Volvo have announced a safety defect affecting the airbags in a small number of 2016 Volvo XC90 luxury crossover SUV’s. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, the electrical wiring for the front seat Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) may have been assembled incorrectly, increasing the risk of damage to the wiring insulation. If this happens, the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) warning light will illuminate and the vehicle diagnostic system will alert the driver with a “SRS Airbag Service Urgent, Drive to workshop” warning. Continue reading
Category Archives: Lemon Alert
2012 Subaru Impreza Passenger Airbag Could Deactivate
An electrical problem affecting certain 2012 Subaru Impreza four door cars will have 32,400 owners returning to their dealership for repairs. The affected vehicles are equipped with a capacitance type Occupant Detection Systems (ODS) in the front passenger seat.
According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, if the passenger is using a device plugged into the accessory power outlet and/or touches a grounded metal part of the vehicle, while the ODS is on, the occupant control unit (OCU) may falsely register an abnormally high rise in the occupant’s capacitance. This could result in deactivation of the ODS. If this happens, a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) will be stored in the vehicle’s memory, (B1650, B1760 and/or B1761), the airbag warning light will illuminate, and the passenger air bag indicator will illuminate “OFF”. Continue reading
2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee Liftgate Control Module Short
Chrysler will be asking owners of certain 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. equipped with a power liftgate option, to return to their dealerships, after investigating complaints of fire in the liftgate area. According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, water may enter the area of the Power Liftgate Control Module, causing a high resistance short circuit. Continue reading
2015 Ford Mustang Fuel System Problems
During thermal management testing of certain 2015 Ford Mustang vehicles with 2.3L engines, elevated fuel tank surface temperatures were observed. To investigate, Ford performed additional thermal management testing on all engine variants and multiple vehicles. The investigation found that prolonged exposure to elevated under body temperatures can cause degradation of the fuel tank, fuel vapor lines, and parking brake cable seals. Leaks within these systems could result in a vehicle fire or degraded parking brake functions. Continue reading
The Complete Takata Airbag Recall
On May 19, 2014 a U.S. Department of Transportation investigation determined that a defect exists in some Takata airbags and prompts the airbag supplier to issue a national recall. The defect affects frontal driver and passenger side airbag inflators used in vehicles manufactured by BMW, Chrysler, Daimler Trucks, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota. According to the recall report, these inflators were made with a propellant that can degrade over time and rupture, sending fragments that could injure vehicle occupants. The defect is blamed for six deaths worldwide. Continue reading
2015 Lexus NX200 Loss Of Stability Control
Toyota will be asking the the owners of certain 2015 Lexus NX200 SUV’s to return to their dealerships for repairs affecting the braking and stability of their vehicles. According to the defect report, the affected vehicles are equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking system (ABS), Traction Control System (TRAC), and a Vehicle Stability Control System (VCS) which are controlled by the ABS actuator. Continue reading
BMW Customer Care Package Campaign
The owners of certain 2008-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with 4.4-liter V-8 (N63B44O0) engines are finding that when they go to their dealership for routine service, there is a recall affecting their vehicles that they have not been notified about.
In June 2013, dealerships received a service bulletin for the N63 powerplant, which amended the oil capacity requirements of the engine, adding a full (1) US quart to the capacity of the motor, citing “increased oil consumption” in the twin turbo V8. In December 2014, BMW released a “customer care package” campaign (SI B00 13 14) affecting almost all 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series, X5, and X6 model lines have names ending with “50i” and equipped with N63 engines. Instruction for the program include tests on engine performance that will be sent to BMW for review. Continue reading
2012 Toyota Camry CA Lemon Law Buyback
After leasing his 2012 Toyota Camry in December 2011, the owner began experiencing problems with several systems in his vehicle. The electronics were unreliable and glitchy, the dashboard warning lights would remain on, and the speedometer gave inaccurate readings. He also experienced repeated airbag problems despite having repairs done under two separate recalls. (Recall 13V-442: A short circuit within the system could cause the airbags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy; Recall 13V-014: The front passenger airbags may not deploy or may deploy inappropriately for the passenger’s size and position due to an incorrect calibration of the occupant sensing system.) Continue reading
