Volkswagen (VW) has issued a recall for certain 2011 Jetta cars, built between March 2010 to March 2011, for problems with the electrical wiring. According to VW, a fuse shared between the anti-theft alarm and the converter box could short circuit causing the light and wipers to stop working. Under the recall, dealerships will reconfigure the wiring so that each system has their own fuse. Any Jetta owners wanting more information on this recall can contact VW customer service at 1-800-822-8987
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Volvo Recalls 2011 S40
Volvo has issued a recall for certain 2011 S40 passenger cars for a problem that could affect the front structure of the vehicle. According to Volvo, a crack on the top side of the passenger side support member in the engine compartment may have developed during the forming process. In an accident, the crash performance of the vehicle could be reduced, increasing the risk of injury to passengers.
Dealers will inspect the S40 front structure for cracks and the vehicle will be taken out of service if a problem is found. A new replacement vehicle of equal specifications will be provided by Volvo. Owners wanting more information on the recall can contact the Volvo customer care center at 1-800-458-1552.
Part Shortages Slowing Down Auto Production
As automobile manufacturers and part suppliers continue to experience delays in reopening factories in Japan after last weeks earthquake and tsunami, part shortages are starting to slow automobile production world wide. Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Mazda have extended shutdowns in most of their Japanese factories, and the ones that have been reopened are not working at full capacity. According to analysts, auto makers will feel the worst of the shortages by early may and as many as five million vehicles will end up not being built because of it. It is estimated that about 13% of the world’s automotive production is out of commission.
The components most affected include semi-conductors, integrated circuits, sensors and LCD displays, but it won’t be long before shortages will also be seen in resins and synthetic rubber, power train parts, specialty materials such as silicon and certain types of glass and metals. General Motors announced that they will be suspending production of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickup trucks in their Louisiana factory and plants near Buffalo, New York that makes engines for those trucks. Other automobile manufacturers, are expected to suspend building in some of their U.S. factories as parts continue to become more scarce.
DIY California Lemon Law
We live in a “Do It Yourself” society. With the internet at our finger tips, we can find information that instructs us on how to get rid of a stain from a favorite shirt all the way up to doing major renovations on a home. But, just because the information is out there doesn’t mean that the outcome of your DIY project is going to have the success you intended. When it comes to the Lemon Law, it is best to leave it to the professionals.
Lemon Laws differ from state to state, and while the information is out there, the legal “jargon” can be misleading and confusing if you do not have legal experience. Most automobile manufacturers have a team of attorneys who fight lemon law claims every day. They will use all the loop holes and strategies they know to ensure that the consumer claims are dismissed. The fact that a consumer has gone out and hired a lawyer for their claim, shows the car companies they mean business. Even if the automobile turns out to not qualify as a lemon, an attorney can work with the manufacturer to offer compensation and get the vehicle repaired.
The main reason a consumer may not use an attorney for a lemon law claim is to prevent paying legal fees. Most state lemon laws say that in a successful l lemon law claim, the vehicle manufacturer pays all attorney fees. An experienced lemon law lawyer will be able let you know if the claim is worth pursuing and can offer a no cost, no obligation case evaluation. If the case has merit, they will represent you knowing that the chances of a buyback or settlement are good and that their fees will be paid by the car manufacturer.
Based on our experience, attorney negotiated settlements have a higher success rate than one’s negotiated by consumer’s alone, and many times cases are resolved without going to court. The time and frustration of fighting a lemon law case on your own is not guaranteed and not worth it. You have nothing to lose by consulting a Lemon Law attorney before you try to “do it yourself.”
Automobiles More Reliable According To J.D. Power
You wouldn’t know it from all the recalls making the headlines lately, but according to J.D. Power and Associates, vehicle dependability has improved since last year. According to the report, automakers have been successful in reducing problems in traditional areas but have had a rise in issues with newer technologies and features. Today’s automobiles have less engine, transmission, steering and braking problems, but new features like entertainment, navigation and tire pressure monitoring systems still have many bugs that need to be worked out. Between 2009 and 2011, annual improvement for the industry has averaged 6 percent, which is slightly lower than historical rates of 8 percent each year.
The Vehicle Dependability Study is used by vehicle manufacturers to help design and build better vehicles. It also helps consumers make informed choices when purchasing a new or used vehicle. Click on the graph below to see the automakers ranking of problems per 100 vehicles.
Hyundai Elantras Recalled For Airbag Sensors
Hyundai has announced two recalls for faulty airbag sensor systems that could lead to the airbags inflating with too much force or when they are not required causing injury to occupants.
- The first recall involves certain 2007-2009 Elantra vehicles manufactured between July 2006 to November 2008. Under certain circumstances the the connector for the front passenger weight sensor may become contaminated. This could lead to the airbag deploying during impacts that do not require the airbag, or deploying with too much force for the weight of the occupant. In order to fix the problem, dealerships will install a protective cover over the connector to prevent contamination.
- The second recall involves certain 2007-2008 Elantra vehicles manufactured between July 2006 to August 2007. The drivers seat has a track position sensor that determines how much pressure is used to deploy the airbags according to how close the driver is to the airbag. The air bag control module may receive an unstable signal that may lead to the the airbag deploying at a pressure that is too high or too low for the position of the seat. The recall will have dealers reprogramming the airbag control module to deploy at the proper pressure.
Some vehicles will be affected by both recalls. Hyundai will begin sending out recall notices to Elantra owners starting in April. Anyone wanting more information on these recalls can contact Hyundai’s customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.
Jaguar Recalls 2010 XK And XF Sports Cars
Jaguar will be recalling certain 2010 XK and XF sports cars, built between June 2009 to March 2010, for corrosion issues that could lead to a power steering fluid leak. According to Jaguar, the zinc-nickel plating on the steering lines may not have the proper corrosion protection. As a result, the pressurized steering fluid could start leaking in the engine area leading to loss of steering and a potential fire.
Dealers will replace the defective steering fluid lines with line that have been properly treated to prevent corrosion. Owners wanting more information on this recall can contact Jaguar at 1-800-452-4827.
Honda Recalls 2011 Civic For Fuel Pump
Honda will be recalling almost 20,000 2011 Civic vehicles to replace the fuel pump module inside the tank. It was found that during assembly, the roll over valve inside some fuel pump modules could have been damaged. In a rollover, the cracked valve could allow fuel leakage from the tank to the evaporative emissions canister. Owners wanting more information about the recall can call 1-800-999-1009 and selecting option 4, or go to www.recalls.honda.com.
