A suit filed in a Los Angeles Federal Court last month is prompting automakers to recall millions of vehicles with keyless ignitions because drivers failing to press the ignition start/stop button could be subject to deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. According to the suit, there have been at least 13 deaths and many close calls because drivers mistakenly believe that removing the Keyless Fob from the vehicle turns off the engine. It claims that Automakers have known about the deadly consequences but fail to install an Outo-Off feature on their vehicles or include warnings in manuals or sales brochures. Continue reading
Agreement Reached Over GM Ignition Switch Problems
General Motors and the Department of Justice (DOJ) reached a settlement last week over the handling of GM’s ignition switch problems which led to the high profile recall of certain Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G-6 and Saturn ion lines in 2014. The agreement ends the government investigation into how GM handled faulty ignition switches being blamed for approximately 250 injuries and 124 deaths. In addition to a $900 million fine, GM has been assigned an independent monitor to review its safety policies.
Officially, the automaker was charged with hiding the defect from regulators and defrauding consumers. There will be no individual charges in the case, and the agreement must still be finalized by the courts.
Chrysler TIPM Defects And Investigations
Owners experiencing problems with the totally integrated power module (TIPM) of certain Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles may find help after a federal judge granted preliminary approval to a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges Chrysler sold and leased 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs equipped with defective TIPMs. The defect resulted a variety of problems including engine stalls; airbag non-deployment; random horn, headlight, taillight, door lock, instrument panel and windshield wiper activity; and failure of the fuel pump shutoff. Continue reading
Subaru Legacy And Outback Power Train Manufacturing Defect
A problem affecting certain 2015-2016 Subaru Legacy 4-door and Outback vehicles will have approximately 2,893 owners returning to their dealership for transmission repairs. Due to a manufacturing error, the process of pressing the seal cap onto the propeller shaft yoke may have resulted in the seal cap becoming deformed. The transmission could leak oil on to the the exhaust pipe, possibly resulting in a fire. Continue reading
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Lemon Law Buyback
The owner of a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, bought in November 2013, started experiencing repeated problems with his SUV shortly after purchasing it. The first repair attempt was in December 2013 with an additional five more repair opportunities at his Jeep dealership. These problems included a defective transmission, suspension, and alignment; which made the Grand Cherokee difficult to drive. This is when the owner decided to call the Law Offices of Delsack & Associates, P.C. for advice. Continue reading
2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala Seat Belt Occupant Sensing Problem
General Motors have announced a problem affecting the automatic occupant sensing (AOS) system in certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles equipped with front vented-heated passenger seats. According to reports, the AOS calibration process may not effectively account for humidity and build material variation and could fail to suppress the front passenger air bag if a child seat is in the front passenger seat. If the airbag deploys with a child seat in the front passenger seat it could increase the risk of injury to the child. The front-passenger airbag status light will indicate that the airbag is “on” when the passenger seat is not occupied or is occupied by an infant. Additionally, the front-passenger seat’s safety-belt warning light and chime may turn on when the passenger seat is not occupied and the seatbelt is not buckled. Continue reading
Nissan Versa Lower Console Could Impede Braking
Nissan will be asking owners of certain 2014-2015 Nissan Versa and Versa Note vehicles to return to their dealerships for a problem that could impede braking. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, under rare circumstances, the driver’s shoe could contact and catch the edge of the center console lower trim panel, potentially impeding smooth pedal operation. The brake and accelerator pedals remain fully operational, however, this condition could cause a slight delay in braking which could increase the braking distance. Continue reading
2014-2015 RAM 1500 Airbag Safety Problem
Chrysler has announced that certain 2014-2015 RAM 1500 Quad Cab trucks may not comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for airbag safety. According to reports, the affected vehicles are equipped with side air bag inflatable curtains (SABIC) that may not fully overlap the C-pillars. In the event of an accident, the SABIC may not inflate as intended, increasing the risk of injury to the rear seat occupant.
