General Motors has announced that it will be recalling over 300,000 2009-2010 Chevy Impala automobiles because of a problem with the front seat belts. GM said that the front safety belt webbing may have not been properly attached to the lap belt anchor pretensioner during assembly. There have been no reports of injuries related to the problem, but the company felt a recall was needed after receiving 32 warranty reports. Dealers will inspect how the belts are anchored, and will reinstall the anchors if needed at no cost to the owners. GM will start sending out letters to owners October 26.
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Automobile Recalls For September 2010
- Bentley is recalling some 2007-2009 Arnager, Arnaget, Arnage RL, Brooklands, and Azure vehicles because the retractable hood ornament could become corroded resulting in increased injury during a pedestrian strike. Dealers will replace the retractable mechanism free of charge. Owners may contact Bentley at 1-617-488-8500.
- Ferrari is recalling its 458 Italia super cars after reports of fire. The problem is being blamed on the rear wheel housing and heat shield assemblies becoming deformed from heat from the engine. The shield ends up too close to the exhaust system which has the potential to start a fire. The problem may occur when the vehicle is operation at particularly high temperatures. To fix the problem, dealers will replace the old heat shields with a new design that attaches with rivets instead of glue. For those owners who had their cars damaged by fire, Ferrari will replace the car with a new model.
- Ford is recalling some 2008-2009 F-650 and F-750 trucks with Caterpillar C7 engines. Two fuel lines have the potential to crack at a fastening point causing a leak. Ford is working with Caterpillar to notify owners and repairs will be performed by authorized Caterpillar dealers free of charge. Owners may contact Caterpillar toll-free at 1-800-447-4986 or Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
- GM is recalling some 2009-2010 Cadillac STS all wheel drive and CTS-V vehicles. In an accident, the passenger may be at an increased risk of injury from the glove compartment assembly. Dealers will replace the assembly and, in some vehicles, modify the instrument panel structure. Owners may contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339.
- Honda is recalling some 2010 Accord Crosstour vehicles for a front airbag that was not assembled properly. If the bag should deploy, the front seat passenger could be injured. Dealers will inspect and replace the passenger airbag module free of charge. Owners may contact Honda Automobile Customer Service at 1-800-999-1009.
- Hyundai is recalling some 2011 Sonata vehicles for a steering column that may have been improperly assembled or insufficiently tightened. This could lead to the driver experiencing a reduction or loss of steering capability. Dealers will inspect the steering column for proper assembly and torque and will update the power steering software free of charge. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-633-5151.
- Isuzu and Honda is recalling some 1998-2002 Isuzu Rodeo, 2002 Isuzu Axiom, and 1998-2002 Honda Passport vehicles. These vehicles, when exposed to corrosive materials used in road deicing, may experience excessive corrosion, resulting in the left or right rear suspension lower link bracket becoming detached from the frame. All inspections and remedies will be provided free of charge for vehicles that are 10 years old or less. For vehicles older than 10 years, Isuzu will offer a free remedy, if the vehicle is brought in to an Isuzu or Honda service facility within 12 months of notification. Isuzu owners may contact Isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
- Keystone RV is recalling some 2009-2010 Sprinter Select 25RB travel trailers built between February 11, 2009 to November 19, 2009 for a battery wire that may have been pinched between the floor and the frame. The wire could short out, causing a fire. Keystone RV will notify owners and will repair the vehicles free of charge. Owners may contact Keystone Customer Service at 1-866-425-4369.
- Nissan is recalling certain vehicles equipped with a Garmin Nuvi 750, 760, and 765 navigation system for batteries that can overheat and cause a fire. Nissan will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by Garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery free of charge. Owners may contact Garmin directly at 1-866-957-1981 or Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
- Suzuki is recalling some 2008-2010 SX4, 2010 Grand Vitara, and 2009-2010 Equator vehicles equipped with a Garmin nuvi model 750, 760, and 765 navigation systems. The batteries in these GPS’s have the potential to overheat and cause a fire. Suzuki will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by Garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery. Owners may contact Garmin directly at 1-866-957-1981 or Suzuki at 1-887-697-8985. Owners may also visit Garmin’s website at www.garmin.com/nuvibatterypcbrecall.
- Winnebago is recalling some 2011 Vista and Itasca Sunstar motor homes manufactured from March 16, 2010 to August 12, 2010, because the cable that powers the slide out room could come in contact with the drive shaft when retracted. If the cable wears through, the chassis could become electrified. Dealers will install a drive shaft closeout panel between the chassis frame rails to protect and support the wire harness. This service will be performed free of charge. Owners may contact Winnebago at 1-800-537-1885.
Mercedes Recalls Cars For Steering Problem
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 85,000 2010 C-Class and 2010-2011 E-Class automobiles for problems with the steering. According to Mercedes, a fitting on the high pressure power steering line may have not been tightened enough which could lead to a leak. As a result, the driver may not be able to control the vehicle under circumstances that require maximum power steering.
Mercedes-Benz says Daimler AG will notify affected customers if their vehicle is recalled. The company says its dealers will check and properly tighten the connection between the line and the pump. The recall is expected to begin this month.
Google Develops Self Driving Car
According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.2 million lives are lost every year in traffic accidents. Many of these could have been avoided, as often they were caused by distracted drivers or by driver error. The scientists at Google feel that if cars were able to drive themselves, the amount of accidents could be greatly reduced, and that’s just what they set out to do.
Google has developed a self driving car which uses video cameras, radar sensors and a laser range finder to see other traffic. The car is programmed with detailed maps and traffic information and uses Google’s data centers to process the information allowing it to navigate the roads safely. Google feels this technology will not only reduce traffic accident, but will increase the number of people being transported by allowing more cars on the road and transforming car sharing businesses. Because the cars will be safer, safety features could be removed from cars making them lighter and more efficient. The car can also be programed to drive at the optimal fuel efficiency.
These automated cars, manned by trained operators, drove from Google’s Mountain View campus to their Santa Monica office and on to Hollywood Boulevard. They’ve driven down Lombard Street, crossed the Golden Gate bridge, navigated the Pacific Coast Highway, and even made it all the way around Lake Tahoe. In total, the self-driving cars have logged over 140,000 miles.
According to Google, “We’ve always been optimistic about technology’s ability to advance society, which is why we have pushed so hard to improve the capabilities of self-driving cars beyond where they are today.” While this project is very much in the experimental stage, it provides a glimpse of what transportation might look like in the future thanks to advanced computer science.
Tesla Recalls Roadster
Tesla has announced that it will be recalling all Roadster 2.0 vehicles built between July 2009-June 2010 as well as all Roadster 2.5 models built between July 2010-September 2010. This comes after a complaint from a customer who reported a fire behind the right front corner of the vehicle. The problem is being blamed on a low voltage auxiliary cable chafing against a panel causing a short. This issue is limited to the 12V low voltage auxiliary cable and does not involve the main battery pack or main power system.
In the recall, Tesla technicians will check the routing of the cable and install a protective sleeve to prevent further chaffing. Tesla has started notifying customers via email and has initiated a mailing campaign. The repair will be done at the customers’ homes or offices and will take approximately one hour.
Stars On Cars – Rating Vehicle Safety
The U.S. Transportation Department has announced their new 5 star safety rating system that will be used to rate the new 2011 automobile models. The safety rating program was first introduced in 1979, but changes were needed since almost 90% of vehicles tested under the old system received a five star rating. According to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, “Through new tests, better crash data and higher standards, we are making the safety ratings tougher and more meaningful for consumers.” “The new rating system will encourage auto makers to install crash avoidance technologies and will help shoppers buy a safer vehicle.”
The ‘Stars on Cars’ system uses an overall score rating. Different size test dummies are used and crash prevention technologies are included in the score. A new test that simulates a car striking a pole or a tree has also been added. The overall score combines the results of front, side and rollover tests and compares those results with average risk of injury and the potential for vehicle rollover. So far, of the 34 vehicles tested under the new program only two have received the top grade of five stars. BMW AG’s 2011 5 Series and a version of the 2011 Sonata from Hyundai Motor Co.
There will be a bit of confusion for consumers, when trying to compare safety of a 2010 model with a 2011 model, but automobile manufacturers expect consumers will embrace the new changes. The window sticker attached to vehicles in dealership lots will need to be redesigned and won’t include the overall score until the 2012 model year. Vehicles that haven’t been tested will be listed as “not rated”.
BMW and Rolls-Royce Recall For Brake Problem
BMW has announced a world wide recall on almost 350,000 BMW 5, 6, and 7 series models built since 2002. The German car maker announced that some high mileage vehicles with 8 or 12 cylinder engines may experience brake fluid leakage into the hydraulics, preventing pressure from building up. The brakes will continue to work, but the driver will notice that more pressure is required on the brake pedal. A spokesman for BMW’s luxury brand Rolls-Royce said that they have not had any complaints regarding their Phantom models, but will ask Phantom customers to bring in their vehicles for inspection as well.
Honda Fit Investigated For Headlight Failure
After eight complaints, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have opened an investigation into Honda’s Fit for low beam headlights that stop working. Many of the drivers who have complained of the problem say that they had wiring harnesses, connectors and headlight switches replaced as a repair. If the investigation should lead to a recall, over 130,000 2007-2008 Honda Fit cars could be affected. There have been no reported traffic accidents because of the problem.
