ˆ Nissan recalls 200,000 vehicles over passenger air bag issue

tags : 350z , altima , ex35 , g37 , infiniti , infiniti airbag recall , infinitiairbagrecall , murano , nhtsa , nissan , nissan airbag recall , nissanairbagrecall , recall , rogue

Nissan is recalling 200,000 vehicles due to a faulty sensor system that could affect the car's passenger sid airbag. The problem is described as an issue with an electrical component that could interfere with the sensor system, which could then prevent the side airbag from deploying in certain circumstances. We gather from the report on Recall.gov that the sensor telling the car whether or not someone's riding shotgun could malfunction, and in the event of a crash the car could assume no one's sitting there at not deploy the passenger airbag. Most of the vehicles affected are 2007 or 2008 Nissan Altimas, tallying over 140,000 units of that model in all. Other models affected include '07 and '08 examples of the Infiniti EX35, G35 Sedan, G37 coupe and the Nissan 350Z, Rogue and Murano. The Japanese automaker claims that there have been no injuries as a result of the defect, but apparently it was deemed significant enough to pay for a recall and be safe today rather than sorry tomorrow. Owners of an affected Nissan vehicle can call 1-800-647-7261 and Infiniti owners can dial 1-800-662-6200 for more information, as dealers are able to test the system and replace the passenger-side seat cushion where the offending hardware is located.

posted : 10/16/2008 @6:10:15 PM

ˆ Microheat files for bankruptcy after GM recall

tags : circuit board , circuitboard , cleaning , fire , fluid , fuse , general motors , generalmotors , heated , hot spot , hotspot , microheat , pcb , recall , windshield

Microheat Inc., the company responsible for inventing and supplying General Motors with their HotSpot windshield cleaning system, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The technology utilized heated liquid to clean the front glass of debris, ice, and snow. Unfortunately, a short circuit on a printed circuit board could overheat and lead to a fire (removing contaminants from much more than just the front windshield). As a result, GM recalled 944,000 vehicles and dropped Microheat, and their HotSpot product, from the lineup. Even with the system no longer offered on vehicles, things are cooking in court as GM is now seeking $20-25 million in damages to cover the cost of the recall. Without the assets to cover the charges, bankruptcy protection could only be expected. While GM's HotSpot recall solves the overheating problem with a simple inline fuse, the new filing by Microheat only seems to be fueling the fire.

posted : 10/16/2008 @6:08:57 PM

ˆ 2009 Impala recalled over faulty airbags

tags : airbag recall , airbagrecall , airbags , chevrolet impala , chevrolet recall , chevroletimpala , chevroletrecall , impala , impala recall , impalarecall , nhtsa

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says passenger airbags in some 2009 Chevrolet Impalas may have a potentially deadly flaw. Not only could the devices fail to inflate in a crash, but the inflator tube could rupture and hurl pieces of it at passengers. Sounds pretty bad, but there is good news for most Impala owners. According to NHTSA, the recall will only affect 79 Impalas, and not all of them will need replacement. Airbags found to be faulty will be completely replaced under the recall campaign at GM service centers. Notices will be mailed out sometime this month to Impala owners who need to have their vehicles inspected. You can read the entire NHTSA description here.

posted : 10/15/2008 @8:00:13 PM

ˆ GM drops HotShot windshield washer system after expensive recall

tags : gm , hot spray windshield washer , hotspraywindshieldwasher , recall , windshield wipers , windshieldwipers

General Motors has nixed an optional hot-spray windshield washer system called HotShot from all of its cars and trucks after an electrical short in the systems caused the recall of 944,000 vehicles. GM told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that a short on the circuit board of the fluid heater could overheat the control-circuit ground wire. The problem has resulted in 34 warranty claims so far and three reports of fires may have been caused by the system. To fix the problem, dealers will add a wiring harness with an inline fuse, and all GM retail outlets should have the required parts to fix the problem free of charge by November 1. Vehicles affected include the Buick Lucerne and Enclave, the Cadillac DTS and Escalade, the GMC Yukon, Sierra and Acadia, the Saturn Outlook, the Hummer H2, and the Chevy Silverado, Avalanche, Tahoe, and Suburban. GM blames the system's suburban Detroit supplier, Microheat, for the problem, and the small company has reportedly shrunk in size in preparation of forever closing its doors. The General wants Microheat to pay for the recall, which is estimated to cost between $20 and $25 million, and the small supplier has countered by reminding the automaker that it's still owed $3.7 million for parts and tooling. The whole affair is a shame, as heated windshield washer fluid is a nice luxury that makes de-icing and de-bugging your windshield a hands-off affair. As far as we know, Microheat is the only supplier offering this technology, so when it goes, so does the option altogether.

posted : 10/13/2008 @11:07:09 PM

ˆ Kia Rondo recalled for fuel pump issue

tags : kia fuel pump recall , kia recall , kia rondo recall , kiafuelpumprecall , kiarecall , kiarondorecall , rondo fuel pump recall , rondo recall , rondofuelpumprecall , rondorecall

2008-'09 Kia Rondos packing four-cylinder engines are being recalled to fix a fuel pump issue that could lead to fuel starvation. Nearly 7,000 Rondos in EX and LX trim are effected, and will get an improved fuel pump to resolve the issue. The NHTSA has warned that the problem is unusually severe, and vehicle behaviors such as poor starting and hesitation could lead to a crash. If you own Kia's funk-tacular MPV with the 2.4-liter engine, get thee to a dealer, or call Kia at 800-333-4542.

posted : 10/2/2008 @5:25:25 PM

ˆ Nearly 300,000 HHRs to be recalled for latch failure

tags : chevrolet hhr , chevrolet hhr recall , chevrolethhr , chevrolethhrrecall , gm , hhr

Owners of 2006-08 Chevrolet HHRs should bust out their screw drivers because General Motors will be issuing a recall for deficient instrument panel storage bin latches. The weak latch does not meet federal safety compliance test standards, as it allows the dash bin door to swing open under specific crash conditions. The NHTSA was none too pleased with the possibility of passenger injury from insecure objects. Storage bin latch reinforcement kits will be sent to HHR owners at the General's expense. Recipients will have the option of performing the modification on their own or taking it into a dealership for the necessary repair. Notices will begin flowing once sufficient parts are available, which should be by November.

posted : 9/22/2008 @11:23:33 PM

ˆ GM recalls 857,735 vehicles for electrical issue

tags : gm recall , gmrecall , heated windshield wipers , heatedwindshieldwipers , recall

In the ongoing quest to make our cars more user-friendly, automakers have been adding more and more techno-goodies to make our lives just a bit easier, as well. Unfortunately, these features occasionally do the exact opposite as electrical gremlins take control and make them malfunction. Such is the case with a 857,735 vehicles from General Motors built between 2006 and 2008 that are equipped with heated windshield washer fluid. Apparently, the system is liable to short out, causing it to stop working and even smoke, give off an odor, and make other on-board electronic systems go haywire. To remedy the problem, dealers will add a new wiring harness with an in-line fuse, which will short out before the problematic printed electrical circuit does the same. We've pasted a list of all the affected vehicles after the break.

posted : 9/14/2008 @4:15:02 AM

ˆ Jaguar recalls some XFs for faulty seat belts

tags : jaguar , jaguar xf , jaguar xf recall , jaguarxf , jaguarxfrecall , recall , recalls , xf recall , xfrecall

If you have a 2009 Jaguar XF, you should hop down to your dealer to have the rear safety belt assembly looked at. Jaguar is recalling 7,900 of the '09 cars because in an accident the rear occupants might not be properly restrained. To find out more you can call Jaguar at 1-800-452-4827, or make an appointment at your local Jaguar dealer.

posted : 9/14/2008 @2:41:46 AM

ˆ Hyundai recalls 65,000 Elantras for fuel pump problem

tags : 2008 elantra recall , 2008 hyundai elantra , 2008elantrarecall , 2008hyundaielantra , elantra recall , elantrarecall , fuel pump , fuelpump , hyundai , hyundai elantra , hyundai elantra recall , hyundaielantra , hyundaielantrarecall , recall , recalls

Some 2008-model Hyundai Elantras are being recalled due to fuel pumps that could lose pressure and decreasing engine performance. In Elantras with the 2.0-liter Beta engine, gasoline with ethanol added creates a buildup of film on the pump's electrical contacts. This can cause the engine to hesitate during starting or while running. The recall is voluntary, and if you have one of the affected cars, don't hesitate to contact your dealer.

posted : 9/13/2008 @6:46:47 AM

ˆ Smart recalls ForTwo for bad paint, which could lead to loss of windshield or roof

tags : bad paint , badpaint , fortwo recall , fortworecall , smart fortwo , smart fortwo recall , smart recall , smartfortwo , smartfortworecall , smartrecall

Of all the possible reasons that a vehicle could be recalled, a poor paint job doesn't at first seem all that newsworthy. After all, cars could theoretically be recalled for exploding gas tanks, runaway engines or any number of horror-inducing problems. Bad paint? No harm, no foul -- just take it back and have it repainted properly. Unless, of course, that paint problem could lead to the loss of your windshield or roof while driving. This is exactly the worry that the NHTSA has with 43 smart ForTwo's, all sold in 2008. It seems that some adhesive was laid over the problematic paint, and if the paint lets go... so does the glue. While it's never happened to us personally, we tend to agree with the NHTSA's assessment that the sudden loss of either the glass in front of you or the ceiling protecting your dome could potentially lead to a crash. Anybody who's concerned can contact their dealer, assuming that they haven't already been notified of the problem.

posted : 9/13/2008 @3:12:21 AM

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