Center Air Bag Protects Drivers In GM Vehicles

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General Motors (GM) has announced a new safety feature designed to protect drivers and front passengers in side impact crashes. This front center air bag deploys from the right side of the driver’s seat and positions itself between the front row seats near the center of the vehicle. It acts as an energy absorbing cushion between the driver and front passenger in both driver and passenger side crashes. The front center airbag will be introduced standard on all 2013 Acadia and 2013 Traverse vehicles with power seats and on all 2013 Enclaves.

The front center air bag is expected to add to the vehicles’ record of third-party crash test performance. The 2012 model year editions of these crossovers vehicles have received five-star Overall and Side Crash safety ratings from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program, and 2011 Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The air bag also is expected to add extra protection during rollovers.

GM Pays Half Of Fuel Gauge Repairs

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has closed an investigation into faulty fuel gauges in some 2005-2007 GMC, Chevrolet, and Buick sport utility vehicles, after GM agreed to pay 50% of the repair fees. The investigation was started earlier this year after the NHTSA received 668 complaints of inaccurate fuel gauge readings. The repairs could affect up to 865,000 vehicles in the United States. According to the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) filed with the NHTSA, the vehicles involved include:

  • 2005-2007 Buick Rainier
  • 2005-2006 Chevrolet SSR
  • 2005-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer
  • 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT
  • 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370
  • 2005-2007 GMC Envoy
  • 2006 GMC Envoy XL
  • 2005 GMC Envoy XL 370
  • 2005 GMC Envoy XUV

Volkswagen Fuel Leaks In Diesel Engines

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Volkswagen has announced a recall for certain Volkswagen and Audi vehicles equipped with a 2.0L TDI common rail diesel engines. According to a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fuel injection pulses could create stress in the fuel line at the #2 injector. The stress could lead to cracks, fuel leaks and a potential fire in the presence of an ignition source. The vehicles involved in this recall include:

Volkswagen will install an improved fuel injector line on the #2 cylinder as well as vibration dampers on all injector lines. Owners wanting more information can contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.

Chrysler Connecting Rod Bearing Failure

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Chrysler has announced a recall for certain 2012 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles for debris inside the engine block that could lead to connecting rod bearing failure. The vehicles were manufactured between August 31, 2011 to September 13, 2011 and are equipped with 3.6L engines. If the bearings should fail, the engine will seize, increasing the risk of an accident. The vehicles included in this recall include:

Owners wanting more information may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Saturn Ion Power Steering Investigation

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is intensifying their investigating into power steering problems in some 2004-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles after receiving over 4,300 complaints. Sixteen of these complaints said that the electronic power steering (EPS) warning lamp illuminated before or during the loss of steering assist and the increased steering effort contributed to a crash. NHTSA said they have upgraded the preliminary inquiry to an engineering analysis so they could further assess the frequency, scope and safety consequences of a sudden loss of steering assist in the subject vehicles.

The EPS system is the same as the on used in the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2010 Pontiac G5 vehicles. In March of 2010, GM recalled over one million of these vehicle to correct a defect with the EPS assist motor. The problem was described as a buildup of brush debris mixed with oily material on the EPS electric motor armature which causes the motor to stop functioning.

Auto Sales Up In September

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GM sales strong in ChinaAccording to reports from General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, automobile sales rose significantly in September. Chrysler reported the biggest gain at 27%, Nissan with a 25% increase and GM at 20%. Even though Japanese auto makers were running their factories at full capacity for the first time since the March earthquake and tsunami, Toyota and Honda continue to trail the industry with a drop in US sales. The biggest rise came from the sales of full size pickups, sport utility, and crossover vehicles, a trend that seems to coincide with dropping gas prices. Despite the poor sales at the beginning of the year, some auto makers are expecting full year sales to top13 million before the end of the year, a level that has not been seen since 2008.

New California Lemon Law For Used Car Buyers

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A new California lemon law bill, signed into law September 28, will give used car buyers more protection than ever before. The law, effective starting July 2012, will require all used and new car dealers to check the vehicle identification number (VIM) against a federal database. This database will have a more comprehensive list than existing commercial services because than law will require all states, insurance companies, salvage yards and junkyards to provide information on vehicles written off in a flood, fire or accident. The system is used by state motor vehicle departments and police, and is open to the public for a small fee.

Jeep Liberty Investigated For Air Bag Problems

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After almost forty complaints of unexpected airbag deployment, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is launching an investigation into Chyrsler’s 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty SUV. Drivers complaints include the drivers side or both front air bags deploying during normal driving conditions. If the investigation leads to a recall, almost 400,000 Jeep Liberty SUV’s could be involved.

Chrysler has experienced air bag problem in several of their vehicles over the past year. The vehicles involved include: 2008 Chrysler and Dodge minivans, 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler, and 2009 Dodge Journey.