- BMW and Rolls-Royce are recalling vehicles for a leak in a check valve of the brake vacuum pump that could lead to the loss of Power assisted braking. The vehicles affected by this recall are:
- 2004-2010 5-Series
- 2004-2010 6-Series
- 2002-2008 7-Series
- 2003-2010 Phantom
- 2007-2010 Phantom Drophead coupe
- 2008-2010 Phantom coupe
Owners can contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417, for more information.
- Hyundai is recalling some 2011 Sonata vehicles built between December 2009 to September 2010. Some of these vehicles may have an improperly assembled steering columns that could lead in loss or reduction of steering. Dealers will inspect the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections for proper assembly and torque and will update the power steering software free of charge. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service center at 1-787-999-3333.
- Mercedes Benz is recalling some 2010 C-class, E-class and 2010-2011 E-class vehicles for a problem with the power steering. The problem is being blamed on connections that have been improperly torqued during manufacturing. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372 for more information.
- Chrysler is recalling some 2010 Sebring, 300, Charger (LX), Dodge Challenger (LC), Avenger (JS), Journey (JC), and 2011 Dodge Ram light duty pickup (DS) vehicles for power steering problems. The crimp on the power steering pressure hose assembly may leak fluid on the engine creating a fire hazard. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403 for additional information.
- GM is recalling 2009-2010 Chevrolet Impalas for front safety belt webbing that may have not been properly secured to the seat. Dealers will inspect and repair recalled vehicles free of charge. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Tag Archives: General Motors
GM To Release An In Car Facebook App
Despite criticism from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, General Motors continues to carry forward with a new OnStar application that allows drivers to listen to Facebook messages as well as update their status. In recent years, LaHood has worked to reduce the problem of distracted driving, and has specifically disapproved of the idea of letting drivers have audio access to social media sites like Facebook. He feels that this OnStar app. is the “biggest distraction of them all” , and that the government should “go further” to focus on driving safety. He has proposed that all states should have a law banning texting behind the wheel and that Congress should pass a comprehensive distracted driving law.
OnStar President Chris Preuss said the company is confident in the safety of the feature after conducting driving tests and has no plans to drop it. “Not only is it safe — all things relative in the vehicle — it’s actually a benign activity,” Preuss said. GM has found that the number of airbag deployments was lower during the activation of hands-free calls than during other types of driving.
GM hasn’t yet offered the new feature to all of OnStar’s subscribers. The hands-free feature is being tested mainly by GM employees and some customers who have 2008 or newer GM models.
GM Recalls Chevy Impalas For Seat Belts
General Motors has announced that it will be recalling over 300,000 2009-2010 Chevy Impala automobiles because of a problem with the front seat belts. GM said that the front safety belt webbing may have not been properly attached to the lap belt anchor pretensioner during assembly. There have been no reports of injuries related to the problem, but the company felt a recall was needed after receiving 32 warranty reports. Dealers will inspect how the belts are anchored, and will reinstall the anchors if needed at no cost to the owners. GM will start sending out letters to owners October 26.
Chinese Company Seeks G.M. Stocks
G.M. is planning to hold its first public stock offering in late November, giving the Treasury Department its first opportunity to begin selling off the 61 percent stake in G.M. How many shares the government decides to sell will be determined by the price offered. In order to break even, the Treasury Department estimates that the stock must sell for almost $135.00 per share.
Last week, the Treasury Department said it would not seek special deals with large investors to buy big chunks of its stake to ensure that small investors get a fair chance at buying GM stocks. “We expect that a large and diverse group of institutional investors will be offered an opportunity to participate, with no single investor or group of investors receiving a disproportionate share or unusual treatment.” the Treasury said.
But concerns about foreign influence over the largest American automaker are growing as Chinese automaker, the SAIC Motor Corporation, expresses interest in buying a stake in GM. The Shanghai-based company has had a longtime partnership with G.M. in China. They are one of China’s largest automakers and recently bought half of G.M.’s India division.
There was no comment from the Treasury about the possibility of a foreign company buying a big stake in G.M.
OnStar Apps For The Chevrolet Volt EV
Chevrolet and OnStar unveiled the first working smartphone application that will allow owners 24/7 connection and control of vehicle functions and OnStar features remotely. The first to receive this new technology will be the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle which is scheduled to hit the show rooms later this year.
The Chevrolet Volt OnStar smartphone application is designed to enhance the Volt ownership experience with interaction and control never offered before.
- With this application, owners will be able to remotely monitor and charge their vehicle and can be sent an e-mail informing them of the status.
- Traditional OnStar features such as door lock, unlock and remote horn and lights – which have typically been accessible only through a call into the OnStar call center – will now be available via the application.
- Volt drivers can also view and manage vehicle systems and commands from the vehicle, the internet or through a monthly OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics e-mail.
- The new services, including the ability to read text messages aloud, play music from the Internet-based provider Pandora and post updates to Facebook, won’t be available for a few months, but these and other apps are in the testing phase.
- Additional upgrades that OnStar is planning include hardware to turn the cars into roving Wi-Fi hotspots. This will allow passengers to share the wireless Internet connection using other devices, like laptops and tablet computers, in the car. The Wi-Fi option won’t appear in 2011 models, but they could be upgraded with U.S.B. attached Wi-Fi routers in the future.
Chris Preuss, president of OnStar said that OnStar is taking a measured approach and is sensitive to the issue of driver distractions. “There’s the issue of what you can do, and then there’s the issue of what you should do,” he said. “We are going to be extremely vigilant on this issue. Just because something is possible, doesn’t always mean we should do it.”
Toyota Rav4 EV Debuts At The LA Auto Show
It is no secret that Toyota and Tesla have joined forces to develop an all electric Rav4 that they hope will shake up the electric vehicle market. Tesla has already delivered a working RAV4 EV to Toyota earlier this summer and will debut it to the public at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The vehicle is likely to be one of the stars of the Auto Show, which traditionally hosts “green” vehicle debuts. GM’s Chevy Volt and Nissans Leaf will also be there, but Toyota’s Rav4 hopes to attract the consumer who wants an electric vehicle, but wants something bigger than a compact car.
First Chevy Cruze For The US Market
Yesterday, GM’s first Chevrolet Cruze for the United States market, rolled off the assembly line in Lordstown, Ohio. The car first made its debut at the last LA Auto Show, and has been GM’s second best seller overseas after their Silverado pickup trucks.
The Cruze is GM’s most significant new model introduced into the United States since last year’s bankruptcy. With the forty miles per gallon fuel consumption on the highway, they hope to break into the fuel efficient market that they gave up to imports thirty years ago. With an emphasis on safety, like ten air bags and traction control as standard equipment, they hope to make the Cruze stand out from all other models.
While the Cruze costs a little more than most of its competitors, G.M. argues that it provides a better value with extras like air-conditioning and power locks that are basics in high end models but extra on most compacts. That approach helps the Cruze generate more revenue and allows the car to be built profitably at a union plant in the United States. (Most competing compact cars are built at nonunion plants or in other countries.)
To build the Cruze, G.M. added a third shift at the Lordstown plant after being downsized to a single shift during the height of the recession. The plant now has about 4,500 workers, including 800 who transferred from elsewhere at G.M.
GM Crossovers Recalled For Seatbelts
On Tuesday, GM announced that they will be recalling almost a quarter million crossover sport utility vehicles for problems with seat belts. The recall will affect 2009-2010 Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Saudi Arabia.
According to a GM press release, the problem is with the second-row safety belt buckles. When the seats are laid flat and then returned to the upright position the buckle could come in contact with the seat frame and become damaged. Eventually, the buckle may fail to latch and unlatch properly or may appear to latched when it is not.
The auto maker will begin notifying owners of vehicles affected by the GM crossover recall this month. Dealers will inspect the seat belts and replace it if necessary, as well as reshape the side trim to allow the seats to fold without damaging the seat belts. The company said they discovered the problem when they inspected damaged safety belts in warranty return vehicles, but there have been no reports of seat belt failure to date.
