Nissan has announced that they will be recalling certain Nissan and Infiniti vehicles for oil cooler and oil filter bolts that may have been manufactured below specifications. If the bolts break, sever oil leaks could lead to a reduced engine oil pressure and eventually to a seized engine. Under the recall Nissan will replace the connector bolts on the following vehicles:

Owners wanting more information on the recall can contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261

General Motors (GM) has issued a recall on some 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles that may have been manufactured without the front brake inner or outer brake pads. The missing pads will significantly reduce brake performance increasing the chances of a crash. GM will inspect and install missing inner or outer pads, a new brake caliper and new rotors as necessary. Owners wanting more information on the recall can contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.

General Motors (GM) has issued a recall for certain 2010-2011 Cadillac SRX vehicles for a transmission shift cable that may have been improperly installed. The cable could become detached from the transmission bracket leaving the driver unable to shift gears, or the driver may be given an inaccurate indication that the transmission is in park. GM will be notifying customers of the recall starting this month, and dealerships will inspect the cable for proper installation. Owners wanting more information on the recall can contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339.

Ford will be notifying owners of some 2010-2011 Ford Fusion and 2010-2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, to take their vehicles in to the nearest dealership to get the rear wheel studs replaced. According to a recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the wheel studs may fracture and the wheel could separate from the vehicle. Under the recall, dealerships will inspect the rear brake disc surface for flatness, replace any worn disks, and will replace the wheel lugs on all four wheels. Owners wanting more information on the recall can contact the Ford Motor Company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.

Nissan is recalling certain 2010-2011 Sentra vehicles equipped with MR20 engines. According to the recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the zinc coating applied to the battery terminal stud bolt may be too thick. The poor connection could result in a voltage drop causing the vehicle to stall, make the vehicle difficult to start, and could damage the engine control module (EMC). Nissan dealers will replace the positive battery terminal and cover. Owners wanting more information on the recall can contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Nissan will be recalling certain 2011 Juke crossover vehicles for a defective weld on the turbocharger boost sensor bracket. If the sensor separates from the air inlet tube, the vehicle could stall without warning, increasing the risk of an accident. Nissan will be contacting customers starting in the beginning of January. Owners wanting more information about the recall can contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Honda has announced that they will be offering extended warranty on some 2006-2011 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles, due to small cracks that could develop in the gas tanks. According to Honda, the cracks are not a safety problem because the potential fuel leak is very small, and comes from the top area of the tank, by the fuel filler, where there is no ignition source nearby. The driver may smell gas vapors and in rare instances may see a small amount of fuel spilled on the ground. The problem is more likely to occur in states known for very hot weather.

In order to promote consumer confidence, the automaker sent a letter to owners informing them of the extended warranty of 10 years or 120,000 miles from the time the vehicle was new. Honda has also reported the problem to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), where it is being reviewed.

Automobile manufacturers, dealers, rental companies and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have lost their fight against a federal bill that will significantly increase automaker fines for companies who delay automobile recalls. Currently, the maximum fine is just over $17 million, but once the bill goes into effect, the fines could go as high as $200 million. According to groups opposing the bill, “The increases are completely out of proportion to the current penalty structure for manufacturers under the Consumer Product Safety Act.” The bill was introduced in response to unintended acceleration recalls by Toyota in 2009-2010. Even though Toyota vehicles were cleared of electronic flaws causing unintended acceleration, the company ended up paying maximum fines for recall delays.

Other provisions of the bill include an increase in the maximum fine for odometer fraud; new regulations for vehicle pedal placement and push-button ignition; an improved recall database and website; and an anonymous complaint hot line for auto workers, dealers and mechanics to report vehicle safety problems.