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Honda recalling 2007-11 Element, 2012 Ridgeline models

Honda has announced a pair of recalls that affect a grand total of 5,233 vehicles here in the United States: 5,216 Element crossovers from the 2007 to 2011 model years, and a whopping 17 Ridgeline pickup trucks from the 2012 model year.

The Element recall only concerns vehicles fitted with the accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. On these vehicles, the wire that powers the trailer turn signals was switched with the wire that controls the actual brake lights, meaning the turn signals will only illuminate when the brakes are on.

As for the Ridgeline, a faulty passenger airbag status indicator may have been installed on vehicles built on April 18 of this year. (How's that for being precise?) This causes the passenger airbag sensor to not properly illuminate, and thus not telling the driver or passengers if the airbag is, in fact, active.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/14/h...geline-models/

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Lamborghini Gallardo recalled for possible power steering fluid leak

Up to 1,491 examples of the 2004-2006 Lamborghini Gallardo coupe and Spyder are being recalled due to potential power steering system leaks. Fluid can escape from high-pressure pipes located near the hydraulic pump, and if the fluid comes into contact with an ignition source a fire could result.

Lamborghini is notifying the affected owners, who can take their Gallardos to their dealers for repairs free of charge.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/15/l...teering-fluid/

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2012 Ford Edge EcoBoost recalled over engine fire risk

Looks like the Escape isn't the only Ford crossover with the potential for fires down below. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that 5,499 Edge models are being recalled due to a fuel line issue. All of the affected vehicles were built between September 2, 2010 and October 31, 2011.

According to the NHTSA report, "The fuel line pulse damper metal housing may crack as a result of an improper manufacturing process." This means that the fuel line can leak, and we don't need to tell you why that's a bad thing.

The official recall campaign is expected to begin later this month, at which point Ford will notify owners and dealers will repair the affected vehicles free of charge

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/17/2...ine-fire-risk/

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NHTSA probing 2005-2008 Ford Crown Victoria police cars over steering issue

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into complaints involving steering column shafts that can separate on Police Interceptor versions of the Ford Crown Victoria. An official recall has not been issued yet, but a separated steering column could be dangerous in that it would cause the driver to lose all steering control of the vehicle. Fortunately, there have been no reported crashes or injuries associated with this issue.

Fox News reports that the NTHSA investigation applies to the 2005 through 2008 model years, accounting for around 195,000 police cars, but there have only been three confirmed instances where the car's steering shaft has failed. The report does state that police agencies have been inspecting their cruisers and there are at least 10 additional complaints of steering shafts that were found to be faulty.

While this problem does not apply to the civilian models of the Crown Vic, there are likely to be numerous privately owned cars affected by the problem since so many decommissioned police cars are purchased at auctions.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/17/n...cars-over-ste/

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NHTSA expanding Hyundai Elantra investigation over possible airbag danger

Back in May, we reported on the unlucky driver of a 2012 Hyundai Elantra who claimed his ear was sliced in half following the deployment of his side airbag. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has since looked into the incident, and while it did not issue a recall, it has expanded its investigation to include all fifth-generation (2011 through 2013 model years) Elantra sedans.

During the accident, a metal bracket that acts to stiffen the headliner detached from the car and hit the driver according to a report on The Detroit News; this bracket is only used on Elantra models built in South Korea and not those built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) in Montgomery, Alabama. It isn't clear what the mix of imported and domestic Elantras is in the U.S., but NHTSA has not received any other reports of a similar incident.

Hyundai has been performing tests to try to duplicate the problem, and while it did get the bracket to detach in one test, the piece of metal apparently didn't separate in a manner that could injure an occupant.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/18/n...possible-airb/

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GM recalling 426,000 sedans over faulty transmission shift cable

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General Motors is recalling some 426,240 sedans that may have a faulty transmission shift cable, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report this morning. The recall concerns a fault within four-speed automatic transmissions equipped on 2007-2010 Saturn Aura models, and 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 models.

The report specifies that tabs on the transmission shift cable may fracture and separate. Such a fault could cause a discrepancy between the actual position of the transmission and the apparent position of the shift lever.

GM is currently working to notify owners of the vehicles in question, and dealers will check and replace shift cables free of charge.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/21/g...n-shift-cable/

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Chevy recalling over 4,700 Sonic subcompacts over faulty turn signals

For the second time in about a month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall on the Chevrolet Sonic. Last month, around 44,000 2012 Sonics were recalled for a leaky windshield washer reservoir hose, and now over 4,700 owners of the 2013 Sonic can expect to receive a recall notice.

This time around, NHTSA says that certain Sonics built between May 29 and August 29 exhibit a condition where the car's turn signals don't operate properly, meaning the car does not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard regulations. Like the previous recall on the Sonic, this one has a relatively easy fix that requires the body control module and the key fobs to be reprogrammed.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/25/c...aulty-turn-si/

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Honda recalling over 570,000 Accord sedans for power steering issue

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda is recalling over 625,762 Accord and Acura TL models. The Accord models in question were all built for the 2003 to 2007 model years and are all equipped with V6 engines, while the affected Acura TL sedans are from the 2007 and 2008 model years.

NHTSA report states that the power steering hoses in these vehicles may deteriorate prematurely, and can cause fluid to leak onto hot parts of the engine. If power steering fluid were to spill onto a hot catalytic converter, it could cause smoke and potentially a fire.

Earlier this year, we reported that 52,615 Acura TL models were being recalled for this same issue, but Honda has now added 573,147 Accords to the list of potentially faulty vehicles.

Honda will begin notifying these new affected customers near the end of October, though not all of these vehicles will be repaired immediately. According to NHTSA, "Sufficient parts are not yet available for owners of the vehicles covered by the September 2012 expansion, but are expected to be available in early 2013."

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/01/h...r-steering-is/

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GM recalling over 40,000 Chevy, Pontiac and Saturn models over fuel pump woes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall for a number of General Motors cars and crossovers bought or currently registered in the hot-climate states of Arkansas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oklahoma and Texas. As many as 40,859 units consisting of the 2007 Chevrolet Equinox, Pontiac Torrent and Saturn Ion and the 2007-2009 Chevrolet Cobalt (shown) and its Pontiac G5 twin are being recalled for potential fuel leaks.

This recall is being issued due to potentially faulty fuel pump components that can crack and cause gasoline to leak from the return or supply ports and possibly cause a fire. NHTSA has not indicated how many fuel leaks or vehicle fires have been reported. As a fix, GM will replace the fuel pump modules on all affected vehicles free of charge. Since Pontiac and Saturn have been shuttered, owners will be able to go to another GM-brand dealership to have their vehicles repaired.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/01/g...models-over-f/

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Nissan recalling select 2012 Frontier, Pathfinder and Xterra models over wheel hub fractures

The Nissan Frontier, Xterra and Pathfinder might all be rugged trucks and SUVs, but two-wheel-drive versions of these vehicles are being recalled due to front suspension components that could possibly fail. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nissan is recalling about 2,400 of these models due to defective front wheel hubs that were installed on 2012 model-year vehicles built from June 19 through July 12.

Wheel hubs that are faulty could crack and possibly break, which could cause the vehicle to be disabled or get into an accident. NTHSA did not specify if any accidents were reported as a result of this concern, but it appears Nissan caught the problem early enough to limit any large-scale problems. To resolve this recall, Nissan is replacing both front wheel hubs on all affected two-wheel-drive Frontiers, Xterras and Pathfinders.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/03/n...nd-xterra-mod/

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GM recalling 67k Chevy Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura models in Canada

General Motors is recalling a total of 67,414 sedans in Canada for power steering failures. The campaign covers 2005, 2006 and 2008 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx models as well as Pontiac G6 vehicles. The 2008 Saturn Aura is also included in the recall. Transport Canada says while power steering may fail, drivers will still be able to maintain control of their vehicle with additional steering effort. Owners will be notified of the failure by a chime and an illuminated warning light on the instrument panel.

Neither GM nor Transport Canada is saying what causes the failures, though the automaker has agreed to replace the steering column in 2005 and 2006 models, while 2008 vehicles will receive new power steering motor control modules. You can view the complete recall notice from Transport Canada below for more information. It is unclear whether or not U.S. vehicles will see a similar recall.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/03/g...n-aura-models/

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Honda expands headlight recall to include 820k Civic, Pilot models

Back in March, Honda issued a recall of 554,000 CR-V and Pilot crossovers due to faulty headlamps. But last month, the automaker quietly issued an expansion of this recall that includes 820,000 Civic and Pilot models from the 2002-2003 and 2004-2005 model years, respectively.

Honda began notifying owners of these newly affected vehicles in September.

A possible wiring fault in the headlight switch could cause the low-beams to not work in these affected models, and we certainly don't need to tell you why that could be hazardous. Honda has stated that no crashes or injuries have been reported in relation to this issue.

We may just now be reporting on the headlight recall expansion, but it comes right on the heels of another big Honda recall. Earlier this week, the Japanese automaker announced a recall of over 570,000 Accord and Acura TL models due to faulty power steering hoses.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/h...ic-pilot-mode/

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NHTSA probing Hyundai Veloster for shattering sunroofs

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation following complaints from drivers that the sunroofs on the Hyundai Veloster are prone to spontaneously exploding.

There are 15 complaints in the NHTSA database from drivers who say they heard a loud bang, and then sat through a downpour of glass.

One woman said she was driving home from getting her first oil change and tire rotation on the Veloster.

"All of the sudden there was a loud bang like a gunshot, and I heard something raining down on my car," reads the complaint, which is listed without any identifying information in the NHTSA database. "I looked in the mirror and saw glass flying everywhere... The glass was in my hair, down the back of my shirt and my pants."

All of the incidents happened on very new models, with less than 3,000 miles on the odometer. Two people said the roof exploded while the car was parked. One person was hosing the car down in the driveway when the glass shattered. This person said the glass flew as far as six feet away from the car.

Jim Trainor, a spokesman for Hyundai, said the company is working with NHTSA to look into the problem.

"Our evaluation is in the very early stages and Hyundai is in the process of examining each report," Trainor said. "As always, we will work closely with NHTSA on this evaluation."

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/05/n...ring-sunroofs/

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NHTSA probing Ford Escape over throttle issue

According to the Associated Press, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is training its gaze on 2005-2012 Ford Escape. According to the report, the federal safety agency has opened a probe at the behest of the North Carolina Consumers Council, which petitioned for an investigation following a pair of complaints related to throttle issues.

The council noted in its petition that Ford has previously acknowledged a problem with hesitation and stalling in Escape models, as it has issued a series of technical service bulletins to its dealer body to deal with the issue.

The NHTSA inquiry is not a full-blown investigation at this time and there is no recall pending. No crashes or injuries have been reported due to the problem, but up to 1.6 million examples of the popular crossover could be affected if NHTSA's study does trigger a recall.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/06/n...hrottle-issue/

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Honda Pilot, Odyssey models investigated for rollaway risk

The Office of Defects Investigation within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking at the 2003 and 2004 Honda Odyssey (above) and Pilot (right) over a potential roll-away issue.

On vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, the ignition park-shift interlock is the suspected culprit. A possible malfunction allows drivers to remove the key from the ignition even if the vehicle is not in Park. Vehicles have been said to roll away and collide with other objects.

Forty-three complaints, some apparently resulting in injuries, have triggered the agency's examination of approximately 577,000 vehicles. Honda says it will begin its own investigation into the matter as well.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/07/h...rollaway-risk/