Tag Archives: Brake Problems

Mercedes Floor Mat Replacement

Posted on by

Mercedes Benz are asking customers driving certain ML-Class vehicles, to remove their accessory floor mats and to bring them in to their nearest dealership to have them replaced. According to Mercedes, certain vehicles are equipped with all season floor mats that may not conform to the contour of the vehicle’s floor. The fit could reduce the clearance between the mat and the gas pedal, possibly allowing the pedal to become trapped. Mercedes will be notifying owners starting in September and will replace the floor mats free of charge. The vehicles included in the recall include:

Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Ford Escape Braking Problem

Posted on by

Days after the 2013 Ford Escape debuted in dealership showrooms, the automobile manufacturer has already issued a recall for the small crossover vehicle. According to the recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the positioning of the carpet padding around the center console could interfere with the drivers use of the brake pedal. The driver could experience increased stopping distances which increases the chance of an accident. It is estimated that over 8,000 vehicles are affected by this recall, but because the vehicle is so new, most are still in the dealership showrooms. Owners wanting more information on the problem can contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

Chevy Captiva Park Brake Could Disengage

Posted on by

General Motors (GM) have announced a recall for certain 2012 Chevrolet Captiva sport passenger vehicles because they may fail to conform to the park brake performance requirements of the federal motor vehicle safety standards. According to the recall report, the park brake cable may not be fully seated and could separate from its connector. The park brake could become inoperative and the vehicle could roll away unexpectedly. Dealers will inspect and secured the cable as necessary. Owners wanting more information on the problem can contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.

Toyota Acceleration Pedals Still A Problem

Posted on by

Toyota’s 2009 unintended acceleration problems continue as Toyota announces a recall for certain 2010 Lexus RX350 and 2010 Lexus RX450H vehicles manufactured between November 2008 through September 2010. According to the recall report, the accelerator pedal could get trapped under an unsecured or incompatible floor mat, allowing the vehicle to accelerate out of control. An accident could result if the the driver fails to rectify the problem quickly. Lexus will begin notifying owners of the problem starting in August, and will modify the accelerator pedal and replace any floor mats not specified for the vehicle. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.

Lincoln MKT Potential Wheel Separation

Posted on by

Ford has announced that they will be recalling certain 2013 Lincoln MKT cars used as hearse or limousine vehicles. These vehicles may have been manufactured with rear brake rotor bolts that are not fully seated allowing the head to protrude above the wheel mounting surface. The raised bolt could lead to torque loss in the wheel joint which could lead to wheel separation. Most vehicles have been quarantined at the coach builder’s facility and will be repaired before delivery and notices were sent out on May 24, 2012 to owners already receiving delivery of their vehicles. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Ford Motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.

Kia Borrego Brake Problem

Posted on by

Kia is recalling certain 2009 Borrego vehicles equipped with non adjustable brake pedals. The recall report states that certain pedal mounts may have a fiberglass composition that allows them to break off in a collision. If the vehicle continues to roll after the impact, the driver would only have the parking brake to stop it. Kia will be notifying owners to take their vehicles to their dealerships to have the brake pedal mount replaced. For more information on the problem, contact the Kia consumer assistance center at 1-800-333-4542.

Posted in Kia.

Chrysler Brake And Stability Problem

Posted on by

Chrysler has announced that they will be recalling certain 2011-2012 Chrysler 300 and 2011-2012 Dodge Charger vehicles for electrical problems. According to Chrysler, the plastic insert surrounding the fuse for the power distribution center could distort due thermal expansion and contraction. This distortion could interrupt power to the anti-locking braking system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) system, making them inoperable. Chrysler will fix the problem by relocating the fuse to a cooler area. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

NHTSA Mandatory Brake Override

Posted on by

A year after safety regulators closed an investigation into unintended acceleration by Toyota vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing that all automakers be required to install brake override systems in all their cars and light trucks. Also known as a “smart pedals”, these systems recognize when the gas pedal and brake pedal are being pressed simultaneously and uses the car computer to slow it down. The technology was first used in the late 1980’s in the BMW 750, as a performance enhancement for heel-and-toe race-style driving , and every BMW built since 2001 have brake override. As of early 2010, car makers like Nissan, Volkswagen, and Chrysler, have been using brake-override systems in the majority of their vehicles. As automakers use more and more integrated electronic systems, it’s likely that more models will come standard with advanced safety systems like brake override.

Opposition to the proposal should be minimal. Most automobile manufacturers already have the technology standard on most of their vehicles, and the cost is minimal for those that don’t. If the proposal is voted in, automakers would have two years to comply.