Chrysler will be contacting owners of certain 2009-2010 Dodge Ram 1500 and 2009-2010 Dodge Dakota trucks about a problem with the rear axle pinion nut. Because of a lack of adhesive, the nut could loosen resulting in the rear axle locking up. If this happens while the vehicle is being driven the driver will experience a loss of control, increasing the chance of an accident. Chrysler will be contacting owners starting in November and dealers will secure the nut by installing a pinion nut retainer. For more information about the problem, owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.
Tag Archives: automobile problems
Mercedes Benz Potential Engine Fires
According to Mercedes-Benz, in house testing to replicate a worst case scenario frontal crash, has uncovered a problem that could result in an engine fire. Testing of certain 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class vehicles manufactured from December 19, 2011, through May 31, 2012, showed that if the air conditioner refrigerant line should rupture, the gaseous mixture released into the engine compartment could ignite and quickly spread. Mercedes will be asking owners of these vehicles to bring them in to have the refrigerant and all associated lines replaced. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.
BMW Possible Engine Failure
BMW will be contacting drivers of certain 2013 BMW M5 and 2013 BMW M6 coupe and convertibles high performance vehicles with twin turbocharged V8 engines. According to reports filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) certain vehicles may be equipped with an oil pump that may fail because of a problem with the manufacturing process. The oil pump drive shaft could separate from the rotor starving the engine of oil. If the vehicle is not pulled over immediately, the engine will overheat and eventually seize. BMW will be notifying customers of the the problem starting this month, and will replace the oil pump free of charge. Owners wanting more information may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
Nissan And Suzuki Suspension Problem
Nissan and Suzuki are contacting owners of certain vehicles manufactured between June 19, 2012 to July 12, 2012, because they may have been equipped with front wheel hubs that do not meed the required design hardness specifications. The hub could wear prematurely and could break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash. The vehicles affected by this recall include:
- 2012 Nissan Frontier
- 2012 Nissan Pathfinder
- 2012 Nissan Xterra
- 2012 Suzuki Equator
Nissan owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261, and Suzuki owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.
Toyota Driver Window Switch Problem
Toyota will be notifying approximately 2.5 million owners of certain 2007-2009 model vehicles of a problem with the power window switch in the drivers side door. According to Toyota, an incorrect window switch lubricant was used which could result in the switch components to wear unevenly. Drivers may notice the switch feeling “sticky”, and if they try to use a commercial lubricant to fix the problem, the switch could melt, possibly causing a fire. Dealerships will require about one hour to inspect the switch and apply a special fluorine grease. Owners wanting more information about the problem can call Toyota’s customer service center at 800-331-4331. The vehicles involved in this recall include:
- 2007-2008 Yaris
- 2007-2009 RAV4
- 2007-2009 Tundra
- 2007-2009 Camry
- 2007-2009 Camry Hybrid
- 2008-2009 Scion XD
- 2008-2009 Scion XA
- 2008-2009 Sequoia
- 2008 Highlander
- 2008 Highlander Hybrid
- 2009 Corolla
- 2009 Matrix
Honda CR-V Door Switch Fire Hazard
Honda will be contacting owners of certain 2002-2006 Honda CR-V crossover SUV’s because of a problem with the driver side power window switch. Honda said that moisture getting in to the drivers door could cause damage to the master power switch causing it to overheat and possibly ignite. There have not been any accidents or injuries related to the problem, but five inside door fires have already been reported. Honda is asking owners to park their vehicles outside until the problem is fixed, because a fire could start even when the ignition is off. Owners wanting more information may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Chevy Sonic Turn Signal Malfunction
General Motors (GM) is warning customer’s of certain 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles about a problem that could leave drivers unaware that their turn signals are not functioning. When a turn signal lamp fails to operate, the Body Control Module (BCM) is suppose to detect the condition and warn the driver of the problem. A programing error in the BCM system may fail to warn the driver and if the problem goes unfixed, other drivers will not know that the vehicle is turning. This could increase the risk of an accident. Owners wanting more information can contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
Nissan Leaf Lemon Law Buyback
Two recent lemon law buybacks of Nissan Leaf vehicles in Arizona have Leaf owners in California questioning whether their vehicles can be repaired, replaced, or bought back under the California lemon law.
Approximately 400 Nissan leaf owners in Arizona are claiming that after only a year of driving in warmer than normal temperatures have contributed to a significant loss of driving range in their electric vehicles (EV). One owner said that after only 15 months, his vehicle lost almost 30% of battery capacity giving him a maximum of only 42 miles on a single charge.
In a statement released by David Reuter, Nissan’s vice president of corporate communications, the problems are limited to “a small handful” of Leaf owners, and the vehicles in question were impacted by extreme heat, high speeds, high mileage, and charging method and frequency. He added that there is no defect in the Leaf, but in the interest of customer satisfaction, Nissan bought the cars back. According to Reuter, there have been over 38,000 Leafs sold around the world and the majority customers are very satisfied owners.
