GM Transmissions & Difficult Shifting

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The eight-speed automatic transmission found in certain 2015-2019 Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC vehicles have a defect that makes the vehicle hesitate and jerk when accelerating or slowing down. Owners say that the 8L90 and 8L45 transmissions experience hard shifting and eventual engine damage.

According to a class action lawsuit filed last year, “Drivers attempting to accelerate or decelerate feel a hesitation, followed by a significant shake, shudder, jerk, clunk, or ‘hard shift’ when the vehicle’s automatic transmission changes gears.” The shuddering, shaking, jerking and hesitation is believed to be related to friction within the transmission and/or torque converter causing metal shavings to be circulated throughout the transmission.

The vehicles affected by this problem include:

  • 2015-2019 Chevrolet Silverado
  • 2017-2019 Chevrolet Colorado
  • 2015-2019 Chevrolet Corvette
  • 2016-2019 Chevrolet Camaro
  • 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV
  • 2016-2019 Cadillac ATS and ATS-V
  • 2016-2019 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V
  • 2016-2019 Cadillac CT6
  • 2015-2019 GMC Sierra
  • 2015-2019 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL
  • 2015-2017 GMC Yukon Denali and Denali XL
  • 2017-2019 GMC Canyon

Air conditioning problems are another common complaint affecting certain newer Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC vehicles. Owners say the system is not strong enough to withstand the internal and external pressures. Leaks eventually occur causing damage to compressors and condensers and expensive repairs.

The vehicles affected include:

  • 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade
  • 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • 2015-2017 Chevrolet Suburban
  • 2015-2017 Chevrolet Tahoe
  • 2014-2016 GMC Sierra 1500
  • 2015-2017 GMC Yukon

 

If you purchased or leased a defective Chevrolet, Cadillac or GMC in California and it turned out to be a lemon, contact us now and we can help you get rid of it… Fill out the above form or call us now for a free case evaluation.

Ford F150 Grinding Noise

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The Ford F-Series is a series of light, medium and super duty trucks manufactured by Ford Motor Company since 1948. One of he most popular versions of the series is the light duty F-150. Now in its thirteenth generation, the F-150 is one of the best selling trucks in America.

Throughout the years, every model year F-150 has experienced problems and defects. Below are some of the most common problems affecting 2015-2019 model year F-150 trucks.

“Transmission makes clunking and grinding noise.” Many F-150 owners report problems with their transmissions when starting, accelerating, or shifting. They experience clunking and jerking when shifting through gears on all types of roads. Although there are several transmission recalls affecting Ford F-150 trucks, none of them address the difficult shifting problems.

“Loud grinding when starting.” Grinding from the starter often starts with a faulty starter solenoid. The starter solenoid has internal electrical contacts that supply electricity to the starter. When it is not working properly, it may allow the starter drive gear to grind on the teeth of the flywheel after the engine has started. Over time the drive gear will wear down, the grinding will become more frequent and the starter will have to be replaced. In some cases a vehicle could go through two or three starters in its lifespan.

“Front end grinding in 2WD” In August 2019, Ford released a technical service bulletin for intermittent grinding noises coming from the Integrated Wheel Ends (IWE) in some 2013-2018 F-150, Expedition and Navigator vehicles. The problem was caused by a loss of vacuum to the Integrated Wheel End (IWE) actuators and/or wear of the IWE components. To correct the condition service centers were instructed to inspect and replace worn vacuum and IWE components.

“Engine rattle at startup.” The first symptom of problems with a timing chain is a rattle from the engine on start up. Because the timing chains are so long, they must be kept tight using hydraulic tensioners and are supported by plastic guides. With the proper lubrication and oil filter the timing chain should last the life of the vehicle, but with a substandard oil filter, the engine oil may drain back to the oil pan when the engine is turned off.  A lack of oil pressure means tensioners cannot immediately tighten the timing chains on startup.  When this occurs slack in the chain tends to jerk and the plastic timing chain guides can break.

“Grinding noise coming from the wheels.” Grinding that seems to be coming from your wheels is most likely bad wheel bearings. Wheel bearings allow for friction-free movement of the hub assembly so your wheels can rotate smoothly, but they are not immune to wear and tear and may need to be replaced over the length of a vehicle’s life. If the noise gets louder as you accelerate, then a bad wheel bearing is most likely the problem.

If you purchased or leased a defective Ford F-150 in California and it turned out to be a lemon, contact us now and we can help you get rid of it… just fill out the above form or call us now for a free case evaluation.

2018 Volkswagen Atlas Repeated Problems

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Although the Volkswagen Atlas has only been in production for three years, it has already gained a reputation for being a problematic vehicle. The 2018 model Atlas, for example, has ten recalls and hundreds of manufacturer communications. (Automobile manufacturers are required to submit copies of their communications to dealers and owners about defects, to the NHTSA.) These documents can be useful to owners because they identify known problems.

Manufacturer communications for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas show that the electrical, engine and braking have issues.

The top complaint of the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas is braking. The vehicles’ automatic emergency braking (AEB) is designed to reduce crashes, but poorly deigned or calibrated systems have become a safety issue. Drivers say while crossing lanes of traffic or after leveling out from a down slope, the AEB will automatically activate leaving them with no control over the movement of the vehicle. In order to move again, they have to shift the transmission into neutral and restart the engine.

The second biggest complaint about the 2018 Atlas is the engine start-stop technology. Start-stop technology advertises cost savings and environmental benefits, however, repeated engine starts while supplying power to systems when the engine is off, requires powerful batteries and complex systems to run smoothly. These systems are vulnerable to problems, the biggest being batteries that prematurely die and leave drivers stranded.

Air conditioning defects are the third top complaints of the 2018 VW Atlas. If your a/c is blowing warm air, it is most likely low refrigerant pressure. Leaks and blocked condensers can result in worn compressors, failing blower motors and expensive repair cost. In a recall affecting the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, an improperly installed HVAC drain tube allowed moisture to enter the airbag control unit, causing the airbag to unexpectedly deploy. This dangerous driving condition had thousands of owners returning to their dealers for repairs.

If you purchased or leased a defective Volkswagen Atlas in California that turned out to be a lemon, and need help to get rid of it, just fill out the above form or call us now for a free case evaluation.

Ford Brake & Steering Defects

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Ford will be contacting the owners of certain 2019 Ford Fiesta vehicles regarding a problem affecting the braking system in their cars.

According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, the brake calipers were incorrectly labeled at the manufacturer and may have been filled with an incompatible brake fluid. This incompatible lubricant could cause to the seals to swell and develop leaks, which could lead to reduced braking, brake drag and overheating of the brake pads. If the brake fluid becomes low, drivers will be alerted through an illuminated low fluid warning light.

Ford will notify owners instructing them to return to their dealers to flush the brake fluid and replace the front brake calipers. Ford’s number for this recall is 19S27 and the NHTSA campaign number is 19V629000.

Ford will also be contacting the owners of certain Ford and Lincoln vehicles because of a problem affecting steering. The vehicles affected include:

  • 2015-2016 Ford Edge
  • 2013-2016 Ford Edge
  • 2016 Lincoln MKX
  • 2013-2016 Lincoln MKZ

According to the defect report, an improper application of anti corrosion wax on the steering gear motor attachment bolts may result in corrosion of the bolts. As a result, the steering gear motor could become loose or detaching from the gear housing and power steering assist would be lost.

Owners will be asked to return to their Ford or Lincoln dealers to have the wax sealer applied to the steering gear motor bolts. Ford’s number for this recall is 19S27 and the NHTSA campaign number is 19V629000.

Toyota/Lexus Deactivation Of Vehicle Stability Control And Loss of Braking

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Toyota will be contacting the owners of certain 2019-2010 Toyota and Lexus vehicles regarding a problem affecting the braking and stability control systems. The vehicles involved include:

  • 2019 Lexus ES300H
  • 2019 Lexus LC500
  • 2019 Lexus LS500
  • 2019 Lexus LS500 H
  • 2019 Lexus U250 Hybrid
  • 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
  • 2019 Toyota Prius
  • 2019-2020 Toyota Prius Prime
  • 2019 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid

The affected vehicles have a brake booster pump with an accumulator and a pump motor which contains a plastic brush holder to hold the motor brushes. It is possible that the plastic brush holder may have been manufactured improperly, causing one of the brushes to become stuck in the brush holder. If this happens, the brush would be unable to maintain an electrical connection inside the motor and may cause the pump motor to stop operating.

If the pump motor stops operating, multiple warning lights and messages will illuminate, and/or audible chimes will sound. Depending on brake fluid pressure in the accumulator and brake pedal stroke amount, braking assist could be lost completely and the Vehicle Stability Control system will become deactivated. A sudden and complete loss of braking assist while driving could increase the vehicle stopping distance and may increase the risk of a crash. Further, deactivating the Vehicle Stability Control system may cause the subject vehicles to not meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 126, paragraph S5.1.2.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the brake booster pump inspected and replaced as necessary. Toyota’s numbers for this recall are K1L/K0L. Lexus’ numbers for this recall are K2F/KLF. The NHTSA Campaign Number is 19V544000.

GM & Chevy Airbag Safety Problem

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General Motors has decided that a defect relating to vehicle safety exists in certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab trucks. There is a chance that the retainer ring inside the passenger airbag module was damaged during the assembly process and may allow gas to escape during an airbag inflation. This would reduce the amount of gas available to fill the airbag, increasing the risk of injury to passengers during certain crashes.

Dealers will correct the problem by replacing the passenger side air bag module. GM’s number for this recall is N182198820 and the NHTSA campaign number is 18V-868.

Mercedes Benz Loss Of Steering

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Daimler will be contacting the owners of certain 2015-2019 Mercedes Benz rear drive model vehicles for a problem affecting the steering. The vehicles affected by this recall include:

  • 2015-2019 Mercedes Benz C300
  • 2018-2019 Mercedes Benz C350E
  • 2017-2019 Mercedes Benz C63 AMG
  • 2015, 2018 Mercedes Benz C63S AMG
  • 2019 Mercedes Benz CLS450
  • 2018 Mercedes Benz E300
  • 2018 Mercedes Benz E400
  • 2019 Mercedes Benz E450

According to the defect report, a production deviation of the rear wheel drive steering rack lock nut could result in internal material cracks that reduce the nuts strength. If a large lateral force, such as hitting a curb could cause the lock nut to break and the steering to become fixed in one position. There is no advanced warning that the lock nut could fail.

Owners receiving recall notices will be asked to return to their dealerships to have the steering rack replaced.

Audi R8 Spyder & R8 Coupe Transmission Fluid Vent Hose Leak

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If you are the owner of a 2017-2018 Audi R8 Spyder or R8 Coupe, you may be receiving a manufacturer defect notice for the power train of your vehicle. According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, during extreme maneuvers the transmission fluid could expand and foam up beyond the expansion volume in the gearbox, causing the transmission fluid to leak out of the gearbox ventilation hose. The fluid could contact hot engine parts, causing smoke and a possible fire.

Dealers will correct the problem by adding a double ventilation hose that has a higher oil expansion volume. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 34J1 and the NHTSA campaign number is 18V-639.