Mazda has announced a recall that will affect over 100,000 2008-2009 Mazda 3 and Mazda Speed 3 vehicles built between January 2008 to November 2008. During assembly, the ground terminal from the windshield wiper motor may have been damaged causing an increased electrical resistance. If the resistance becomes too high or the wire should become break completely, the windshield wipers will stop working. The loss of the wiper function in poor weather could reduce the drivers visibility, increasing the risk of an accident. Dealers will rectify the problem by installing an additional ground harness to the wiper motor. Owners wanting additional information on the recall can contact the Mazda customer assistance center at 1-800-222-5500.
Porsche Recalls 911 Wheel Assemblies
Porsche is recalling some high performance 911 vehicles, built between May 2009 to September 2010, for problems with the wheel assemblies. The recall involves some 2010-2011 911 models equipped with center locking hub and wheel assemblies. Under racing conditions, the assemblies could wear prematurely leading to wheels that could loosen increasing the risk of an accident. Porsche was notified of the problem by a German dealer sponsored racing team that found a broken center locking wheel hub on a GT3. Porsche has found two other racetrack incidents since then. Porsche will inspect and replace the central bolts and any other related components as necessary. Owners wanting more information on the recall can contact Porsche at 1-800-767-7243. The vehicles involved in the recall are:
Chrysler Recall 2011 Vehicles For Steering Problems
Chrysler has announced a recall that will have over 11,000 Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep owners, bringing in their vehicles to get the steering column inspected. The recall involves some 2011 model year vehicles that may have been built with a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet. The missing or incorrectly installed rivet does not affect the steering of the vehicles under normal driving conditions, but in the event of an accident, the steering column may not be able to support the load of the airbag deployment. This condition may increase the potential for injury in the event of a frontal crash. Owners wanting more information on the recall can contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. The vehicles involved in this recall are:
Car Makers Reject California Emission Proposal
California regulators are pushing a mandate that could have zero emission vehicles making up 5.5% of new car sales by 2018, increasing to 14% by 2025. The proposal is being rejected by auto makers who feel the plan is the first step into establishing new national fuel efficiency standards that could end up costing them $5,000 for every vehicle that does not meet the standard. According to the Association of Global Automakers (AGA) the requirement of electric vehicles would interfere with auto makers ability to meet the new fuel economy and emissions standards being proposed by the Obama administration. They feel that auto makers will be forced into building vehicles that are not in demand, into an infrastructure that can not meet their refueling needs. It is expected the plan would hit smaller auto companies the worst, because they have fewer resources and development advances for electric vehicles.
Volvo Recalls 2012 S60 For More Fuel Issues
Last week, Volvo recalled almost 8,000 2012 S60 sedans for issues with the fuel pump software that could lead to hesitation or stalling. Volvo has announced another recall this week for the same vehicle with the same issues, but the problem is not related to software. According to a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a fuel line connector was manufactured out of specification which could result in the locking function not being engaged. Drivers may notice a fuel smell or a leak, and if the line disconnects completely, the vehicle will stall. The recall will affect certain 2012 S60 vehicles built between January 18, 2011 to January 28, 2011. Owners wanting more information about the recall can contact Volvo at 1-201-768-7300.
GM Recalls 2011 Cadillac SRX For Air Bags
General Motors has announced a recall for certain 2011 Cadillac SRX crossover vehicles for failing to meet the requirements of the vehicle safety standards for occupant crash protection. The problem is being blamed on a programing error that turns off the right side roof rail airbag if the passenger sensing system does not sense that the front passenger seat is occupied. Safety standards state that in the event of an accident, the front passenger seat airbag should deploy to protect the rear occupant. Cadillac SRX owners receiving the recall can bring in their vehicles to dealers who will reprogram the sensing and diagnostic module free of charge. For more information contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339 or go to the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Buying A Car Made Easier With An App
Car shoppers no longer have be at the mercy of a dealership sales person when shopping for a new vehicle. In the age of online resources and smart phones the resourceful consumer has a arsenal of information to help negotiate the best deal. Car research companies like Ebay Motors, Cars.com, Kelley’s Blue Book and Edmunds have free smart phone applications that allow drivers to check car prices and ratings while giving direction for nearby dealers. The app provides true market values, the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), and helps the savvy consumer navigate the car buying process. Online calculators can help shoppers determine the type of car they can afford and how much a vehicle will cost whether paying cash, taking a loan or leasing the vehicle. Some of the apps offer a true cost to own feature which calculates how much car a buyer can afford, including taxes, interest, insurance, gas, and maintenance over the next five years. While not all apps may have information on used cars, providers say used car buyers will be offered that service very soon.
A Good Time To Get Rid Of Your Used Car
Shortages in supply and increases in demand have made that fuel efficient used car sitting in your driveway a good investment. Car dealers looking to get their hands on well maintained used cars, especially fuel efficient ones, are willing to pay good money for it. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan continue to affect the supply of compact and hybrid cars, low car sales in 2008-2009, and automobile owners keeping their cars longer have also contributed to the lack of inventory. While the Toyota Prius seems to be the most sought after used car, a 2008 Honda Civic Lx price has increased by $2,000 since January, a 2010 Chevrolet Aveo Ls, by over $3,000, and a 2008 Ford Focus is worth about two thirds of its original sticker price .
WSJ’s Joe White explains in the above video how your can get the best deal when selling your used car.
