Hoovey689

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Mercedes-Benz M-Class being recalled due to possible accelerator entrapment

Floor mats impeding gas pedals are continuing to cause problems for automakers. This time its Mercedes-Benz.

According to The Detroit News, the German automaker is recalling all-season accessory floor mats on 2012 and 2013 M-Class models for fear that the mat could entrap the go-pedal.

Mercedes-Benz filed this recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, possibly effecting 8,675 in the United States. According to a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson, the floor mats "may not conform to the contours of the floor." This could result in the gas pedal being pressed, and not coming back up, resulting in the car continuing to accelerate. Mercedes has recommended that all M-Class owners remove the floor mats for the time being.

The luxury automaker will notify owners of effected vehicles and have dealers replace the mats free of charge. Mercedes-Benz vehicles currently incorporated brake-override systems that nix the gas pedal inputs when both the accelerator and brake are applied simultaneously.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/13/m...e-accelerator/

Hoovey689

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Chrysler dealers fixing Pentastar V6s due to cylinder head issue

Automotive News reports that Chrysler is replacing the cylinder heads on certain Pentastar V6 engines with "more robust" parts. The automaker hasn't detailed the problem behind the replacement, but says that there were around 1,300 vehicles across the country over the past few weeks waiting for replacement parts.

A shortage of replacement cylinder heads left many owners out of their vehicle for a week or more with Chrysler paying for rentals in the interim. The company says it is receiving as many as 500 requests per week for the new cylinder heads. In response, Chrysler supplied its service network with around 3,000 new parts to fill the orders. New Pentastar engines are being built with the revised heads.

All told, the automaker says the issue impacts around 7,500 of the 1.5 million Pentastar engines produced during the past two years. Owners have complained of ticking, stalling and other issues from Pentastar-equipped models, though Chrysler says the problem is the combination of a number of variables. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Chrysler has yet to release a technical service bulletin on the issue, though all replacements are being done under warranty.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/14/c...er-head-issue/

Hoovey689

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Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana vans recalled due to fire risk

Looks like the NHTSA investigation of the Chevrolet Express has turned into a full-blown recall. Some 9,000 of the full-size vans may have fuel filler pipes that are prone to excessive corrosion, which can lead to leaking. Fuel leaks, of course, lead to the possibility of fires.

The affected vehicles are all from the 2003 and 2004 model year, and include both the Chevy and its GMC Savana twin. But the catch is that the recall only applies to those vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the snow belt. General Motors will be notifying owners and dealers will replace those rusty fuel filler necks.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/15/c...-to-fire-risk/

Hoovey689

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Australia finds asbestos in Chinese-built cars, prompts recall

China's product safety reputation took another hit today, as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced a recall of 23,000 Chinese vehicles made by Great Wall and Chery. The vehicles have engine and exhaust gaskets that contain asbestos, a known carcinogen that is prohibited in Australia. Both manufacturers have been directed to stop selling the affected vehicles, and owners have been warned not to perform any do-it-yourself repairs that involve the problem gaskets.

The recall raises questions about Chinese automakers plans to increase exports, not only to Australia but Europe and potentially even the United States. Yet a spokesman for Great Wall told Bloomberg that the recall "won't have much impact on our export and overseas expansion plans."

How the asbestos-containing parts came to be used in the Australian cars is unclear, but a Chery spokesman told the news agency that the automaker made a mistake, building the cars with a batch of parts that were not intended for use in export cars. But an Australian public affairs official indicated that the recall affects a majority of the vehicles the two Chinese automakers have imported.

Great Wall began exporting vehicles to Australia in 2009 and Chery followed in 2011, according to the report. Combined, they sold just over 17,000 vehicles in Australia between 2010-2011. Models affected by the recall include the Great Wall SA220, V240, X240, V200 and X200 (pictured), as well as the Chery J11 and J3.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/15/a...rompts-recall/

Hoovey689

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Mercedes-Benz recalling small number of G-Wagens over loose molding

Here's a type of recall you don't see everyday: Mercedes-Benz is recalling some 2011 G-Class SUV's because of faulty interior trim.

Only 189 2011 G550 and G55 AMG vehicles are potentially affected, but the issue is fairly serious. In the event of a passenger airbag deployment, a molding strip on the airbag cover flap could dislodge and "become a projectile in the passenger compartment."

Mercedes will be notifying owners in September, and dealers will fix the trim strip, gratis.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/16/m...er-loose-mold/

Hoovey689

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2013 Dodge Durango recalled for faulty airbag module

Chrysler has barely begun production of the 2013 Dodge Durango, but it's already encountered problems that have led to a recall. An incorrect airbag module was installed in roughly 1,500 of the early-production, seven-passenger Durango models. According to Chrysler, these vehicles received mislabeled modules intended for the five-passenger version. In a crash, this could lead to the side-curtain airbag not deploying for the third row.

Chrysler says most of the vehicles that were incorrectly assembled have yet to be sold, but those that have will be repaired by dealers starting in September.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/16/2...airbag-module/

bitkahuna

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DETROIT -- Electric-car maker Fisker Automotive is recalling about 2,400 Karma sports sedans to fix cooling fans that can catch fire.

Hoovey689

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GM recalling 250,000 SUVs over door electronics

After a door-fire investigation that dates back to February, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has officially announced a recall today that affects around 250,000 General Motors SUVs for a faulty driver's door module. The recall applies to the Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 9-7X from the 2006 and 2007 model years, as well as the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL for vehicles sold and/or registered in the Snow Belt.

Road salt use in these midwestern and northern states can lead to corrosion of the driver's door module on these GMT360 and GMT370 vehicles, which allows water to come in contact with the circuit board. If shorted out, the vehicle's power door locks and power windows will not work, and could possibly lead to overheating and, in some circumstances, a fire. No official word on how many total vehicles caught on fire, but back in June, 28 fires had been reported to the government agency. A fix for the problem is still being worked out, but all affected vehicle owners will be notified by GM.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/g...r-electronics/

Hoovey689

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2012 Nissan Versa's airbag under NHTSA investigation

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the 2012 Nissan Versa for a possible defective airbag cable assembly. Some 100,000 Versa sedans may have cables that are pinched in the steering column, which could lead to the airbag not deploying, according to Automotive News.

Nissan notified NHTSA of the issue, though no complaints about the problem have yet been made. The investigation by NHTSA will help determine whether or not a recall is warranted.

The new Versa was already recalled in February for problems with its shifter assembly, whereby automatic-transmission-equipped cars could be shifted out of Park without the driver first depressing the brake pedal. To its credit, though, the Versa was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in March.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/2...investigation/

Hoovey689

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Suzuki recalling 101,000 Forenza, Reno models over faulty headlamps

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a recall of over 100,000 Suzuki models. The NHTSA recall extends to certain 2004-2006 Suzuki Forenza models and 2005-2006 Reno vehicles, These were vehicles produced from September 2003 through March 2006.

According to the announcement, the recall pertains to potentially faulty headlight assemblies. A poor contact in the headlight terminals can result in the splice pack melting, resulting in partial or complete loss of headlamp functionality.

Suzuki is notifying owners of the Pininfarina-designed sedan and Giugiaro-penned hatch of the problem and instructing dealers to reconnect effected headlight wiring with a pair of a heat-shrink crimps.

Owners are asked to contact Suzuki or NHTSA. The recall of 101,688 units is expected to begin in September.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/s...faulty-headla/

Hoovey689

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Infiniti recalls JX over gas gauge issue

The 2013 Infiniti JX just went on sale this summer, but it's already experiencing some growing pains. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a recall for the all-new JX today for an issue that could leave drivers stranded. This recall, which begins on September 4, affects early JX models built between February 15 and June 22. That amounts to 7,842 units – through July, Infiniti has sold 9,724 JX models in total.

Infiniti's new luxury three-row crossover is being recalled due to a problem with a fuel line that can block the fuel level float that could yield an incorrect reading on the fuel gauge. With the gauge stuck at the same level, JX owners could run out of gas thinking they have more fuel than they do. Fortunately, the free fix for the problem is simply inspecting and, if necessary, rerouting the fuel line away from the fuel level float.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/22/i...s-gauge-issue/

Superconni

ECM (Engine Control Module) for 2005-2008 1ZZ-FE (engine) equipped may have been improperly manufactured.

Hoovey689

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Chevy recalls over 44,000 Sonic models over windshield washer issue

The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic has been found to suffer from a windshield wiper washer issue: 44,668 examples of the subcompact could have wiper washer hoses that separate from the fluid reservoir. If that happens, drivers won't be able use the washer system to clean the windshield.

The official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall notice indicates that General Motors will begin notifying owners around September 7, after which time owners can take their cars to their dealers for repair free of charge.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/27/c...eld-washer-is/

Hoovey689

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2013 Ford Escape recalled for third time, again for fire risk

Oh dear. As if the previous two recalls weren't bad enough, the brand new 2013 Ford Escape is under fire yet again for, well, fire. Or at least the potential for it.

According to The Detroit News, 7,600 Escape models – 6,150 of which are in the United States – equipped with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline four-cylinder engine are being recalled due to a faulty cup plug in the engine cylinder head. In the event this cup dislodges, coolant could rapidly leak and create what The Detroit News calls a "combustible glycol concentration" that can catch fire near hot engine components. According to Ford, this recall only affects vehicles with manually installed cup plugs and that only approximately 0.4 percent of the recalled Escapes will have faulty parts. The vehicles in question were built between October 5, 2011 and August 31, 2012.

Ford has not received any reports of fires from customers, though one Escape reportedly caught fire at a dealership in Tennessee.

Back in July, Ford recalled the 2013 Escape due to faulty engine compartment fuel lines in vehicles fitted with the 1.6-liter engine, and asked owners to stop driving the vehicles immediately. The Detroit News reports that Ford will not be issuing a similar warning regarding this new recall because the threat of a fire is much smaller. Also in July, 10,000 Escapes were recalled over a brake pedal interference issue.

Neither Ford or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued an official statement as of this writing.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/05/2...for-fire-risk/

Hoovey689

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2013 Volvo S80, XC70 recalled over faulty TPMS

Tire pressure monitoring systems are notoriously persnickety, but an issue found with the TMPS on the 2013 Volvo S80 and XC70 have been deemed worthy of a recall by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Due to a software glitch in possibly 300 of the Volvos (combined), the "TPMS Service Required" light will come on after 15 minutes of driving above 25 miles per hour, and the TPMS won't be able to warn a driver if a tire is underinflated.

That situation contravenes federal Motor vehicle safety standards, necessitating the recall. Volvo will notify owners, at which time they can take their cars to dealers to have the central electronic module reprogrammed free of charge.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/07/2...r-faulty-tpms/