Chrysler will be recalling a small number of 2012 Chrysler Town and Country and 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan minivans because the lift gate pinch sensor may not function properly. According to the recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an increased force may be needed to stop the power liftgate during the final closing stages and consumers could be injured if the door closes on an appendage. Owners receiving a notice can take their vehicle to their Chrysler or Dodge dealership to get the pinch sensor replaced. For more information about the problem contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Inaccurate Reverse In Ford Transmission
Ford has announced that they will be recalling certain vehicles because the transmission range selector (TRS) may have been calibrated out of specification for reverse gear. The transmission may not go into reverse as expected, “R” may not be illuminated on the dashboard to signal to the driver that the vehicle is in reverse, and the back up lights may not illuminate when the vehicle is in reverse. These conditions will increase the chance of injury for drivers and pedestrians. Ford will be notifying owners of the problem starting at the end of June, and dealers will inspect and replace the TRS as necessary. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. The vehicles involved in the recall include:
Court Decision Reversed In Fuel Economy Case
A Los Angeles County judge has reversed a court decision to award a former attorney almost $10,000 over fuel economy claims for her 2006 Honda Civic. The case received national attention last year, when Heather Peters opted out of a class action settlement that would have paid Civic hybrid owners up to $200 or $1000 off the purchase of a new car. Honda appealed the court decision, and Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Dudley W. Gray reversed the small-claims judgment last Thursday.
According to Gray, the automaker was within its rights to advertise the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy ratings for the vehicle and rejects the idea that it was misleading. He added that Federal regulations control the fuel economy ratings posted on vehicles, but they are only there for comparison among vehicles and don’t take into account conditions that could affect fuel economy such as how people drive and the condition of their vehicle.
Peters lawsuit has prompted almost 40 other Civic owners to seek similar recourse. Honda has already won 18 of the suits and has lost one case, in Santa Barbara, involving a 2003 Civic hybrid. Peters said that although she is disappointed with the final ruling, she is glad she raised awareness that Honda is no longer the great brand it used to be.
BMW 3 Series Head Restraint Safety
BMW has announced that they will be recalling certain 2012 3-Series vehicles because the head restraints fail to comply with the Federal motor vehicle safety standards. According to the recall report, when the head rest is in the highest position it exceeds the downward movement limitations of 25mm. The head restraint could move down during a crash, increasing the risk of neck injuries. BMW will be notifying owners in May and will correct the problem by attaching a clamp to the front seat head restraint posts. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact BMW customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417.
Chrysler Brake And Stability Problem
Chrysler has announced that they will be recalling certain 2011-2012 Chrysler 300 and 2011-2012 Dodge Charger vehicles for electrical problems. According to Chrysler, the plastic insert surrounding the fuse for the power distribution center could distort due thermal expansion and contraction. This distortion could interrupt power to the anti-locking braking system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) system, making them inoperable. Chrysler will fix the problem by relocating the fuse to a cooler area. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Corrosion Affects Seating In Ford Minivans
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is upgrading an investigation into complaints of severe corrosion in the rear wheel wells of certain 2004 Ford Freestar and 2004 Mercury Monterey minivans. The anchor plate for the rear seats on these minivans is mounted on the rear wheel well and difficulty latching the seats is being blamed on the corrosion. There have also been complaints of the anchor mounts detaching from the vehicle completely. The upgraded investigation will include 2005-2007 Freestar and Monterey vans bought and registered in both salt belt and non salt belt states. If the investigation should lead to a recall, almost 83,000 vehicles could be affected.
Protection From Buy Here Pay Here Autos
“Buy Here Pay Here” (BHPH) automobile sales are under attack by a new bill that hopes to regulate business practices of these car dealerships. A recent article in the Los Angeles Times stated that 20% of all used car purchases in the U.S. are financed with BHPH deals. Many of these dealerships are known for high purchase prices, interest rates nearly triple the national average, and aggressive repossession practices. These unregulated loans are known for taking advantage of people with poor credit histories who need a car but can’t get a loan.
Senate Bill 956 contains several important protections that will prevent these dealerships from taking advantage of California consumers. The bill hopes to:
- Impose regulations that requires “Buy Here Pay Here” auto dealerships to obtain a California Finance Lender license.
- Limit loans to a maximum 17 ¼ % interest rate.
- Give consumers an eleven day “grace period” after due payments before the vehicles can be repossessed.
- Require BHPH dealers to provide written notices to their customers informing them of their legal rights.
The Bill is expected to be reviewed within the next month.
Car To Car Networking
David Strickland, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has announced that the NHTSA is considering new regulations that they say could eliminate up to 80% of traffic accidents. The agency will be conducting a year long study involving about 3,000 vehicles to test technology that will allow car to car networking. General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes Benz, Nissan and Volkswagen will all be working with the NHTSA to provide support for the study.
The above video shows how interconnected sensors in vehicles will gather information about the conditions around it and will send this information through a wireless local network to surrounding vehicles. Other drivers will be alerted about slow-downs, bad weather, accidents and other road problems ahead and can safely reduce their speed. If the new technology is adopted, it could benefit Google as they talk to car companies about developing self driving cars to bring to the market within the next decade.
