RECALL Subject : Software may Disable Steering in Cold Temperatures
Report Receipt Date: NOV 20, 2013
NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V588000
Component(s): STEERING
Potential Number of Units Affected: 23
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.

SUMMARY:
Nissan North America, Inc.'s (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 vehicles equipped with Direct Adaptive Steering. The affected vehicles received a power steering software version that, should the engine compartment reach freezing temperatures, the power steering software may disable the electric steering system and also may delay the engagement of the mechanical steering backup system.

CONSEQUENCE:
The disablement of the steering systems could result in a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:
Nissan notified owners and arranged to have vehicles towed to the nearest Infiniti retailer. Customers were instructed not to drive their vehicles until they were repaired. Infiniti retailers provided affected customers with loaner vehicles, while the software update remedy was applied. These services were provided at no cost to the customer. Owners may contact Infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.

NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

RECALL Subject : Front Seat Occupant Protection Mat

Report Receipt Date: NOV 12, 2013
NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V564000
Component(s): AIR BAGS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 76,565
Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC

SUMMARY:
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.

CONSEQUENCE:
Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.

REMEDY:
BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, anticipated to be in March 2014, BMW will send a second letter and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of model year 2006-2007 3 Series with standard seats, 5 Series with comfort seats, and Z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

MICHELIN ISSUES SAFETY RECALL FOR COMMERCIAL LIGHT TRUCK TIRES

Michelin is recalling one version of a specific size of the Michelin LTX M/S tire. These tires are typically found on such vehicles as commercial light trucks, full-sized heavy duty vans, small RVs and some large pickup trucks.

The tires were produced between January 2010 and June 2012.

The tire version and size are: Michelin LTX M/S LT 225/75R16 115/112R LRE

The tires were fitted as original equipment on some new vehicles and were also sold as new replacement tires. Michelin is issuing the recall because a small number of the tires being recalled experienced tread loss and/or rapid air loss.

Michelin recommends removal of these tires as soon as possible. Owners of the affected tires should visit an authorized Michelin retail location as soon as possible to have the tires replaced at no charge.

If you have questions or concerns after visiting your Michelin dealer, please contact Michelin Consumer Care at 1-800-231-5893. Available 8am–8pm EST Monday–Friday; 8:30am–4:30pm EST Saturday–Sunday

To find out if a tire is affected by the recall: Determine if it matches the information below:

Tire Description / DOT Sequence / DOT Production Periods (Inclusive)
Michelin LTX M/S LT 225/75R16 115/112R LRE / B3JH AKEX / 0210 – 2512

If the information on the sidewall of your tires does not match these identifiers, it is not part of the recall.

If you have any questions concerning the tire's DOT information, please contact Michelin Consumer Care at 1–800–231–5893. Available 8am–8pm EST Monday–Friday; 8:30am–4:30pm EST Saturday–Sunday.

DOT sequence begins with B3JH AKEX and ends with a date code (2-digit week and 2-digit year) between 0210 and 2512 inclusive.

"Due to a production process error" in the BMW X3, states the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the notice below, "the tear seam on the instrument panel was not manufactured correctly." Big friggin' whoop, you say? Well, NHTSA points out that it could hinder the deployment of the airbag and send fractures flying everywhere.

The problem was discovered in a select few examples of the 2013 BMW X3 – both xDrive 28i and 35i models – manufactured in the later part of February this year. And by "select few," we literally mean a few – as in three. Three examples are being recalled.

Acura has announced a recall for the 2014 RLX due to improperly tightened rear suspension bolts that could come loose and increase the risk of a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has yet to formally issue a recall notice for the RLX, but Acura says that a total of 7,387 RLX sedans are affected, which seems to include markets outside of the US as there have only been 4,456 of the sedans sold through November.

While there isn't an official NHTSA statement, there is one complaint on the government agency's site for a similar incident that caused a driver to almost lose control of the vehicle. Recall notices will be mailed out to customers starting next month.

RECALL Subject : Transmission Output Shaft may Fracture
Report Receipt Date: DEC 06, 2013
NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V610000
Component(s): POWER TRAIN
Potential Number of Units Affected: 4,194
Manufacturer: Chrysler Group LLC

SUMMARY:
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chrysler 300 AWD, Dodge Charger AWD, and Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 vehicles equipped with ZF all wheel drive ("AWD") 8HP45 transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission output shaft may fracture.

CONSEQUENCE:
The transmission output shaft fracture could result in a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park'.

REMEDY:
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the transmissions, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is to begin in January 2014. Customers may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's recall number is N65.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has upgraded a probe into the rear taillights of 252,867 Mercedes-Benz C-Class models from the 2008 to 2011 model year. The upgrade means the investigation is now an engineering analysis, the results of which will determine if a recall is issued.

The probe began in July when NHTSA received 21 complaints alleging a failure of the rear lights. Mercedes informed the agency that corroded connectors in the ground circuit to the taillight were causing connectors to overheat and melt, and that could lead to smoke and fire. Since July the number of complaints has risen to 402, one reporting an injury and five reporting fire. With older cars more prone to the situation, the engineering analysis has been initiated "to further study the risks and frequency of the issue." Mercedes says it is cooperating fully with the investigation.

General Motors and its Chinese partners have announced their second recall in the People's Republic this year, following a 2,653-unit recall of the Cadillac SRX earlier this year. This latest recall affects nearly 1.5 million cars built between 2006 and 2012. It's not explicitly stated, but as there's no movement from the US NHTSA, we suspect that the cars in question were all Chinese-built rather than imports.

The vast majority of the affected vehicles are Buick Excelles (pictured), with 1.2 million units being recalled over a faulty bracket that's meant to secure the fuel pump. The Excelles in question were built between 2006 and 2012, while an additional 250,000 Chevrolet Sail superminis, built between April 2009 and October 2011, are being recalled for a similar reason.

According to the PRC's Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the faulty bracket could crack and potentially cause a fuel leak.

Exotic automobiles are just that: exotic. As in, rare. While Maserati is trying is darnedest to emerge from the fringes, its products are still less common than competitors from Germany, Japan or even the UK. Which is probably – more so than any superior quality or safety standards – why we rarely see the Trident marque's products the subject of a recall. Although it does happen upon occasion.

Back in the spring, Maserati had to call in over seven thousand examples of the Quattroporte, GranTurismo and Alfa 8C over rust issues. Now that the new Quattroporte is upon us, the Modenese automaker has apparently run into another small problem.

This time the issue revolves around the wiring harness for the alternator/starter motor, an improper crimp in which could cause the battery cable to short and start a fire. As a result, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is prompting 63 owners of the 2014 Quattroporte GTS V8 to bring their cars in to their local Maserati dealer to have the wiring harness replaced.

RECALL Subject : Transmission can be Shifted out of Park/FMVSS 114
Report Receipt Date: NOV 25, 2013
NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V594000
Component(s): POWER TRAIN
Potential Number of Units Affected: 7,153
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company

SUMMARY:
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid vehicles manufactured April 26, 2012, through September 24, 2013. Due to a manufacturing error, the transmission range sensor may not function properly allowing the affected vehicles to be shifted out of the Park position without first applying the brake pedal. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 114, "Theft Protection."

CONSEQUENCE:
Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll which may result in a crash.

REMEDY:
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) with new software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2014. Customers may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13C09.

RECALL Subject : Driver not Warned of Low Oil Pressure
Report Receipt Date: NOV 22, 2013
NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V592000
Component(s): ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Potential Number of Units Affected: 30,929
Manufacturer: Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC

SUMMARY:
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S60 vehicles manufactured June 22, 2010, through May 14, 2012, and equipped with 5-cylinder B5254T5 (VIN code 62) engines. In the affected vehicles, the vehicle may not alert the driver of a low oil pressure situation.

CONSEQUENCE:
Without being warned of a low oil pressure situation, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle until it stalls, which increases the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:
Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software so that the driver is alerted should there be a low oil pressure situation, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin around the end of December 2013. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this campaign is R29436.