The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association announced earlier this week that Shaun Petersen, the regulatory counsel for the NIADA, spoke to a New York City Council committee on Oct. 28 regarding the city’s proposed law that would make it illegal to sell a used vehicle with an open recall. The law would further require used-car dealers to fix recalls on not only cars in their inventory, but also on vehicles they had already sold that were not repaired.
In front of the council’s Committee on Consumer Affairs in New York, Petersen spoke on behalf of the association and recommended that the proposed law be further studied regarding its ramifications to both consumers and businesses before any action is taken.
Petersen, a partner of Mac Murray, Petersen & Shuster LLP, an Ohio law firm, as well as a former Ohio deputy attorney general, elevated several issues with the proposed law before the council, including the following provided by the NIADA:
- Independent dealers have no control over the recall process and are not allowed to make recall repairs. Federal law requires manufacturers to repair recalled vehicles at no charge to the owner, and the manufacturers only allow their franchised dealer network – which does not include independent dealers – to make the repairs. In fact, when it comes to the recall process, independent dealers are in the same position as consumers. Like any other vehicle owner, they must be notified of a recall by the manufacturer and must have it repaired by a franchised dealer.
- Not all recalls are safety recalls. Vehicles have been recalled for a misprint in the owner's manual or flaking paint. There is no reason to prevent the sale of a vehicle because of recalls that have no impact on the vehicle's safety or operation.
- Many recalled vehicles do not have a fix readily available. It often takes a significant amount of time for manufacturers to determine the appropriate fix, and even longer to provide the technical specifications and parts for the vehicle to be repaired. Some recalls cannot be repaired for months. In some instances it has taken more than a year for a fix to become available. And often, manufacturers and NHTSA will publicly state that grounding a vehicle pending a repair is not necessary. That occurred recently with the GM recall over faulty ignition switches, which affected millions of vehicles.
For these reasons, among others, the NIADA said it does not support the proposed legislation in NYC. However, the NIADA does maintain its stance on recalls and encourages all independent dealers to take the necessary steps to identify recalled vehicles within their inventory and have them repaired prior to becoming available for sale.
On Tuesday, Ford announced it is issuing five safety recalls in North America, but Blue Oval officials said that only one accident without injuries was attributed to any of the conditions.
The single campaign covering the most vehicles is for 134,947 units — the Ford Flex and F-150 — because of a passenger seat occupant classification sensing issue.
The OEM explained the condition could result in non-deployment of the passenger airbag in certain frontal crashes, if an adult is in the passenger seat.
“This may increase the risk of injury in certain frontal crashes,” officials said. “Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition.”
Affected vehicles include:
— Certain 2014 Flex vehicles built at Oakville Assembly between March 1 and May 31
— Certain 2014 F-150 vehicles built at Dearborn Truck between March 1 and May 31
— Certain 2014 F-150 vehicles built at Kansas City Assembly between March 1 and May 31
— Certain 2009-2014 F-150 vehicles serviced with a suspect seat track assembly repaired Feb. 17 through Oct. 31
Ford is aware of 113,418 vehicles in the United States and federalized territories, 19,975 in Canada and 1,554 in Mexico.
“Dealers will widen the gap between the manual seat frame and seat track assembly, then calibrate the seat occupant classification system at no cost to the customer,” Ford said.
Full-Size Sedan Recall
The next largest campaign includes full-size sedans that might be in dealer inventory: Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car vehicles from the 2005 through 2011 model years.
According to the automaker, a total of 38,645 units are included in this recall stemming from a potentially improper repair in previous campaign for an issue with the lower intermediate steering shaft.
“This improper repair could potentially result in a loss of steering,” officials said. “Ford is aware of one accident and no injuries attributed to this condition.”
Recalled vehicles include:
— Certain 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria vehicles built at St. Thomas Assembly between March 23, 2004 and Aug. 30, 2011
— Certain 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles built at St. Thomas Assembly between March 23, 2004 and Aug. 30, 2011
— Certain 2005-2007 Lincoln Town Car vehicles built at Wixom Assembly between March 8, 2004 and June 5, 2007
— Certain 2008-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles built at St. Thomas Assembly between Aug. 28, 2007 and Aug. 30, 2011
Ford is aware of 36,888 vehicles in the United States and federalized territories, and 1,757 in Canada.
“Dealers will inspect and replace the upper intermediate steering shaft if necessary,” Ford said. “They will also inspect the steering column lower bearing and install a bearing retainer kit if necessary.”
Potential Commercial Vehicle Campaign
Ford issues safety recall for certain 2014 Transit Connect vehicles in North America for fuel and vapor line routing issue
Ford is issuing a safety recall for 27,597 Ford Transit Connect vehicles in North America from the 2014 model year for potentially incorrect fuel and vapor line routing.
“If the lines are routed incorrectly, they may rub together, possibly causing a leak in the fuel line over time. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire,” the Blue Oval said.
“Ford is not aware of any accidents, injuries or fires related to this condition,” the company added.
Affected vehicles include certain 2014 Transit Connect vehicles with a 2.5-liter engine built at Valencia Assembly between Aug. 1 of last year and July 10 of this year.
Ford is aware of 25,238 vehicles in the United States and federalized territories, and approximately 2,359 in Canada.
“Dealers will inspect the lines, and reroute and replace the fuel line if necessary. This will be done at no cost to the customer,” officials said.
Last 2 Recalls Cover Less Than 1,100 Units
Finally, the remaining campaigns Ford shared on Tuesday include only a smaller number of units.
Ford is issuing a safety recall for 92 Ford Transit vehicles in North America from the 2015 model year for an issue with the bracket that holds the fuel filter to the frame.
“It may become detached over time, resulting in a knocking sound or an engine stall due to fuel starvation,” the OEM said. “An unexpected engine stall while driving, with the inability to restart the engine, may lead to an increased risk of a crash.”
Ford added that it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition.
Affected vehicles include certain 2015 Transit vehicles with a 3.2-liter diesel engine built at Kansas City Assembly between July 28 and Aug. 7. Ford is aware of 89 vehicles in the United States and three in Canada.
“Dealers will inspect the vehicles and reinforce the underbody structure, if necessary. This will be done at no cost to the customer,” officials said.
Ford issues safety compliance recall for certain 2014 F-150 vehicles in North America for brake pedal position switch issue
Furthermore, the Blue Oval made a safety compliance recall for 960 Ford F-150 vehicles in North America from the 2014 model year for a brake pedal position switch that may be incorrectly adjusted, possibly resulting in a delay or a non-illumination of the brake lights when the brake pedal is depressed.
Officials explained this condition is a noncompliance issue with FMVSS 108, which relates to lamps.
“Drivers may need to use additional brake pressure to disengage the cruise control system, so Ford is advising customers not to use cruise control until the vehicle has been repaired,” the automaker said. “The cruise control system off switch on the steering wheel will continue to disengage the system.”
Ford added that it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition.
Affected vehicles include certain F-150 vehicles built at Dearborn Truck between March 1 and March 13 and certain F-150 vehicles built at Kansas City Assembly between March 3 and March 13.
Ford is aware of 618 vehicles in the United States and federalized territories, 338 in Canada and four in Mexico.
“Dealers will remove and reinstall the brake pedal position switch at no cost to the customer,” officials said.
As Ford issued a recall for more than 204,000 older SUVs, Chrysler Group announced two more recalls on Wednesday — campaigns that include more than 566,000 trucks and SUVs worldwide.
The larger of the Chrysler campaigns covers an estimated 381,876 trucks globally. The reason is to upgrade certain wiring-harness terminals, and if necessary, replace their fuel-heater housings.
Restricted to vehicles equipped with 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engines, Chrysler indicated the campaign follows an investigation of two cases in which fuel-heater housings showed signs of overheating.
“Chrysler Group is unaware of any incidents involving fire,” officials said. “Chrysler Group engineers discovered a terminal connector near the fuel heater may be subject to friction-induced corrosion. This condition may lead to overheating and potential fuel leakage.”
The company reiterated that it is unaware of any related injuries or accidents.
Chrysler said that service technicians will install new terminals made from upgraded material. The OEM added that fuel-heater housings will be inspected and, if they show signs of leakage, they will be replaced.
This work will be performed at no cost to customers, according to Chrysler.
Affected are certain Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups, and 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs from the 2010 through 2014 model years. An estimated 314,704 trucks are in the U.S.; 59,432 are in Canada; 1,803 are in Mexico and 5,937 are outside the NAFTA region.
Meanwhile,Chrysler also is voluntarily recalling an estimated 184,186 SUVs globally, to upgrade software that helps manage Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
Following an investigation prompted by field data, Chrysler Group engineers discovered a debris cover protecting a certain circuit board may inadvertently disrupt a communication line and disable ESC.
Like the truck recall, the company said it is unaware of any related injuries or accidents.
“The software upgrade restores proper communication and preserves ESC function,” officials said.
Chrysler indicated affected customers will be notified next month and advised when they may schedule service, the cost of which will be borne by the OEM.
The campaign covers certain model-year 2014 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs. An estimated 132,223 vehicles are in the U.S.; 8,871 are in Canada; 4,742 are in Mexico and 38,350 are outside the NAFTA region.
This particular model year has already been a part of two other recalls by Chrysler. Auto Remarketing shared details about a campaign connected to a component that manages restraint-system deployment as well as an alternator issue.
For any of these recalls, customers with questions can call Chrysler’s Customer Information Center at (800) 853-1403.
Ford Recall for Edge & Lincoln MKX
Ford issued a safety recall for 204,448 SUVs: the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX from the 2007 and 2008 model years. The vehicles included in the campaign are in corrosion states and provinces in North America for possible corrosion under the reinforcement brackets where the fuel tank is mounted to the vehicle.
Affected vehicles include those that are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.
Recalled vehicles include units built at Oakville Assembly from June 15, 2006 to Sept. 22, 2008. Ford is aware of 186,024 vehicles in the United States and federalized territories, and 18,424 vehicles in Canada.
“This condition may result in a fuel odor, fuel leak or potentially a check engine light. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire,” the company said. “Ford is aware of one fire that may be related to this condition, with no injuries and no accidents.”
The Blue Oval indicated franchised dealers will inspect the fuel tank and either replace or repair it at no cost to the customer.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration broadened its advisory to have vehicles with defective Takata airbags repaired as quickly as possible; a move cheered by a pair of Kelley Blue Book analysts.
NHTSA first urged owners of more than 4.7 million vehicles to take action and then expanded it to more than 7.8 million units from Toyota, Honda, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.
Federal officials indicated some of these recalls were first announced as far back as 18 months ago while others came as recently as Monday. They emphasized their message comes with urgency, especially for owners of vehicles affected by regional recalls in the following areas: Florida, Puerto Rico, limited areas near the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Louisiana, as well as Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Virgin Islands and Hawaii.
“It's good to see Takata's defective air bag issue finally getting the attention it deserves from the NHTSA and media,” Kelley Blue Book senior analyst Karl Brauer said. “This is one of the largest recalls in the history of the automobile, affecting millions of car from several manufacturers. A lack of awareness regarding the potential danger from these devices has been almost as troubling as the danger itself.
“Of course this is only the first step of a long process,” Brauer continued. “With so many vehicles being recalled it will take years to address the danger, and there will be far too many consumers that ignore the recall and continue to operate cars capable of throwing shrapnel at the driver or front passenger during an accident.”
KBB senior analyst and editor Jack Nerad echoed much of Brauer’s sentiments.
“This is one of the most massive recalls of all time and just when you think it is contained there is a new outbreak,” Nerad said. “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is taking unprecedented steps to get this problem into the public consciousness and, importantly, keep it there.”
NHTSA deputy administrator David Friedman explained why the agency expanded its advisory on Tuesday.
"Responding to these recalls, whether old or new, is essential to personal safety and it will help aid our ongoing investigation into Takata airbags and what appears to be a problem related to extended exposure to consistently high humidity and temperatures,” Friedman said.
“However, we’re leaving no stone unturned in our aggressive pursuit to track down the full geographic scope of this issue” he added.
NHTSA offered a new breakdown of the involved vehicles by OEM and model year:
BMW: 627,615 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2000 – 2005 3 Series Sedan
2000 – 2006 3 Series Coupe
2000 – 2005 3 Series Sports Wagon
2000 – 2006 3 Series Convertible
2001 – 2006 M3 Coupe
2001 – 2006 M3 Convertible
Chrysler: 371,309 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2003 – 2008 Dodge Ram 1500
2005 – 2008 Dodge Ram 2500
2006 – 2008 Dodge Ram 3500
2006 – 2008 Dodge Ram 4500
2008 – Dodge Ram 5500
2005 – 2008 Dodge Durango
2005 – 2008 Dodge Dakota
2005 – 2008 Chrysler 300
2007 – 2008 Chrysler Aspen
Ford: 58,669 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2004 – Ranger
2005 – 2006 GT
2005 – 2007 Mustang
General Motors: undetermined total number of potentially affected vehicles
2003 – 2005 Pontiac Vibe
2005 – Saab 9-2X
Honda: 5,051,364 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2001 – 2007 Honda Accord
2001 – 2002 Honda Accord
2001 – 2005 Honda Civic
2002 – 2006 Honda CR-V
2003 – 2011 Honda Element
2002 – 2004 Honda Odyssey
2003 – 2007 Honda Pilot
2006 – Honda Ridgeline
2003 – 2006 Acura MDX
2002 – 2003 Acura TL/CL
2005 – Acura RL
Mazda: 64,872 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2003 – 2007 Mazda6
2006 – 2007 MazdaSpeed6
2004 – 2008 Mazda RX-8
2004 – 2005 MPV
2004 – B-Series Truck
Mitsubishi: 11,985 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2004 – 2005 Lancer
2006 – 2007 Raider
Nissan: 694,626 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2001 – 2003 Nissan Maxima
2001 – 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
2002 – 2004 Nissan Sentra
2001 – 2004 Infiniti I30/I35
2002 – 2003 Infiniti QX4
2003 – 2005 Infiniti FX35/FX45
Subaru: 17,516 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2003 – 2005 Baja
2003 – 2005 Legacy
2003 – 2005 Outback
2004 – 2005 Impreza
Toyota: 877,000 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2002 – 2005 Lexus SC
2002 – 2005 Toyota Corolla
2003 – 2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix
2002 – 2005 Toyota Sequoia
2003 – 2005 Toyota Tundra
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urges owners of more than 4.7 million vehicles originally manufactured by Toyota, Honda, Mazda, BMW, Nissan and General Motors to act immediately on recall notices to replace defective Takata airbags.
Federal officials stressed that their message comes with added emphasis, especially for owners of vehicles affected by the regional recalls in the following areas: Florida, Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Virgin Islands and Hawaii.
NHTSA offered a breakdown of the involved vehicles by OEM and model year
Toyota: 778,177 total number of vehicles potentially affected
2002 – 2004 Lexus SC
2003 – 2004 Toyota Corolla
2003 – 2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix
2002 – 2004 Toyota Sequoia
2003 – 2004 Toyota Tundra
2003 – 2004 Pontiac Vibe
Honda: 2,803,214 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2001 – 2007 Honda Accord (4 cylinder)
2001 – 2002 Honda Accord (6 cylinder)
2001 – 2005 Honda Civic
2002 – 2006 Honda CR-V
2003 – 2011 Honda Element
2002 – 2004 Honda Odyssey
2003 – 2007 Honda Pilot
2006 Honda Ridgeline
2003 – 2006 Acura MDX
2002 – 2003 Acura TL/CL
Nissan: 437,712 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2001– 2003 Nissan Maxima
2001 – 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
2002 – 2003 Nissan Sentra
2001 – 2003 Infiniti I30/I35
2002 – 2003 Infiniti QX4
2003 Infiniti FX
Mazda: 18,050 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2003 – 2004 Mazda6
2004 Mazda RX-8
BMW: 573,935 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2000 – 2005 3 Series Sedan
2000 – 2006 3 Series Coupe
2000 – 2005 3 Series Sports Wagon
2000 – 2006 3 Series Convertible
2001 – 2006 M3 Coupe
2001 – 2006 M3 Convertible
General Motors: 133,221 total number potentially affected vehicles
2002 – 2003 Buick LeSabre
2002 – 2003 Buick Rendezvous
2002 – 2003 Cadillac DeVille
2002 – 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer
2002 – 2003 Chevrolet Impala
2002 – 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2002 – 2003 Chevrolet Venture
2002 – 2003 GMC Envoy
2002 – 2003 GMC Envoy XL
2002 – 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
2002 – 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
2002 – 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
2002 – 2003 Pontiac Bonneville
2002 – 2003 Pontiac Montana
Add more than a million vehicles to this year’s record-breaking total of recalls as Chrysler Group and Volkswagen of America rolled out a combined three separate campaigns.
With this year’s total now well above 20 million in the U.S. alone, the figure grew because Chrysler’s newest two campaigns stem from an alternator issue and the other being the need to relocate an electrical connection.
The alternator issue involves approximately 470,000 cars and SUVs globally. But according to the automaker, the recall is limited to vehicles equipped with electric hydraulic steering and 3.6-liter V-6 engines. Affected are model-year 2011-2014 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans, Dodge Challenger coupes, Dodge Durango SUVs from the 2011 through 2014 model years and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs from the 2012 through 2014 model years.
“The action will eliminate a condition that may potentially drain the battery, leading to loss of electrical power which may increase steering effort, decrease brake effectiveness, cause stability-control deactivation, stalling and — in the most severe case — initiate fire at the alternator,” OEM officials said.
“Chrysler Group is unaware of any related injuries or incidents involving fire. The company is aware of one accident that was potentially related to this campaign,” they added.
Chrysler indicated an estimated 434,581 recalled units are in the U.S.; 16,080 are in Canada; 2,335 are in Mexico and 17,000 are outside the NAFTA region.
All affected customers will be notified next month by Chrysler and the service cost will be borne by the company.
Meanwhile, Chrysler is also recalling approximately 437,000 SUVs globally to relocate an electrical connection
Officials explained the action follows an investigation by Chrysler engineers after the company was advised of three cases in which a wiring harness for a power side-view mirror exhibited signs of overheating.
Affected units are certain Jeep Wrangler SUVs from the 2011 through 2013 model years. Officials indicated approximately 313,236 are in the U.S.; 39,627 are in Canada; 5,685 in Mexico and 78,369 outside the NAFTA region.
“The cases appeared to be localized in Canada and related to winter driving conditions,” the automaker said. “Engineers later determined an electrical connector that supplies power to a side-view mirror may be subject to moisture exposure.
“The power feed will be shifted to an alternate source and the existing connection will be equipped with a protective shield,” the company continued.
Chrysler stressed it is unaware of any related injuries or accidents.
In regard to both campaigns, customers with questions can call Chrysler Group’s Customer Information Center at (800) 853-1403.
Volkswagen Recalls Jetta & Beetle
Volkswagen notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it will be issuing a voluntary safety recall affecting the trailing arms on the torsion beam rear suspension of certain Volkswagen Jetta sedans from the 2011 through 2013 model years, and certain Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles from the 2012 and 2013 model years.
The automaker indicated the recall affects approximately 400,602 model year Jettas, and 41,663 Beetles
“In isolated cases, it is possible that a rear or a side-rear collision could lead to damage of the rear suspension trailing arms,” the OEM said. “If the damage is not detected and is then not repaired, this can later cause the trailing arm to fracture suddenly, resulting in a loss of vehicle stability. Potentially, this could lead to a crash.”
To address the issue, Volkswagen dealers will inspect the rear suspension of vehicles that have been involved in rear or side-rear collisions to determine whether the trailing arms have been damaged.
On vehicles that do not have damaged trailing arms, the franchised dealer will fit a sheet-metal inlay on the rear trailing arms.
“This will emit a distinctive sound if the car is later involved in a rear-end collision, which will be a signal for the owner to take the car to an authorized Volkswagen dealership for inspection,” officials said.
VW added these actions will be performed free of charge to the customer.
No accidents or injuries related to this issue have been reported, according to the company. Volkswagen said it will notify all owners of affected vehicles and will instruct them to arrange for an appointment with a franchised dealer.
As part of a reported recall of more than 1.6 million vehicles worldwide, Toyota Motor Sales USA announced plans to conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 423,000 Lexus vehicles for an issue with the fuel-delivery system.
Included in the U.S. campaign are:
— Lexus LS from the 2007 through 2010 model years
— Lexus GS from the 2006 through 2011 model years
— Lexus IS from the 2006 through 2011 model years
— Lexus IS C from the 2010 model year
— Lexus IS-F from the 2008 through 2010 model years
In the involved vehicles, OEM officials indicated the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment were manufactured with a plating to protect against corrosion. The automaker said some of the pipes could have been produced with plating particles on the gasket seating surface where the fuel pressure sensor is installed.
“In this condition, the sealing property of the gasket seated between the pressure sensor and the pipe could become degraded,” Toyota said. “During vehicle operation, fuel could leak past the gasket. In the presence of an ignition source, this could increase the risk of a vehicle fire.
Toyota stressed that it is not aware of any fires, crashes, injuries or fatalities caused by this condition.
The manufacturer indicated owners of the vehicles involved will receive a notification by first class mail. Lexus dealers will repair the gasket seating surface of the fuel delivery pipe where the fuel pressure sensor is installed, replace the gasket with a new one and re-install the fuel pressure sensor.
While the amount is high in the U.S., a report from Reuters showed the recall figure is much higher in Japan where more than 1 million units are involved.
Chrysler Group is voluntarily recalling more than 180,000 SUVs globally for a problem with a component that manages restraint-system deployment — a similar issue that prompted Ford to recall more than 850,000 units last month.
On Tuesday, Chrysler estimated that 184,215 vehicles are included in its campaign, including 126,772 U.S.-market vehicles. An estimated 8,106 are in Canada, 3,722 are in Mexico and 45,615 are outside the NAFTA region, according to the automaker.
The OEM explained occupant restraint control (ORC) modules in certain 2014 Dodge Durango and 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs may exhibit internal electrical short-circuits.
“This condition may cause air-bag warning lamps to illuminate, a signal that supplemental restraint systems such as air bags and seat-belt pretensioners may be disabled,” officials said.
“Chrysler Group is unaware of any related injuries or accidents,” they added.
Officials went on mention the component supplier advised Chrysler of the issue. They noted additional investigation by Chrysler engineers resulted in this recall.
“Some model-year 2014 vehicles are affected; others are not,” the company said. “All affected customers will be advised by Chrysler Group when they may schedule service, which involves ORC module replacement.
“In the interim, customers are advised to use their seatbelts, as always. Seat belts comprise a vehicle’s primary restraint system,” the OEM went on to say.
Customers with questions can call Chrysler’s Customer Information Center at (800) 853-1403.
Late last month, Ford announced that the automaker is recalling 850,050 vehicles in the U.S., Canada and Mexico because of a similar issue.
A pair of Asian automakers — Nissan North America and Mitsubishi Motors North America — told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration they are conducting separate recall campaigns covering a combined total of more than 380,000 vehicles.
Nissan’s recall is for just a single model — the 2013 Altima manufactured between March 6, 2012 and Feb. 28, 2013.
In the affected vehicles — a total of 220,423 units — NHTSA indicated interference between the hood inner panel and the secondary latch lever, in combination with debris and corrosion, may cause the secondary hood latch to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
“If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash,” agency officials said.
Nissan told NHTSA it will notify owners, and franchised dealers will be instructed to modify the bend angle of the hood actuation lever to eliminate potential interference with the hood inner panel.
In addition, the OEM indicated franchised dealers will clean and lubricate the latch joint as needed. If significant corrosion is observed, Nissan said the latch assembly will be replaced and repairs will be performed free of charge.
The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. In the meantime, owners may contact Nissan customer service at (800) 647-7261.
Mitsubishi Recall
Meanwhile, Mitsubishi is recalling a total of 165,923 units, including:
— 2008-2011 Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Outlander
— 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback
— 2011 Outlander Sport.
NHTSA explained that the affected vehicles, manufactured with 4B1 engines, have an engine pulley and belt arrangement for turning the alternator, the cooling fan and the power steering pump (if equipped).
“This pulley may wear allowing the belt to detach,” officials said. “If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.”
Mitsubishi informed regulators that the OEM will notify owners, and franchised dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. The OEM added that drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced.
All these repairs will be performed free of charge.
The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule to NHTSA, but owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at (888) 648-7820 and reference recall number SR-14-009.
Mercedes-Benz Recall
Bloomberg reported that Mercedes-Benz is recalling at least 39,000 C-Class sedans because of a potential steering system fault that could make turning difficult.
The report indicated Daimler AG spokesperson Donna Boland explained the “steering coupling interlock” was in an open position when it should have been released from the European factory locked
Boland noted that the problem, which could cause steering wheels to squeak, was initially noticed in September in two vehicles in Europe.
Bloomberg’s report said the issue affects 28,500 C-Class sedans in Germany as well as more than 10,500 vehicles in the U.S. from the 2015 model year.
“Models in the U.S. are manufactured in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and there’s “no reason to think our vehicles have this problem,” Boland told Bloomberg.
A little more than a week after Ford announced a formal recall of more than 850,000 midsize sedans, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration formally launched an investigation into another estimated 938,000 late-model vehicles from the Blue Oval.
The investigation is connected with the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ from the 2010 through 2012 model years and the Mercury Milan from the 2010 and 2011 model years.
NHTSA officials said the electric power assisted steering (EPAS) can suddenly fail while driving, resulting in increased steering effort.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) identified 508 complaints alleging loss of power steering assist and increased steering effort. Officials indicated four of these complaints allege that the steering assist failure resulted in increased steering efforts that contributed to a loss of control and crash.
In addition, ODI said it now has related information in early warning reporting field report data submitted by Ford.
“Many of the complaints indicated observing a power steering warning message as the failure occurred,” federal officials said. “In some cases, the condition was corrected by turning the vehicle off and restarting. However, many reports indicate the condition returned again after restart.
“A preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and safety consequences of the alleged defect,” they added.
The investigation arrived on the heels of Ford recalling 850,000 vehicles because of potential issues with the restraints control module that could prevent the airbags from functioning correctly.
And this NHTSA investigation announcement also arrived not longer after officials said they were looking into nearly 5 million trucks, SUVs and vans manufactured by Chrysler Group.
