Volkswagen announced today, that owners of vehicles equipped with software used to pass emissions tests could receive up to $1,000 in prepaid Visa cards and dealership credits, as well as free roadside assistance for three years. The offer is an attempt to regain customer trust as the company faces lawsuits from owners who want compensation for the loss in resale value of their vehicles. Some of the cases already filed say they want VW to buy back the vehicles for the full price they originally paid. Continue reading
Mercedes Benz Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Problem
Mercedes Benz will be notifying the owners of certain 2008-2009 C300, C350, C63 cars and 2010 GLK350 SUVs about a problem affecting the airbag system. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, due to insufficient passivization during the manufacturing process, corrosion could lead to a malfunction of the supplemental restraint system (SRS) control unit. The problem could result in deactivation of all SRS components with an SRS warning lamp, or the SRS components could deploy unexpectedly. Continue reading
NHTSA Accelerates Takata Airbag Repairs
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation into exploding Takata airbags has found that the manufacturer violated the Motor Vehicle Safety Act as well as the Federal regulations implementing the Act. The NHTSA have imposed one of the largest civil penalties in NHTSA history and have ordered all 12 vehicle manufacturers to accelerate repairs, prioritizing recalls so the vehicles experiencing the greatest safety risk will be fixed first. Continue reading
Volkswagen Camshaft Defect
Volkswagen will be asking owners of certain 2015-2016 vehicles to return to their dealerships to repair a problem affecting the engine and brake system. According to reports, the lobe of the sintered cam which drives the high pressure fuel injection pump and the vacuum pump, could shear off from the camshaft. If this happens, vacuum supply will be shut off to the the brake booster, the vehicle will go into limp home mode, and the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) will illuminate. Continue reading
Are Recall Delays Affecting Your Vehicles Safety?
With record recalls in the past few years, part shortages have owners concerned that they may be driving vehicles that could potentially harm them. Part of the challenge is that companies send defect notices to drivers before parts are available and will send a second notice when the parts are obtained, but according to consumer advocate Rosemary Shahan, even when parts do become available, limited repair facilities and a shortage of technicians are making it difficult to get the repairs done quickly. She says automobile manufacturers are not doing enough to help consumers.
In the above video, a CBS Sacramento investigation tells you what you can do if you have to wait for recall repairs.
Mercedes Benz Camshaft Defect
Mercedes Benz will be asking the owners of certain 2015 CLA250, 2015 GLA250, and 2016 SLK300 vehicles to return to their dealerships to repair a defect that could increase the risk of an accident. Due to a production deviation at the supplier, certain vehicles equipped with four cylinder gasoline engines could have camshaft welds that have been manufactured outside of specifications. One or both of the camshafts could break, damaging the engine until it stalls. If this situation occurs, the driver will not be able to restart the vehicle. Continue reading
2010 Nissan Altima Buyback For Repeated Repair Attempts
After repeated complaints to his dealership and eight (8) unsuccessful repair attempts on his 2010 Nissan Altima, the owner contacted our California lemon law offices for advice. He told us he suspected his transmission was defective as it would whine and slip, and metal shavings were found in the transmission fluid. The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) tans-axle and oil cooler had been replaced and the vehicle would often refuse to accelerate under normal operating conditions. Continue reading
Another Repair Attempt For GM Vehicles
General Motors will be asking approximately 1.4 million vehicle owners to return to their dealerships to fix a problem affecting several older model nameplates. U.S. safety regulators issued a recall to fix the defect in 2007 after owners reported engine fires shortly after parking their vehicles. A second recall was issued in 2009 when over one thousand cars caught fire despite already being repaired. Continue reading