag deploying in a rotated orientation. This safety defect could increase the risk of occupant injuries or death in the event of front or rear collision. Continue reading
