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.
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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:
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:
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.
Nissan Fuel Pressure Sensor May Leak
Nissan is recalling certain Nissan and Infiniti vehicles for a fuel pressure sensor that may not have been tightened to the correct manufacturers specifications. The sensor may loosen as a result of heat and vibration, causing fuel to leak and increasing the risk of fire. Nissan will inspect and replace the the fuel pressure sensor as necessary. Owners can contact Nissan customer service at 615-725-1000 for more information. The vehicles involved in this recall include:
Fuel Leaks In Honda And Acura Vehicles
Honda is recalling certain 2012 Honda Pilot and 2012 Acura MDX vehicles for fuel leaks that could increase the risk of fire. According to the recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the vent shut float (VSF) valve case in the fuel tank was not manufactured to the proper specification. Honda will inspect the VSF assembly date and will replace the fuel tank assembly accordingly. The recall is expected to affect almost 9,000 vehicles. Owners wanting more information on the recall can contact Honda customer services at 1-800-999-1009.
Honda Airbag Injury Victim Lucky To Be Alive
A Georgia woman is lucky to be alive after suffering a potentially fatal neck wound from a chunk of metal from an airbag deployment in her 2001 Honda Civic. Kristy Williams wounds are similar to injuries sustained by a teenager in Oklahoma and a mom in Virginia who were not as lucky when their airbags deployed with a deadly force. Medical reports show all three women sustained similar injuries and all women drove 2001 Honda vehicles.
Honda’s first airbag recall came in November 2008, and has been expanded four times to cover 2.5 million vehicles. The recall, however, stops at the 2003 models even though regulators have received 127 complaints about Honda and Acura models over the last 10 model years whose airbag went off with no crash. In Williams case, the surprise deployment was linked to an improper repair after an airbag replacement done to the vehicle before she bought it.
Honda Defective Window Mechanism
Two disgruntled Honda drivers have filed a class action lawsuit against Honda for defective window mechanisms that allowed the vehicles window to fall inside the door. According to the suit, a defective piece of plastic used to keep the windows in place while it is being operated, wears and breaks under normal operating conditions. The defect not only poses a hazard to drivers and passengers, but the $400 bill and loss of the use of the vehicle while repairs are being made are unacceptable. The suit also alleges that Honda knew that the fix made available to consumers resulted in repeated window regulator failures on the same vehicle. The vehicles involved in the law suit include the Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot, Honda Element, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Honda Civic, and Acura MDX from model years 1994 to 2007.
