The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is upgrading an investigation into complaints of severe corrosion in the rear wheel wells of certain 2004 Ford Freestar and 2004 Mercury Monterey minivans. The anchor plate for the rear seats on these minivans is mounted on the rear wheel well and difficulty latching the seats is being blamed on the corrosion. There have also been complaints of the anchor mounts detaching from the vehicle completely. The upgraded investigation will include 2005-2007 Freestar and Monterey vans bought and registered in both salt belt and non salt belt states. If the investigation should lead to a recall, almost 83,000 vehicles could be affected.
Tag Archives: automobile investigation
BMW Transmission Problem
An investigation into transmission control problems in some BMW 7-series luxury cars has been upgraded to an engineering analysis after U.S. safety regulators found seventeen crashes, five of which resulted in injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began their investigation last August after receiving almost fifty complaints related to the push button start and electronic transmission controls on these vehicles. The shifter is designed to automatically shift the vehicle to “park” under a variety of conditions, including after the driver has pressed the ignition button to turn off the engine. In several cases, owners thought their vehicles were in park when they were still in neutral, and their vehicles rolled away unexpectedly and crashed. The investigation covers nearly 122,000 BMWs from the 2002 through 2008 model years.
Chevy And Jeep Investigated For Engine Fires
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has opened an investigation into engine fires in some 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2010 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Of the ten complaints received, two Chevy Cruze owners reported complete loss of their vehicle, and eight Jeep Wrangler owners stated that the fire started in the engine while driving. The investigation will have the NHTSA reviewing early warning report data to assess the scope and frequency of the alleged defect. If the investigation lead to a recall, almost 180, 000 Cruze and 100,000 Wrangler vehicles could be involved.
GM Replaces Charge Cord On Volts
Complaints from Chevrolet Volt owners about charging cords overheating and melting have been met with a GM customer satisfaction initiative that will have the 120V charging chords replaced. The initiative will cover all 2011 and certain 2012 version of the hybrid electric car. According to GM spokesman Randal Fox, the new cord will be a larger wire gauge making it more durable and able to withstand higher temperatures. The initiative is not a safety recall, but an effort by GM to offer a more consistent charging experience. GM will contact owners about the new cord in a few weeks.
This Chevrolet Volt cord replacement follows an announcement in January, that had owners bringing in their vehicles to have steel plates added around the Volt Battery. These plates are installed to spread the force of an impact over a larger surface area preventing the battery from being damaged. This battery upgrade came after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) experienced a battery fire three weeks after crash tests were done on a Volt.
Unintended Acceleration In Ford Taurus
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into certain 2005-2006 Ford Taurus vehicles after receiving 14 reports of stuck throttles. Consumer complaints alleged vehicle engines could rev as high at 4,000 RMP after shifting into “park” or “neutral”, and difficulty stopping the vehicle has resulted in dangerous situations for drivers. According to these reports, the problem could be the result of a stuck throttle due to the cruise control cable detaching. If this preliminary investigation should lead to a vehicle recall, an estimated 360,000 vehicles could be affected.
NHTSA Investigates GM Door Fires
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating certain GM vehicles after receiving twelve complaints of smoke and fire from the inside of doors of some Trail Blazer mid-size sport utility vehicles. The complaints are similar to consumer reports that lead the NHTSA to open an investigation into some 2007 Camry, Camry Solara and Rav4 vehicles, earlier this month. The NHTSA will be focusing on whether window switches on the GM and Toyota vehicles were manufactured by the same supplier. The investigation could affect up to 310,000, 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazers. According to the safety administration, the Buick Rainer, Saab 9-7x, and the GMC Envoy share the same parts at the Trail Blazer, but these vehicle are not part of the investigation yet
Honda Airbag Injury Victim Lucky To Be Alive
A Georgia woman is lucky to be alive after suffering a potentially fatal neck wound from a chunk of metal from an airbag deployment in her 2001 Honda Civic. Kristy Williams wounds are similar to injuries sustained by a teenager in Oklahoma and a mom in Virginia who were not as lucky when their airbags deployed with a deadly force. Medical reports show all three women sustained similar injuries and all women drove 2001 Honda vehicles.
Honda’s first airbag recall came in November 2008, and has been expanded four times to cover 2.5 million vehicles. The recall, however, stops at the 2003 models even though regulators have received 127 complaints about Honda and Acura models over the last 10 model years whose airbag went off with no crash. In Williams case, the surprise deployment was linked to an improper repair after an airbag replacement done to the vehicle before she bought it.
Honda Defective Window Mechanism
Two disgruntled Honda drivers have filed a class action lawsuit against Honda for defective window mechanisms that allowed the vehicles window to fall inside the door. According to the suit, a defective piece of plastic used to keep the windows in place while it is being operated, wears and breaks under normal operating conditions. The defect not only poses a hazard to drivers and passengers, but the $400 bill and loss of the use of the vehicle while repairs are being made are unacceptable. The suit also alleges that Honda knew that the fix made available to consumers resulted in repeated window regulator failures on the same vehicle. The vehicles involved in the law suit include the Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot, Honda Element, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Honda Civic, and Acura MDX from model years 1994 to 2007.
