BMW has announced that they will be recalling certain 2012 3-Series vehicles because the head restraints fail to comply with the Federal motor vehicle safety standards. According to the recall report, when the head rest is in the highest position it exceeds the downward movement limitations of 25mm. The head restraint could move down during a crash, increasing the risk of neck injuries. BMW will be notifying owners in May and will correct the problem by attaching a clamp to the front seat head restraint posts. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact BMW customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417.
Tag Archives: Safety
VW Routan Rear Hub Assemblies
Volkswagen is recalling a small number of 2012 Routan minivans for a problem with the right hand rear hub and bearing assemblies. According to VW, the vehicles affected were built between November 15 to November 21, 2011, and were installed with a hub and bearing assembly that was not fully machined by the manufacturer. The assemblies could wear out prematurely, leading to wheel separation and an increased risk of an accident. Owners wanting more information on the problem can contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Last week, Chrysler issued a similar recall involving certain 2012 Chrysler Town and Country and 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan minivans.
Airbag Problem Affects Several Manufacturers
An recent investigation into side curtain airbags not deploying properly in some Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Accura, and Subaru vehicles has the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concerned about how wide spread the problem could be. The investigation started after Swedish automobile parts manufacturer, Autoliv, reported that one of their airbags failed to deploy under cold weather conditions as a result of the wrong mixture of inflation gasses being used. The company also manufactures airbags for General Motors and Ford, but say that a different design is used. Approximately 11,000 of the potentially defective parts have been shipped to various manufacturers, and concerns over the problem has already lead to the recall of several vehicle models. The recall includes:
Chevy And Jeep Investigated For Engine Fires
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has opened an investigation into engine fires in some 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2010 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Of the ten complaints received, two Chevy Cruze owners reported complete loss of their vehicle, and eight Jeep Wrangler owners stated that the fire started in the engine while driving. The investigation will have the NHTSA reviewing early warning report data to assess the scope and frequency of the alleged defect. If the investigation lead to a recall, almost 180, 000 Cruze and 100,000 Wrangler vehicles could be involved.
Steering Problems In GMC Trucks
General Motors is recalling certain GMC and Chevrolet trucks because the steering gear pitman shaft may not have been manufactured properly. According to the recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the shaft may have not been allowed to harden properly and could fracture while driving. If this happens, the driver could experience complete loss of steering. GM will be notifying customers starting in April, and will inspect and replace the steering gear pitman shaft as necessary. Owners wanting more information on the recall can contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463, or go to the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com. The vehicles involved in the recall include:
Unintended Acceleration In Ford Taurus
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into certain 2005-2006 Ford Taurus vehicles after receiving 14 reports of stuck throttles. Consumer complaints alleged vehicle engines could rev as high at 4,000 RMP after shifting into “park” or “neutral”, and difficulty stopping the vehicle has resulted in dangerous situations for drivers. According to these reports, the problem could be the result of a stuck throttle due to the cruise control cable detaching. If this preliminary investigation should lead to a vehicle recall, an estimated 360,000 vehicles could be affected.
Toyota Brake Light Defect
Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Camry sedans and 2009-2011 Venza mid size crossover SUV (CUV) vehicles over a manufacturing defect that could leave drivers with inoperative brake lights. According to the recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), silicon grease may have gotten on the contacts of the stop lamp switch increasing the resistance of the switch. This problem with the brake lights could lead to a no start condition, and the driver may not be able to shift out of the “park” position. Toyota will be notifying and replacing the stop lamp switch starting in April. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Infiniti Airbag Deployment Problem
Nissan is recalling certain 2003-2005 Infiniti Q45 vehicles for a problem with the seat mounted airbag wiring. The connector for the airbags could experience corrosion which will result in increased electrical resistance. The airbag may not deploy properly, leaving the occupants unprotected. Nissan will start notifying owner starting March 12, 2012, and will modify the wiring connector free of charge. Owners wanting more information on the problem can contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
