Corrosion Investigation For Ford Windstar

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A recall for corrosion of Ford’s Windstar and a recently expanded recall for the same issues, has lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to upgrade their investigation into front end corrosion problems with the minivan. The NHTSA is now reviewing almost 350 complaints related to the vans front engine cradle. This sub-frame which carries the engine, trans-axle, steering and some front end suspension components, is reported to suffer cracking because of excessive corrosion. Almost 100% of complaints have come from salt belt states.

Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said the company is cooperating with the NHTSA investigation and that they are committed to safety and notifying customers of recalls. According to Ford’s Safety director, The failure rate for the minivan is quite low when considering the age of the vehicles and the amount of miles they have accumulated.

Mercedes Benz Hydrogen Vehicles In California

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As GM launches its plug in hybrid, the Chevrolet Volt, and Nissan releases its all electric Leaf, Mercedes Benz will also be releasing it hydrogen powered vehicles to California residents. Mercedes is leasing the vehicles to a small groups of people in order to study the vehicles performance in real life conditions. This information will be provided to the Department of Energy to help them in their effort to meet stringent mileage and emission regulations.

Powered by an electric motor delivering 134 horsepower, the Mercedes F-Cell B-Class offers the advantages of a gas-powered conventional car, while using half the fuel and emitting only water. “We believe this is a great addition to our fast-growing portfolio of alternative fuel vehicles.” said Sascha Simon, head of advanced product planning at Mercedes-Benz USA. The information gathered by this study will help the effort in transforming the U.S. into a country that is fueled entirely by domestically produced energy

Use Of Ethanol Still Being Challenged

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propel biofuels alternativesThe Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers have joined with the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute in filing a petition challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to approve the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol for 2007 and newer passenger cars and light trucks. These organizations say they represent those who are concerned about the safety and reliability of the use of increased ethanol. The petition asks that the EPA’s decision be put on hold until it can be determined whether the decision violates the Clean Air Act which limits the circumstances under which the EPA can approve new fuels and additives.

According to the Renewable Fuels Association the waiver should be for all vehicles. The EPA could have avoided market confusion by following all the science to its logical conclusion and allowing the use of E15 for all cars and light duty pickup trucks. According to the ethanol trade association, “Allowing for the use of E15 blends is safe and will help reduce the United States dependency on fossil fuels and imported oil.” The effort is also supported by corn-producing states and alternative fuel proponents who have long sought to increase federal rules boosting the amount of ethanol mixed into gasoline.

Still there is strong opposition to the decision. The infrastructure isn’t there to accommodate the product, the production and use of ethanol can add to the amount of smog put into the air, the use of ethanol will result in higher food prices, and there just hasn’t been enough research to see if automobile can withstand the use of higher ethanol fuel.

Land Rover Recalls LR2 SUV For Airbags

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In a recall that will affect only about 3,000 vehicles, Land Rover will be asking owners to bring in their 2010-2011 LR2 Suv’s for an intermittent problem with the driver’s side airbag. The vehicles affected were manufactured between November 2009 and August 2010. According to a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the problem is with the shorting bar in the clock spring. The shorting bar may have been disconnected when the airbag module was installed leading to the airbag not deploying properly or at all. Owner with questions or concerns can contact Land Rover Customer Service Center at 1-800-346-3493 (1-800-FIND 4WD).

GM Recalls Crossovers For Seat Belts

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A seat belt problem found in some GM crossovers has lead the automaker to issue a recall that could affect almost 100,000 vehicles. GM reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that during component testing, it was found that some crossover vehicles may have seat belt anchors that could break during a high impact situation. The problem, which could affect both the driver and passenger front seats is being blamed on an unauthorized change to the anchoring tooling. The vehicles affected by this recall are:

  • 2011 Cadillac SRX
  • 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  • 2011 GMC Terrain

Owners can contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and GMC at 1-866-996-9463 with questions or concerns. They can also consult the GM owner center website at www.gmownercenter.com.

Fatal Accident As Ford Expands Minivan Recall

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A Massachusetts man, Sean Bowman, was killed when the rear axle of his Ford Windstar cracked in half causing the minivan to crash into a building. A week after the accident, the Bowman family received a recall notice saying that his 2001 Windstar’s axle should be inspected for corrosion that could lead to the axle breaking.

The original recall was announced last August and only after the story of Sean Bowman’s death broke, Ford announced that it would be expanding the recall to add another 37,000 vehicles. The initial recall was for vans in certain colder states where corrosion was a factor, but the expanded recall now covers a larger number of states.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 70 percent of recalled vehicles are repaired within the first 18 months. Recalls issued for older vehicles tend to be much lower and remain on the roads without being fixed, which could lead to Ford facing increased legal action over the issue. Ford continues to experience problems with the recall because of a shortage of parts. Some Windstar owners have complained that their minivans have been sitting at dealerships waiting for repairs for up to four months.

Volkswagen Recalls Vehicles For Fuel Line Problems

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volkswagen recall fuel lineVolkswagen has announced a recall for a fuel line problem that can affect vehicles with 2.5 liter 5 cylinder engines. The problem is being blamed on an improperly secured fuel line which can chafe leading to a fuel leak and a potential fire. The vehicles affected by this recall are:

  • 2007–2009 Golf
  • 2007–2009 Jetta and Jetta SportWagen
  • 2006–2010 New Beetle
  • 2007–2009 Rabbit

Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will either remove a plastic tab from the windshield washer fluid reservoir, or position the fuel line fastening clamp to prevent the chafing. For more information, owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) vehicle safety hot line at 1-888-327-4236, or go to http://www.safercar.gov

Chrysler Recalls Dodge Ram Pickup For Brakes

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Chrysler Group LLC announced today that they will be recalling almost 80,000 diesel Dodge Ram pickup trucks over a defective brake system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that the recall will affect 2010-2011 Dodge Ram diesel trucks built between March 2009-October 2010. These vehicles have a hydroboost brake systems and could have a power steering reservoir cap that could allow excessive vent pressure levels. The excessive levels may lead to brake pedals that are slow to return and an illuminated brake light. Chrysler said it will notify owners and dealers will replace the steering reservoir cap free of charge. Owners can contact Chrysler at (800) 853-1403 if they have more questions about the recall.