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Toyota Officially Recalls Corolla And Matrix Vehicles

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An intensified investigation into complaints of stalling engines has lead Toyota to recall over one million 2005-2008 Corolla sedans and Matrix wagons. The recall will also include 2005-2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. No other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are involved in the recall.

The problem is being blamed on an improperly manufactured engine control unit (ECU) which could lead to the check engine light coming on, hard shifting, the engine not starting or stalling while driving. Toyota has known about this problem since 2005 when it issued a technical service bulletin (TSB). At the time, if a customer came in with any of the above complaints, the ECU was replaced under warranty. If the warranty was up, it was left to the discretion of the dealership whether they would pay for it or not. Now that there has been an official recall the automaker will reimburse customers who paid for the fix.

Toyota and GM will mail owners notices starting in middle September. The ECU will be replaced on all of the recalled vehicles free of charge.

Ford Recalls Windstar Minivans

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Ford is recalling over half a million 1998-2003 Windstar minivans because corrosion of the rear axle could lead it to break. The recall will focus on vehicles driven in areas where salt is used on the roads. After many years of vehicle service in these areas, corrosion can weaken the rear axle, making it susceptible to torsional stress.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a preliminary investigation into the problem last may, after the agency received 234 reports of rear axle fractures and two minor crashes. Ford said they have received almost 1000 complaints of alleged cracked rear axles, including seven that resulted in injuries. The company will install reinforcement brackets free of charge on recalled vehicles. The places affected by the recall are Canada, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

NHTSA Investigation Into Toyota’s Stalling Engines

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A recall has not been issued yet, but U.S. safety regulators are intensifying an investigation into complaints of stalling engines on Toyota Corollas and Matrix hatchbacks. The preliminary probe begun last November when the NHTSA received complaints for 2006 models, but the problem has been expanded to include almost 1.2 million 2005-2007 Corolla and Matrix cars.

The problem is being blamed on an improper coating on the engine control unit (ECU) circuit boards that lead to cracks in the coating. The NHTSA has received 163 complaints of stalling engines as of last week. It is unclear whether the investigation will lead to a recall.

Webasto Recall For Defective Sunroofs

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 300,000 aftermarket sunroofs are being recalled because the bonding between the glass and the frame may loosen, resulting in the glass becoming detached from the vehicle.

The sunroof is produced by Webasto Product North America of Fenton, Mich. The models being recalled are the 2002-2009 Hollandia 600 and 700 series as well as the 2007-2010 Hollandia TVS 900 series. Because these sunroofs are aftermarket, usually installed by dealers, they may be on a wide variety of vehicles.

Webasto will notify any recorded owners and installers will repair the sunroofs free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during September 2010. Owners may contact webasto at 1-888-749-8632 or for more information CLICK HERE.

GM Crossovers Recalled For Seatbelts

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On Tuesday, GM announced that they will be recalling almost a quarter million crossover sport utility vehicles for problems with seat belts. The recall will affect 2009-2010 Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Saudi Arabia.

According to a GM press release, the problem is with the second-row safety belt buckles. When the seats are laid flat and then returned to the upright position the buckle could come in contact with the seat frame and become damaged. Eventually, the buckle may fail to latch and unlatch properly or may appear to latched when it is not.

The auto maker will begin notifying owners of vehicles affected by the GM crossover recall this month. Dealers will inspect the seat belts and replace it if necessary, as well as reshape the side trim to allow the seats to fold without damaging the seat belts. The company said they discovered the problem when they inspected damaged safety belts in warranty return vehicles, but there have been no reports of seat belt failure to date.

Mazda Recalls Cars For Power Steering Problems

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Mazda has issued a recall notice for approximately 215,000 of its 2007-2009 Mazda 3’s and Mazda 5’s because of a problem with the power steering assist. The problem is being blamed on rust forming inside the high pressure pipe on the power steering system which makes its way to the motorized power steering pump, causing it to overheat and shut down. The same problem was found in vehicles in Japan two years ago but was not a concern in the U.S. until last June when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received 33 complaints related to the problem.

Because Mazda is short on parts to fix the problem, the recall will be broken down into two phases. Some owners will get details about how to have their cars fixed in a mailing that will begin by Sept. 15, but others might not hear anything until February, according to the NHTSA. Owners with concerns can contact Mazda customer assistance at (800) 222-5500. Owners can also contact NHTSA at (888) 327-4236.

Toyota Recall For Steering System Problems

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Toyota announced Thursday that they will be recalling 373,000, 2000-2004 Avalon sedans as well as 39,000 2003-2007 Lexus LX470 SUVs for two unrelated steering system defects.

The defect in the Avalon Sedan is being blamed on an improper casting in a component of the steering lock system. If the steering is turned hard to the right, the component may break, resulting in the steering locking up. There have been six reports of the problem in the U.S. Three resulting in accidents with no injuries.

In the Lexus LX479 SUV, the snap ring on the steering shaft may disengage when the vehicle experiences an impact to the front wheel, such as hitting a pothole. Over time, this may cause the steering shaft to disengage. Toyota was not aware of any accidents resulting from the Lexus steering-shaft problem.

In announcing the latest recall, Steve St. Angelo, Toyota’s chief quality officer for North America, said the automaker was “continuing to work diligently to address safety issues wherever they arise and to strengthen our global quality assurance operations so that Toyota owners can be confident in the safety of their vehicles.”