Maserati is recalling certain Granturismo and Granturismo convertible sports cars manufactured between June 2008 to March 2010. According to the recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), faulty lap assemblies could lead to the rear tail and brake lights failing. The visibility of the vehicle will be reduced increasing the chance of an accident. Owners wanting more information about the recall can contact Maserati at 1-201-816-2600.
NHTSA Investigates Toyota Fires
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into possible fire hazards in some 2007 Camry, Camry Solara and Rav4 vehicles. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, owners experienced a burning odor, and eventually flames coming from inside the doors. The problem is suspected to be caused by a malfunctioning power window master switch control. If the investigation leads to a recall, almost 830,000 vehicles could be affected.
Getting The Best Deal On Your New Car
For many buying a new vehicle can be a daunting task, and with dealers selling vehicles at record high prices, the average consumer needs to do their research in order to get the best price. With the internet, a little research, and some luck, you should be able to find the vehicle that suits your needs at a price you can afford. Edmunds.com, for example, offers services that give true market values, predicts pricing trends, and offers calculators that let consumers do their research before setting foot on a car lot. Below are some factors that can affect the price of a new vehicle.
- When Sales Are Slow: Car salesmen are more likely to give deeper discounts to get your business. Rainy days, holiday periods and shopping during the week, are times when a car sales person may be willing to give you an extra discount just to close the deal.
- End Of The Month: If a sales person is short of their monthly quota to receive their sales bonuses, they may be willing to give customers discounts in order to meet the quota.
- End Of The Year: As year end quotas approach, and new models start rolling in, dealers and manufacturers may offer discounts, cash rebates, and lower interest incentives just to get the cars off the lot.
- Redesigned And Discontinued Models: If the manufacturer has completely redesigned one of their models, they are usually willing to offer bigger discounts and incentives to get rid of the outdated models. If the vehicles has been discontinued completely, the savings are usually even better.
Toyota RAV4 Airbags May Not Deploy
Toyota is recalling certain 2011 RAV4 vehicles for airbags that may not deploy properly during an accident. According to the recall filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), propellant with the incorrect specification may have been used in the initiator inflator, causing one or both curtain shield airbags to not deploy. Toyota will be notifying customers and will inspect and replace the curtain shield assemblies as necessary. Owners wanting more information about the recall can contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. The recall is expected to begin in early March 2012.
Honda Replaces Side Curtain Airbags
Honda is recalling certain 2012 Accord and 2012 Crosstour vehicles, because the side curtain airbag inflator may not have been manufactured to the correct specifications. In an accident, the side curtain airbag may fail to inflate, increasing the risk of injury to occupants The safety recall will begin February 10, 2012, where dealers will inspect and replace the driver’s and/or passenger’s side curtain airbag as required. Owners wanting more information on the recall can contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Automobile Sales Strong In New Year
New car automobile sales continue to climb in January, as car makers and analysts predict that 2012 could be the best year auto manufacturers have seen since 2007. The industry’s annual selling rate rose to 14.18 million as sales increased over 11% from January 2011. The strongest sales were seen in small cars, which rose to almost 20%, while truck sales increased less than 4%. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Isuzu all posted modest gains despite inventory shortages from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan at the end of March and Thailand floods in October. Chrysler had an impressive monthly sales increase of 44%, with Volkswagen close behind reporting a 40% gain. General Motors saw a drop of almost 6% mostly due to inflated sales in 2011 from big discounts, and Chevrolet Volt sales suffered in December after a government investigation into battery fires.
Companies Fined Over Auto Harness Price Fixing
A two year investigation by the U.S. Justice Department, has found evidence that a small group of automotive harness suppliers were working together to control prices for wiring harnesses and other crucial components. It was found that as many as a dozen companies globally, had secret agreements to fix prices and controlled the allocation of parts to automakers. In addition to a $470 million fine, several company executives will be serving prison terms of up to two years. These penalties follow a separate $200 million fine imposed by the Justice Department on Furukawa Electric Co. in November.
Over 45 suits have been filed in federal court against the companies involved. American suppliers, as well as auto dealers and consumers who believe they have paid higher prices because of the price fixing, have begun taking legal action separate from the Justice Department probe. The ongoing investigation is the largest the Antitrust Division has ever pursued.
Mazda Tribute Brake Fluid Leaks
Mazda is recalling certain 2001-2002 Tribute compact SUV automobiles because the brake master cylinder reservoir cap could leak brake fluid. The leaking fluid could come in contact with the anti-lock brake system (ABS) and could get into the module wiring harness connector. The connector could corrode and short out, creating a potential fire hazard. Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside until Mazda can replace the brake master cylinder reservoir cap and modify the ABS system wiring. For more information on the recall, contact Mazda at 1-248-393-5990.
