If you own a 2011 Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain or Cadillac SRX this is not a recall you want to miss. While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been busy recalling everything from Bentley logos to Suzuki gloveboxes, this latest recall regards seat belts that could fail.

In total, 97,800 of the three crossovers have been recalled for a seat belt anchor that could break, resulting in a seat belt that might not hold in place in an accident.

Owners will be notified with repairs set to start on January 18th, 2011. GM advises that owners who are concerned about the recall can contact the GM Owner Center or call one of the below numbers:

Cadillac: 1-866-982-2339

CHEVROLET: 1-800-630-2438

GMC: 1-866-996-9463

An investigation and eventually a recall on snapping rear axles on Ford’s Windstar minivan wasn’t enough to save the life of Sean Bowman of Massachussetts. A 28 year-old father of two and Coast Guard veteran, Bowman’s family received an official recall notice in the mail from Ford a week after the he had died in a crash behind the wheel of his Windstar – an accident his family alleges was the direct result of a rear axle that snapped while Bowman was on his way to community college.

Bowman’s family is considering legal action against Ford, stating that the severity of the recall demanded more immediate action. “This is not your average, everyday recall. This is your rear axle can break, you can lose control of your vehicle, your wheels can fall off,” Bowman’s wife told The Associated Press.

Ford says that it fulfilled its legal requirement by notifying customers with vehicles affected by the recall.

After the story of Bowman’s death broke, Ford announced it would expand the recall to an additional 37,000 Windstar minivans, bringing the recall total to 612,000. The initial recall was only for vans in certain colder states where it was deemed corrosion was a factor in the snapping axles. The expanded recall now includes all 2003 vehicles and also now encompasses the state of Utah.

The recall itself has been a significant problem for Ford, as new axles had to be manufactured, causing a long wait for owners. As a result, Ford offered to either pay for rental vehicles for customers with affected vehicles, or to even buy back the minivans. The latter choice is proving the more cost effective for Ford, with most of the vans now quite old and their value quite low. Some customers waiting for the repair have had their vehicles parked on Ford dealer lots for over four moths.

Ford may face increasing threats of legal action over this issue, as there is likely to be a high number of recalled vehicles on the road that remain unrepaired. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 70 percent of recalled vehicles are repaired within the first 18 months, however, that number is generally much lower when recalls are issued for older vehicles.

[Source: NPR]

UPDATE: The Ford Windstar is now under investigation by NHTSA for rusting subframe issues. Click here to read the story.

Chrysler has announced that it is recalling a total of 76,122  2010-11 Ram Heavy Duty models equipped with the 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel engine, due to a fault with the brake lights.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the problem stems from the vehicle’s hydro-boost brake system that uses hydraulic pressure from the power steering to provide brake assist. Residual pressure in the steering system, caused by inadequate ventilation from the power steering cap results in a slower return travel of the brake pedal, causing the brake lights to stay on longer, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.

The affected vehicles were built between March 2009 and October 2010 and so far, 175 instances of slow brake pedal return have been reported to Chrysler. Owners of the affected trucks will have the problem fixed free of charge and contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or NHTSA’s safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more information.

[Source: Pickup trucks.com]

A recall has been announced for four late model Volvo vehicles due to an issue with the power seats that could post a safety risk.

In total 7,420 vehicles could be affected by the recall, with the list including the S40, V50, S60 and XC60 crossover from model years 2009 to 2011. The issue surrounds an improperly built passenger seat rail that could allow someone sitting in the seat to move it too far forward, which could result in an injury in the case of an accident.

Volvo is expected to announce the recall shortly with information on when customers will be notified. In the mean time, customers with vehicles affected can contact their Volvo dealer in order to have the car inspected to see if their seat rails are included in the recall.

Volvo recently issued a recall for 6,000 models due to a fuel cutoff issue.

Owners can contact Volvo at 1.800.458.1552 or at customercare@volvoforlife.com.

Land Rover is recalling approximately 3,000 examples of it’s baby LR2 models for a potential issue with the driver’s airbag module. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall affects those LR2s manufactured between November 12, 2009 and August 23 2010.

And according to an official statement released from the government agency the problem centers around the shorting bar in the clock spring, which may become disconnected when the driver’s side airbag module is installed. As a result the driver’s air bag may not deploy properly or deploy at all in the event of an accident.

For a full rundown on the recall, click on the link below. In the meantime, if you own one of these LR2s affected by the recall, both NHTSA and Land Rover urge you to contact your local Land Rover dealer, so the problem can be fixed free of charge.

Ah, another day, another spate of recalls. A total of 90,000 vehicles from three different automakers are under separate recalls for everything from loose mirrors to defrosters. (At least it’s not as ridiculous as rusting Bentley ornaments).

Suzuki is recalling a total of 70,000 SX4 models from 2007 to 2010 due to side mirror covers that can come loose and fall off. The fix is a simple use of four new screws to hold the mirror caps on. Suzuki says it will begin notifying owners in November.

Meanwhile Mitsubishi is recalling 20,000 Endeavor SUVs from 2006-08. Trucks equipped with manual air conditioning could incorrectly close the heater door, limited the ability for the defroster to function properly and, therefore, limit visibility. Mitsubishi will reprogram the software in affected vehicles to solve the issue, and replace the heater door if necessary.

Ford also has one small recall out today, for 71 2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers. The issue with the vehicles involves the rear liftgate which was improperly programmed from the factory so the liftgate can’t lock. Ford will notify owners next week in order to get the part repaired.

[Source: DetroitNews]

Nissan has announced a recall of 2.14 million vehicles worldwide relating to an issue with the ignition system that could cause the cars and trucks to stall. Included in the recall are models sold outside the U.S., like the March, Micra and Note, while here at home vehicles affected include the Titan pickup, the Versa (sold as the Tiida overseas), the Cube and the Infiniti QX56. A total of 762,000 vehicles in the U.S. are affected.

In certain cases the vehicle could stall and not be able to start again.

No accidents have been reported as a result of the problem and Nissan says the issue is a simple fix, even stating that it could take less than an hour to repair affected vehicles.

Nissan is expected to announce a complete list of models involved and begin notifying owners.

[Source: Detroit News]

General Motors has just issued a recall for almost 400,000 Chevrolet Impala models for seat belts that may have been installed improperly. The recall affects 392,409 vehicles from 2009 and 2010, which may have incorrectly installed seatbelt anchor bolts. As a result, in an accident the seatbelt anchor could come detached, thereby failing to hold a passenger in place.

No accidents or injuries have been reported.

GM will send a recall notice by mail to owners of affected vehicles and is preparing a fix for the vehicles at no charge.

We guess Tesla didn’t want to feel left out. Now, they can say that they are the fourth niche manufacturer in recent time that has had to issue a parts recall for a vehicle defect.

The problem is an overflowing 12V auxiliary cable that is rubbing against a carbon fiber panel on one of the 439 private roadsters. This recall only affects the 2.0 and 2.5 Roadsters.

Helping to power a host of electrical systems if the primary cable fails, this cable needs to be inspected and fitted with a protective sleeve.

Read out AutoGuide’s review of the 2011 Tesla Roadster 2.5 S by Clicking Here

Mercedes-Benz is recalling about 85,000 of its C-Class and E-Class models due to potential steering problems.

The recall affects the 2010 C-Class as well as 2010 and 2011 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet models. Mercedes says the cars could lose power steering fluid and cause drivers to lose “sufficient control of the vehicle,” especially in low-speed situations.

If you own one of these cars, you can return it to the dealer who will check the powering steering systems for free.

[Source: AP]

A recall has been issued on approximately 20,692 Suzuki brand vehicles (including 2009-2010 Equator pickups, Grand Vitara and SX4 models) for defective navigation systems. The vehicles, which were originally equipped with Garmin Nuvi 750; 760 and 765 systems are being recalled for batteries in the nav system that could overheat and potentially start interior fires.

Suzuki has said that it will begin notifying owners of the recall on September 13 and once the vehicle is brought in, a Garmin representative will replace the defective batteries and install a spacer on top of them to prevent overheating.

Equator owners with questions concerning the GPS recall, are able to either contact Garmin directly at 1-866-957-1981 or Suzuki at 1-887-697-8985. They can also visit Garmin’s website at http://www.garmin.com/nuvibatterypcbrecall.

[Source: Pickup trucks.com]

Ford has officially announced a recall for the Windstar minivan after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation confirmed the rear axles on the cars can snap. The recall affects 1998 to 2003 model year models (a total of 575,000) in 21 cold-weather U.S. states and all of Canada.

The issue is specific to cold weather vehicles as corrosion from salt and rust could lead to a fracture in the axle.

NHTSA began the investigation in May of this year after 234 reports of fractured or snapped axles had been reported. Since then the number of complaints has risen to 950.

Owners are asked to contact their local Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealership to have their vehicle inspected. If a crack is detected the axle will be replaced. If no crack is detected, owners will be asked to drive the vehicle until a reinforcement bracket is available.

States where vehicles are affected include: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

[Source: Reuters]

UPDATE: The Ford Windstar is now under investigation by NHTSA for rusting subframe issues. Click here to read the story.

Honda has announced a recall of 428,000 vehicles in both the U.S. and Canada due to a problem with the ignition system that could cause a vehicle to roll away.

The recall affects Honda Accord, Civic and Element models from 2003 and 2004 as well as the Acura 1.7EL in Canada.

The models in question have an ignition interlock feature that will prevent the driver from removing the key is the car is not placed in park. The current ignition interlock system may fail with several crashes reportedly resulting so far.

Get full details on the recall after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Nissan has just announced a recall for the 2009-10 Cube model for a recall involving the fuel system. According to a NHTSA press release, the vehicle did not pass its fuel leak test, in which the amount of fuel leaking from the car exceeded, “allowable limits” in the agency’s crash test. A fire could result as a consequence. The recall affects 46,000 Cube models built between January 30, 2009 and July 30, 2010.

A fix for the problem will be available by August 30th at which point owners are asked to contact their dealers.

A similar recall was recently issued for the Lexus HS250h.

Official press release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Volkswagen is recalling its Routan minivan for a wiring defect that could lead to a short circuit and a possible fire.

According to the company, the wiring harness was improperly routed, leading to the possibility of the harness insulation being worn down by repeated contact with the sliding door mechanism. Volkswagen will fix the problem under warranty, and vehicles made from June 1, 2008 to July 30, 2009, are affected.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Hit the jump to see the official press release

Continue Reading…

Suzuki has issued a recall for its new Kizashi mid-sized sedan. A recall is never a good thing, particularly for a brand like Suzuki that is struggling to find a foothold in the U.S. market. It’s even worse when it’s for the bran’s all-new model – which by all accounts has received glowing reviews.

According to the Nation Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall is for Kizashi models built between October 13th, 2009 and May 31st, 2010 and is related to glovebox hinges that could allow the glovebox to pop open in the case of a crash – potentially increasing the risk of injury.

No injuries have been reported, however, and dealers will be prepared to fix the defective parts as of July 9th. In total, 5,107 Kizashi models have are affected.

In yet another blow to the company’s image, Toyota has announced that 270,000 of its vehicles are equipped with faulty engines. The problem is quite the opposite of the “unintended acceleration” issue, with Toyota stating that the engines could simply stall while the cars are in motion. No recall has been announced, but one is likely.

Toyota did not mention what specific vehicles are affected by the problem, but did indicate that some Lexus models are included. Japans Nikkei is reporting that the Lexus LS460 is one of the affected models, while the Wall Street Journal also includes GS and IS models.

Of the 270,000 vehicles involved, 180,000 were sold outside Japan.

Last week Lexus recalled the HS250h model after crash tests showed an excessive fuel leak occurred during those tests.

[Source: Associated Press & WSJ]

BMW has halted deliveries and placed a recall on all 2008-2011 model year 1 Series models due to the risk of a fire in an accident. The issue is related to insufficient space between the seat belt tensioners in the B-pillar and the insulation surrounding those parts. BMW is worried that in the case of a crash, the insulation could overheat and a fire could occur.

As a result, dealers have been ordered not to deliver an 1 Siries models built from January to May of this year, and a recall is set to go into effect.

Owners will be notified and will be asked to bring their cars in for service to fix the issue. Those with questions can contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

General Motors has announced a massive recall of 1.5 million vehicles over concern that their heated windshield washer fluid system could catch fire. No solution for the problem is available and so GM will give owners a $100 rebate (yup, $150 million in total) for the loss of the feature on their vehicle.

GM had previously recalled vehicles with this system back in August of 2008 for the same issue, and even refused to pay the supplier (Micro-Heat) for the new HotShot system to cover the costs. Micro-Heat was then forced to file for bankruptcy.

Affected vehicles include: the 2006-2009 Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS, Hummer H2; the 2008-2009 Buick Enclave and Cadillac CTS; the 2007-2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL, Saturn Outlook and the 2009 model year Chevrolet Traverse.

Of the total 1.5 million vehicles recalled 1,365,070 are in the U.S., 98,794 in Canada, 26,228 and in Mexico.

[Source: FreePress]

Chrysler is recalling all Dodge Caravan and Town and Country minivans from 2008-09 due to a concern that an improperly installed wiring harness could cause a fire. According to a release issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall affects 284,831 vehicles in total. NHTSA says that the vehicles in question may use a “improperly routed” wiring harness that may become worn by the van’s sliding door. The wire insulation may then become worn which could lead to a short circuit, or possibly even a fire.

Owners of 2008 and 2009 model year vans (manufactured between February and September of 2007) are asked to contact their local Chrysler dealer for a fix.

This is the second recall for the Chrysler van duo in 2010. Both models were recently recalled for faulty airbags.

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

With Nissan having issued a recall for select Frontier pickups, it was probably only a matter of time before Suzuki followed with its version of the F-Alpha mid-size truck. In the case of the latter manufacturer, the recall centers on a total of 582 Equators, manufactured between November 30, 2009 and March 3 this year (2010 model year trucks). Like the Frontier, the problem stems around potentially weak welds on the lower front ball joint collars that could come apart, affecting vehicle handling and alignment.

Suzuki dealers will inspect the lower control links on trucks issued with the Technical Service Bulletin recall  and replace them  free of charge if they’re found to be defective. Equator owners affected by the recall have been asked to contact Suzuki at 800-934-0934 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236 for more details.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

It’s been around for what seems like an eternity, but in the twilight of its existence the venerable, yet still strong-selling Ford Ranger is the subject of a recall. This particular alert relates to manual transmission equipped models built between June 8th 2009 and February 2nd 2010. The problem stems from a faulty parking brake cable that could become disconnected from the right rear drum actuator, primarily during cold weather if damp shoes have become frozen overnight in the applied position. This would result in extended pedal travel meaning the parking brake would not operate, a potentially serious problem during hill starts or other incline related situations.

At post time, Ford had identified nine separate incidents on Rangers equipped with manual gearboxes and built within the specified time period, however no accidents have yet been documented as a result of the problem. Dealers are now authorized to install a revised rear brake actuator to address the problem. Ranger owners with any questions are being urged to contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

Nissan is preparing to recall 48,700 trucks and SUVs for issues relating to the suspension on the U.S.-built vehicles. Some of, but not all 2010 Nissan Armada, Frontier, Titan, Pathfinder, Xterra and Infiniti QX56 models are expected to be involved in the recall. No official recall has been issued yet, however, as Nissan awaits information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The issue with the trucks and SUVs involves a lower suspension control link that may not have been welded properly and as a result cause the bushing collar to crack, creating a rough and noisy ride. The potential recall isn’t so much a safety issue as a driveability issue and no accidents have been reported.

In the wake of the Toyota recall crisis, NHTSA has also been under increased scrutiny, issuing an alarmingly high number of recalls.

[Source: Associated Press]

Chrysler has announced that it is recalling a total of 186,099 Heavy-Duty Dodge Ram trucks. All of the vehicles in question are 2007-09 models and all are powered by the 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel. The recall is actually related to the engine itself – specifically revolving around tuning and emissions. A trouble code in the EMS system can trigger a check engine light, which can cause the fuel mixture to be enriched, resulting in black soot from the exhaust system and potential damage to the turbocharger and Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve.

To fix the problem, Chrysler will re-flash the engine computer, though customers who own one of the trucks in California, will have to submit proof of the repairs to the Department of Motor Vehicles before they can renew their registrations – a result of the Golden State’s strict emissions laws. Owners with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]