Autos : 2013 Ford models hit with trio of recalls, 465k for fire risk

According to The Detroit News, Ford is issuing three separate recalls on new 2013 models, one of which affects 465,000 vehicles. That largest recall comes as the result of 600 complaints of fuel leaks, which could lead to a fire risk, the report indicates. Included in the 465k-unit recall are the 2013 Explorer, Flex, Fusion, Taurus and Police Interceptor sedan, as well as the Lincoln MKS, MKT and MKZ.

According to Ford, in a statement obtained by the Detroit News, "The condition could result in customers detecting a fuel odor, or in some cases, observe evidence of a fuel leak on the ground." Ford continues, "While a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire, there have been no reports of fires. We are not aware of any accidents or injuries attributed to this condition."

In addition to all of this, Ford is recalling 500 examples of its 2013 Lincoln MKZ equipped with engine block heaters. The Detroit News states that, according to Ford, the insulation on the engine block heater's electrical cord may crack in cold temperatures.

Lastly, an extra 23 Ford Fusion models are being recalled due to potential impairment or loss of steering control. The News says this is due to faulty steering gears that may have been built without an internal retaining clip.

Since launching, the 2013 Fusion has been the subject of a number of recalls, two of which have involved the potential for engine fires. The fresh-faced 2013 Lincoln MKZ has had its own share of problems, with early production woes leaving many dealers without cars. Instances like this are causing Ford to rethink its vehicle launch strategy, in which the automaker will work better to smooth out the new car launch process, with the goal being fewer quality issues and recalls. 

 

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Rides : Recall roundup: Acura TSX for possible ECU problems

 

Acura has recently announced a recall for some units of the TSX because of a possible problem with the ECU, which might lead to an engine stall.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a total of 76,253 units of the Acura TSX across the United States will be affected by this problem and their owners will have to take a trip back to the dealers, because of a problem with the ECU. The NHTSA says that in states where corrosive materials are being used for deicing, the road salt and the water from the drivers’ shoes might saturate the carpet under the dashboard.
If this happens, the ECU (engine control unit) might be damaged and it might lead to an engine stall. The company’s dealers will inspect and replace the damaged ECUs and also install waterproof covers on the ECU. The affected Acura TSXs are from the 2004-2008 model years and they have been sold and registered in many states. Owners of the cars will be notified by Acura or Honda soon and the recall is expected to begin on the 11th of April. Meanwhile, if you own an Acura TSX from the 2004-2008 model year in the U.S., you should contact the carmaker at (800) 382-2238.

Rides : GM recalls 8,500 Chevrolet Malibu models for rear suspension glitch

According to a letter from General Motors to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, flaws in the build process of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have led to the recall of 8,519 cars. Units built between December 6, 2011 and January 15, 2013 may have been assembled with rear suspension cradles that had insufficient torque applied to certain bolts. That out-of-spec assembly could lead to issues ranging from slight noises to a loss of vehicle control.

The problem was first noticed in December of last year by a GM test fleet driver and eventually tracked back to the improperly torqued bolts on the suspension cradle assembled through July 2012 by a supplier located not too far from the Malibu's Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly Plant. Since an official NHTSA recall notice has not been issued yet, it isn't clear whether or not Detroit-built Malibus were the only ones affected (the 2013 Malibu is also built at GM's Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas). Dealers will fix the problem by inspecting vehicles for proper torque specs, retightening if not within specs and, in some cases, perform a rear-wheel alignment. 

 

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Rides : GM recalling nearly 4,000 vehicles over airbag concerns

Four different General Motors vehicles from the 2012 model year are being recalled over a potential airbag issue. The driver's side airbag shorting bar in the 2012 Buick Verano and 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic might make contact with the airbag terminals, even during a crash. If so, the airbag won't deploy when it should, possibly increasing injury to the driver.

The recall is expected to begin on February 13 for the 3,896 units that might be affected. GM will notify owners who can then take their vehicles to dealers to have the airbag coil replaced. A bulletin from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration below has more info. 

Press Release

Report Receipt Date: JAN 24, 2013
NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V023000

Component(s): AIR BAGS
Vehicle Model Year(s) Make - Model: 2012 BUICK VERANO, 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO, 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE, 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC
Potential Number of Units Affected: 3,896
Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

SUMMARY:
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

CONSEQUENCE:
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal airbag, that airbag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.

REMEDY:
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

NOTES:
This is General Motors recall number 12261 and is an expansion of NHTSA recall 12V-522. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Credit : Autoblog

Rides :Toyota Recalls 1.1 Million cars globally for Faulty Airbags

 

The Japanese based automaker Toyota has recently announced a recall for 1.1 million of its cars globally because of a problem with the airbags.

According to the car manufacturer, a total of 1.1 million Toyota vehicles will be affected by this recall globally and their owners will have to take a trip back to the dealers in order to get the problem with the airbags fixed. Toyota says that out of the 1.1 million cars, 752,000 units are Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles in the United States.
The affected vehicles have a problem with the airbags which might deploy inadvertently. The IC chip in the airbag control unit can malfunction when it’s receiving electrical interference from other cars and this might lead to the deployment of the airbags when it’s not necessary. Another recall announced by Toyota will affect 385,000 units of the Lexus IS, out of which 270,000 units have been sold across the United States. The repair will take approximately 30 minutes. If you own one of the vehicles mentioned above we advise you to contact your local Toyota dealership as soon as possible.

Rides : Recalls -Land rover Recalls Evoque Due To Steering Issue

 

The British based automaker Jaguar Land Rover has recently announced two separate recalls for the Land Rover Freelander and for the Range Rover Evoque.

According to the car manufacturer, approximately 800 units of the Range Rover Evoque will be affected by this recall and their owners will have to take a trip back to the dealers because of a problem with the steering. JLR says that if ignored, this problem might lead to a possible crash or injury. Several units of the Range Rover Evoque, along with the Land Rover Freelander, will also be recalled because of an issue with the braking system.

“Land Rover is voluntarily conducting a safety recall to inspect the power assisted steering gear mounting fixings in certain Range Rover Evoque models and the brake calipers in certain Freelander and Evoque models. Customers will vehicles that are potentially affected by these issues will be contacted in the near future”, said a JLR spokesman.

The braking problem will affect approximately 600 units of the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander. No reports on accidents or injuries related to these two problems have been reported yet. The affected vehicles have been produced in Halewood, Merseyside. The recall should begin soon but no exact date has been announced yet.

Rides : Dodge Durango Recalled For Incorrect Information Labels

 

The North American based automaker Dodge has recently announced a recall for the Durango model because of a problem with incorrect seating capacity information labels.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a total of 734 units of the 2013 Dodge Durango vehicles will be affected by this recall. The NHTSA says that the labels might overstate the seating capacity and because of this, the models don’t comply with the FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) number 110. If this problem is ignored, the risk of injury might increase during a crash.

“The seating capacity information on the tire placard label may incorrectly state the total seating capacity as 7 and rear seating capacity as 5 on certain vehicles with 2nd row captain chairs, when it should have stated 6 and 4, respectively”, as the NHTSA says in its summary of the problem.

The issue has been discovered in September. Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by the Chrysler Group, which will provide them with replacement labels. The owners can also take their vehicles to the dealers which will install the label at no charge. The notification will begin in February, 2013. Meanwhile, owners can contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753 or the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

Rides : Honda recalling 871,000 SUVs and minivans over rollaway fear

Honda is recalling 871,000 SUVs and minivans for an issue in which the vehicles may roll away after the key has been removed form the ignition. 92 percent of the recalled vehicles, or 807,000 vehicles are in the US. According to a report from Reuters, the effected vehicles include certain numbers of the Honda Odyssey and Pilot, as well as the Acura MDX. Here are the recall figures:

• 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey: 318,000 vehicles
• 2003-2004 Honda Pilot: 259,000 vehicles
• 2003-2005 Acura MDX: 230,000 vehicles
• Additional Honda vehicles outside US: 64,000

The specific issue at the center of the recall pertains to the ignition interlock. A part of that system could become damaged or worn. As a result, the key could be removed, even if the car's transmission is in drive or the vehicle is still on.

A probe was opened into the issue after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received 43 complaints, including several reported injuries. NHTSA found that the vehicles in these complaints rolled off, and some hit parked cars, fences, trees and mailboxes. One owner even reported a fractured fibula sustained while trying to stop an Odyssey that was rolling away. In February of 2013, Honda will commence the distribution of recall noticed to the vehicles in question. 

 

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RIdes : Ford details how it will fix recalled fire-risk 2013 Escape and Fusion models

Ford announced today that it has determined the problem and has worked up a fix for the engine fires that have resulted in recalls for 2013 Ford Escape and Fusion models equipped with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine. Ford says the fires are being caused by an issue with the cooling system software that fails to properly manage engine temperatures during "unique overheating conditions," which are allowing the engines to get hot enough to start a fire while running. This is the third explanation for the engine fires with faulty fuel lines being the culprit back in July and leaking coolant in September – both of these could potentially be caused by extreme engine overheating.

To prevent the overheating, Ford will be updating the software for the cooling system, but until then, the automaker says that owners of affected vehicles should not drive their vehicles and contact the dealer to arrange alternative transportation. According to Automotive News, this means that 73,320 owners are still in rental cars costing Ford up to $55 per day. None of the other engines used in these vehicles are involved in the recall.

 

Press Release

Ford Produces Fix in Voluntary Safety Recall of 2013 Escapes, 2013 Fusions with 1.6-liter Engines

-Ford today announced a corrective action to address potential engine overheating that could result in engine fires in 2013 Ford Escape SE and SEL models with the 1.6-liter engine and 2013 Ford Fusion SE and SEL models with the 1.6-liter engine

-Ford will make updates to the cooling system software to better manage engine temperatures during a unique overheating condition. Original cooling system design was not able to address a loss of coolant system pressure under certain operating conditions. The new software will resolve this issue

-Escapes equipped with the 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter engines are unaffected as are Fusions equipped with 2.5-liter and hybrid engines

-Ford remains absolutely committed to continuously improving and providing the highest-quality vehicles to its customers. When a potential issue is identified, Ford acts promptly on behalf of customers

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 10, 2012 – Ford Motor Company today announced a corrective action to address potential engine overheating that could result in engine fires in SE and SEL models of the 2013 Ford Escape and Ford Fusion models equipped with 1.6-liter engines. The vehicles were subjects of a voluntary safety recall announced Nov. 30.

An intensive, cross-discipline engineering team at Ford worked to identify the root cause of the extreme engine overheating condition.

To fix the condition, Ford will make software updates to the cooling system of the 1.6-liter engine available in the SE and SEL models of the 2013 Ford Escape and 2013 Ford Fusion. The software updates will better manage engine temperatures during a unique overheating condition that could occur under unique operating conditions. The original cooling system design was not able to address a loss of coolant system pressure under certain operating conditions, which could lead to a vehicle fire while the engine was running.

"We remain absolutely committed to continuously improving and providing the highest-quality vehicles to our customers. When a potential issue is identified, we act promptly on behalf of our customers, as we did this time," said Raj Nair, Ford Group Vice President, Global Product Development.

Ford is now working to deliver the software and repair procedure to its dealers. The company will begin notifying customers so they can schedule service appointments with dealers.

Beginning early next week, customers will be able to get the software update at their dealer. The time needed for this repair is less than one-half day. However, due to service
scheduling requirements, a dealer may need the vehicle for a longer period of time.

Until the cooling software is updated, customers driving 2013 Escape vehicles equipped with the 1.6-liter engine and 2013 Fusion models equipped with the 1.6-liter engine have been advised to contact their dealer to arrange for alternative transportation at no charge.

Some drivers who have experienced high engine temperatures followed by engine fires have said that their clusters have shown the message "Engine Power Reduced to Lower Temps" or "Engine over temp, stop safely." Some also indicated that their instrument clusters sounded a chime and illuminated a red light.

Ford advised drivers who see any of these indications to safely pull off the road as soon as possible, turn off the engine and exit the vehicle.

Notifications have been sent to customers affected by the recall. Customers also can see if they are affected by the recall by:


-Checking their 17-digit VIN, located on a label on the driver door opening, at the base of the windshield on the driver's side of their vehicle, or on their vehicle registration. In vehicles with 1.6-liter engines, the eighth character will be "X" on Escapes or "R" on Fusions;
-Logging onto Ford.com, click "View Notices and Recalls" in the "Support" tab and inputting their VIN;
-Calling 866-436-7332 in the U.S. or 888-222-7814 in Canada;
-or Contacting a Ford dealer

2013 Escapes equipped with 2.0-liter and the 2.5-liter engines are unaffected. 2013 Fusions equipped with the 2.5-liter and hybrid engines are also unaffected – as are all Titanium models.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 172,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

 

Credit : Autoblog

2013 Ford Fusion gets 2nd recall in a week, this time for faulty headlamps

Ford is recalling a total of 19,106 2013 Fusion models for faulty headlights, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The car's low beam headlamp projector coating may not have cured correctly during manufacturing, which may cause haziness over time, dimming the lights. The resulting reduced visibility could cause a crash. Ford will notify affected Fusion owners, and dealers will replace the faulty lamp assemblies free of charge. Expect the recall campaign to begin on December 10.

This is the second recall of Ford's young Fusion in a week's time. Last Friday saw Ford calling in 15,833 of its new sedans equipped with 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engines. According to NHTSA, the engine could overheat and potentially cause a fire while running. 

 

Press Release

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
FORD / FUSION 2013

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company Report Receipt Date: NOV 30, 2012

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 12V553000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 19,106

Summary:
Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Fusion vehicles, manufactured from February 3, 2012, through October 20, 2012, for failing to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." The affected vehicles may not have had the low beam headlamp projector coating properly cured during its manufacturing process.

Consequence:
An improperly cured projector coating will become hazy through operation, over time, reducing the brightness of the low-beam lamp. This may decrease driver visibility and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy:
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headlamp assembly. The recall is expected to begin on December 10, 2012. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.

Notes:
Ford's recall campaign number is 12C27. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

Credit : Autoblog