In August 2013, Chrysler opened an investigation into certain 2013 Fiat 500e battery electric vehicles because drivers were experiencing excessive noise from the powertrain and loss of drive capability. The investigation found that due to product, process, and rework anomalies, the half shaft joints on the suspect vehicles may not have been engineered and developed for this application. Continue reading

A defect affecting certain 2014 Chevrolet Impala cars will have over one thousand owners returning to their dealerships a second time for repairs. According to reports, some Impala’s repaired under recall 14V-541 may have existing electronic parking brake software that will cause the brake pads to stay partially engaged with the rotor. The driver may experience poor vehicle acceleration, undesired deceleration, excessive brake heat, and premature wear to some brake components. (The park brake indicator may not illuminate even though the parking brake is engaged.) Continue reading

If you are the owner of a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, you are probably aware of the repeated problems experienced by many drivers. With over four hundred complaints and eight recalls, this model year Grand Cherokee has gained a reputation as a lemon vehicle. Airbag, electrical, electronic stability control (ECS), vehicle speed control, and brake problems have been blamed for unsafe driving conditions and accidents on several occasions. Continue reading

According to a recent investigation report, the NHTSA have opened a probe into the 2013 recall of certain 2011-2012 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 Ambulance package vehicles equipped with a 6.7L diesel engines. In October 2013 these vehicle were recalled due to an exhaust sensor problem that led drivers to experience loss of power followed by an engine stall. To date, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has experienced 30 more complaints affecting vehicles both within and outside the scope of the subject recall. Continue reading

The possibility of a leaking brake line will have some Subaru owners returning to their dealers for repairs. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, due to incomplete repair instructions of Subaru recall bulletin WQK-47 or NHTSA campaign number 14V-311, an inadequate amount of anti-corrosion material may have been applied to the four way joint connector area of the brake line system. Depending on the driving conditions, salt water could splash through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Continue reading

Ford will be asking owners of certain 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car, and 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis to return their vehicles to their dealership to inspect a previous repair. According to the defect report, vehicles repaired under the previous safety recall 13V-385, may have been improperly serviced. As a result, the upper arm intermediate shaft could separate resulting in loss of steering control and an increased chance of an accident. Continue reading

Using publicly available data from the NHTSA, manufacturer early warning reports, and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), The Safety Institute release a list of vehicles which they feel show early signs of potential problems. According to The Safety Institute’s most recent quarterly vehicle safety watch list, released in October 2014, the Toyota Sienna shows repeated problems affecting the power train and suspension. Continue reading

If you are the owner of a 2013 Dodge Dart and you think it could be a lemon, you are not alone. According to information on the NHTSA website, there are over 150 complaints against this vehicle. The top problems include the power train, engines, brakes, and an assortment of electrical issues. Owners say they have returned to their dealership several times for repairs, but the defects are still not fixed. Continue reading