Toyota will be asking a small number of 2015 Scion TC owners to return to their dealership for a problem affecting the rear suspension. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, removal and re-installation of the rear suspension to install an optional accessory coil spring may have resulted in improperly torqued bolts. The bolts could loosen during vehicle operation, and under certain circumstances, the rear suspension arm could detach. Continue reading
Tag Archives: safety defect
2015 Audi Q3 Sunroof Safety Defect
Failure to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 118, “Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems”, will have 3,646 owners of certain 2015 Audi Q3 vehicle’s returning to their dealership for repairs. According to the defect report, the sunroof may not stop closing when the vehicle is turned off. If the sunroof is closing while the vehicle is shut off and a vehicle occupant is in its path, there is an increased risk of injury. Continue reading
Mercedes-Benz Smart ForTwo Steering Problem
Mercedes-Benz has determined that a steering defect affecting certain Smart ForTwo vehicles may exist. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, the steering gear bolts on the front cross steering member may have been manufactured outside of production specifications due to a production deviation at a supplier. If the bolts do not meet the endurance requirements, they could break due to high loads and vibrations, making handling difficult and increasing the risk of an accident. Continue reading
2011-2013 Chevy Volt Software Safety Defect
General Motors will be notifying certain 2011-2013 Chevrolet Volt owners about a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety. According to reports, it is possible that drivers could exit their vehicle while inadvertently leaving them “On”. After a period of time, the vehicle’s battery could drain and the vehicle’s gas engine will automatically start to run to recharge it. If the gas engine runs for long periods of time within an enclosed space, such as a garage, carbon monoxide could build up potentially causing injury. Continue reading
2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser Steering Problem
A small number of 2014 FJ Cruiser owners will be notified by Toyota to return to their dealership for a problem affecting the steering system. According to reports, a joint in the intermediate shaft may have received an inadequate weld due to improperly maintained welding equipment at the supplier. If the vehicle is continuously operated in this condition, the weld could separate, resulting in complete loss of steering control and an increased risk of an accident. Continue reading
2014 Kia Forte – Fire Risk Due To Electrical Defect
Owners of approximately 90 thousand 2014 Kia Forte cars will be contacted by the manufacturer to return to their dealership to repair a cooling fan thermal issue. According to reports on the NHTSA website, under certain circumstances, a cooling fan resistor could overheat and melt creating the risk of a fire. Continue reading
Auto Recalls Expected To Increase In 2015
Newly appointed head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Mark Rosekind is warning vehicle owners to expect automobile recalls in 2015 to surpass the record set last year. In 2014, the NHTSA was under scrutiny by safety officials and advocates for their slow response to recalls involving Takata airbags and GM ignition switches. Continue reading
Should Foreign Safety Recalls Lead To U.S. Recalls?
With a record number of recalls this year, the automobile industry has been under tight scrutiny. But even with increased efforts to address problems, known safety recalls continue to evade the United States market. According to a New York Times review of over 500 international recalls, there have been dozens of instances within the last ten years which have prompted recalls or other safety related actions in foreign countries, that have not been treated the same in the United States. Continue reading
