A part dimension error in the seat belts of certain 2014-2015 Acura MDX and 2014 Acura RLX vehicles will have approximately 43,000 owners returning to their dealership to have the defect repaired. According to reports, the relationship between the tolerances within the seat belt re-tractor versus low temperatures could affect the operation of the belts. The driver and front passenger seat belts may not extend or retract in low temperatures, increasing the risk of injury during an accident. Continue reading
Category Archives: Lemon Alert
2008 Toyota Sienna On The Safety Watch List
Using publicly available data from the NHTSA, manufacturer early warning reports, and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), The Safety Institute release a list of vehicles which they feel show early signs of potential problems. According to The Safety Institute’s most recent quarterly vehicle safety watch list, released in October 2014, the Toyota Sienna shows repeated problems affecting the power train and suspension. Continue reading
2014-2015 Mazda6 Tire Monitoring Problem
Certain 2014–2015 Mazda6 vehicles may not meet the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standards for tire pressure monitoring (TPMS). According to reports filed on the NHTSA website, if the pressure in all four tires gradually drop at the same time, the TPMS may not detect the drop and could fail to alert the driver. If the vehicle is driven on under inflated tires for prolonged periods, the tires will wear unevenly and could result in sudden tire failure. Continue reading
2011 Volvo S40 Buyback For Repeated Repair Attempts
The Law Offices of Delsack & Associates, P.C. were contacted by a California resident looking for advice about his defective 2011 Volvo S40. He told us he was experiencing electrical problems that resulted in a “no start” condition and a driver’s seat that would not operate properly. He had given his Volvo dealership twelve (12) opportunities to repair the defects, but the problems remained. Continue reading
2015 Cadillac Escalade Inconsistent Airbag Deployment
Certain 2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV SUVs could fail to conform to the Federal Motor Vehicle Standard (FMVSS) for occupant crash protection. According to reports filed on the NHTSA website, the passenger side instrument panel top cover may have been manufactured with inadequate adhesion between the spacer fabric and the vinyl show surface. The problem could result in the airbag not deploying consistently, increasing the chance of injury to the front passenger. Continue reading
Volkswagen Beetle & Jetta Loss Of Vehicle Control
Volkswagen Group of America will be notifying owners of certain 2011-2013 Jetta and 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles of a safety defect that could result in loss of vehicle control. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, the durability of the trailing arm on one or both rear axles could be reduced during a rear or side rear impact crash. If this problem is not correctly diagnosed and repaired it could lead to a sudden complete fracture of the trailing arm and an increased chance of an accident. Continue reading
BMW Loss Of Power Brakes
BMW will be asking approximately nine thousand sedan, crossover, and roadster owners to return their vehicles to a manufacturer repair facility for a safety defect that could result in the loss of oil supply to the vacuum pump. Due to an insufficient interference fit, the seal disk in the camshaft could move during engine operation, potentially restricting or blocking the oil supply holes. Over time, the pump could fail resulting in loss of power assist braking and an increased chance of an accident. (Even with loss of assist, the service brake control is able to stop the vehicle because affected vehicles meet the applicable FMVSS pertaining to conditions in which there is a loss of power assist braking.) Continue reading
Lexus Fuel Leak Safety Problem
Toyota will be contacting the owners of approximately 422,000 Lexus GS, IS, and LS vehicles to return to their dealerships for a problem with the fuel delivery system.
According to reports filed with the NHTSA, the affected vehicles were manufactured with a plating on the fuel delivery lines to protect against corrosion. This plating could result in the sealing property of the gasket seated between the pressure sensor and the pipe to become degraded. Fuel could leak past the gasket and in the presence of an ignition source, may result in fire. The vehicles affected by this recall includes: Continue reading
