RECALL Subject : Drive Belt may Detach due to Worn Engine Pulley

Report Receipt Date: SEP 12, 2014
NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V562000
Component(s):
Potential Number of Units Affected: 165,923
All Products Associated with this Recall
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)
MITSUBISHI LANCER 2008-2011
MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION 2008-2011
MITSUBISHI LANCER SPORTBACK 2009-2011
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER 2008-2011
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT 2011

Details

Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

SUMMARY:
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Outlander; 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles. 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). These pulleys may experience unusual wear and allow for belt detachment.

CONSEQUENCE:
If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:
Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. Drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-009.

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.

Report Receipt Date: SEP 15, 2014
NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V565000
Component(s):
Potential Number of Units Affected: 220,423

Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
SUMMARY:
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 6, 2012, to February 28, 2013. In the affected vehicles, 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.
CONSEQUENCE:
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.
REMEDY:
Nissan will notify owners, and 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, dealers will clean and lubricate the latch joint as needed. If significant corrosion is observed, the latch assembly will be replaced. This repairs will be performed free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
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.

The BMW i3 has been hailed in some quarters as the future of electric mobility, what with its innovative carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic body and commitment to sustainable materials wherever possible. The modernist little hatch is even available with a 650cc two-cylinder gas engine with 34 horsepower to act as a range-extender for those who want it. However, that optional engine might have a drawback – at least for the moment.

Consumer Reports brought the problem to light when one of its drivers was behind the wheel of an i3 using the range-extender. When the driver attempted to pass another vehicle on a rolling, two-lane road, the BMW suddenly had no power to accelerate – a scary situation. CR started examining the car and found something pretty shocking: After driving at a constant speed for a while without any regenerative braking in range-extended mode, acceleration to 60 miles per hour plummeted from about 9 seconds normally to a staggering 27 to 40 seconds in their testing.

A BMW spokesperson told CR that it knows about the problem and has a fix coming next spring that also works on current models. The upgrade includes a state of charge indicator, a warning about loss of power and uses the car's navigation to boost the battery before driving on rolling terrain. It is not clear if the severe power deficiency will also eventually result in a recall.

The issue is bad news for the i3 that is already proving quite popular, with a reported six-month waiting list to get one. However, the range-extended model already had a small hiccup in the US when BMW had to hold them at port until the EPA certified the fuel economy for the variant. It was eventually rated at 117 mpge with an estimated total range of 150 miles – 72 miles on electric power and another 78 miles with the range-extender running.

This probably isn't the start Mercedes-Benz execs in Stuttgart were hoping for with the launch of the critically praised 2015 C-Class. The company is recalling 10,500 examples of the US-market sedan because the steering wheels squeak and won't turn, The Detroit News reports.

Mercedes is blaming the problem on a production issue affecting the steering coupling interlock, according to the report. Speaking to Autoblog, Mercedes spokesman Donna Boland confirmed the issue was first reported on a pair of European models. In those cases, the interlock was not "in the correct locked position."

"We have no reason to believe that models produced here in the US would be affected but, in an abundance of caution, we want to be sure," Boland told Autoblog.

Mercedes has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is in the process of notifying customers, who will need to report in for a free check of the steering coupling interlock

Statement by Acura Regarding Seat Belt Recall: 2014 RLX and 2014-2015 MDX

10/11/2014 - TORRANCE, Calif.

- Approximately 43,000 Acura vehicles are subject to this recall in the U.S.
- Both front seat belts will be replaced, free of charge

Acura will voluntarily recall approximately 7,000 model-year 2014 RLX vehicles and approximately 36,000 MDX vehicles from the 2014-2015 model years in the United States to replace the front seat belts, free of charge. In very low temperatures (below 0°F) the driver's and front passenger's seatbelts may not release from the retracted position. A seatbelt that cannot be used by the seat occupant increases the risk of injury in a crash. No crashes or injuries have been reported related to this issue.

Acura is announcing this recall to encourage all owners who purchased an affected vehicle to take it to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Acura. Mailed notification to customers will begin in late-Oct. In addition, owners of these vehicles can determine if their vehicles require repair by going to recalls.acura.com or by calling (800) 382-2238 and selecting option 4.

General Motors quickly fixed an airbag-wiring problem with the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, but is still conducting a small recall to repair the midsize trucks that are launching this fall.

The recall affects 2,432 vehicles, though only 138 had actually reached consumers. The rest were still at the factory in Wentzville, MO, on lots at dealerships or en route to dealers. Customers with the trucks were called or sent FedEx letters, and the fix can be completed in less than 30 minutes.

A GM spokesman said about 19 percent of the trucks have been repaired.

The company issued a stop-delivery order earlier this month to fix this issue. GM found that the trucks' airbag connectors were wired improperly during the manufacturing process, which caused the system to deploy incorrectly. GM sent a software fix to dealers and the plant, and the stop-delivery order was lifted October 3rd, after less than two days.

At the time of the stop-delivery notice, there were no crashes or injures.

While most of the vehicles are in the United States, 149 trucks shipped to Canada are also included in the repairs, though none of those were sold to customers.

The recall comes as GM re-enters the midsize truck segment with the Colorado and Canyon. The automaker is aiming to to capture new buyers and fortify its CAFE standing with the pickups, which are smaller and narrower than then the fullsize Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.

LEXUS ANNOUNCES RECALL OF CERTAIN LS, GS, AND IS VEHICLES

TORRANCE, Calif., October 15, 2014 – Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today announced plans to conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 423,000 Lexus vehicles including 2007 through 2010 Model Year LS; 2006 through 2011 Model Year GS; 2006 through 2011 Model Year IS; 2010 Model Year IS C; and 2008 through 2010 Model Year IS-F vehicles.

In the involved vehicles, the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment were manufactured with a plating to protect against corrosion. 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. 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 is not aware of any fires, crashes, injuries or fatalities caused by this condition.
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.
Detailed information is available to Lexus at www.toyota.com/recall and by calling Lexus Customer Service at 1-800-255-3987.

RECALL Subject : Alternator may Fail Resulting in Engine Stall

Report Receipt Date: OCT 08, 2014
NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V634000
Component(s):
Potential Number of Units Affected: 434,581
All Products Associated with this Recall
Vehicle Make Mode lModel Year(s)
CHRYSLER 300 2011-2014
DODGE CHALLENGER 2011-2014
DODGE CHARGER 2011-2014
DODGE DURANGO 2011-2014
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 2011-2014
Details

Manufacturer: Chrysler Group LLC

SUMMARY:
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Challenger, Durango, and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured June 17, 2010, to December 23, 2013, and equipped with a 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.

CONSEQUENCE:
If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:
Chrysler is expected to begin notifying owners of this recall on November 28, 2014. The remedy for this recall campaign is still under development. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P60.

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 : Potential for Fire in Heated Exterior Mirror
Report Receipt Date: OCT 08, 2014
NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V631000
Component(s):
Potential Number of Units Affected: 313,236
All Products Associated with this Recall
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)
JEEP WRANGLER 2011-2013
Details

Manufacturer: Chrysler Group LLC

SUMMARY:
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to July 19, 2013. Corrosion in the exterior heated power mirror electrical connector may result in an electrical short.

CONSEQUENCE:
An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

REMEDY:
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will move the exterior mirror power feed to a separate connector, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 5, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P61.

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.

VOLKSWAGEN ISSUES VOLUNTARY RECALL
Oct 17, 2014

Herndon, VA - Volkswagen considers the safety and satisfaction of its consumers and passengers a top priority. As such, Volkswagen of America today notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will be issuing a voluntary safety recall affecting the trailing arms on the torsion beam rear suspension of certain 2011-2013 model year Volkswagen Jetta, and certain 2012-2013 model year Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles.

The recall affects approximately 400,602 model year 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 41,663 model year 2012-2013 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. In isolated cases, it is possible that a rear or a side-rear collision could lead to damage of the rear suspension trailing arms. 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, authorized 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 cars that do not have damaged trailing arms, the authorized Volkswagen dealer will fit a sheetmetal 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. These actions will be performed free of charge to the customer.

No accidents or injuries related to this issue have been reported. Volkswagen will notify all owners of affected vehicles and will instruct them to arrange for an appointment with an authorized Volkswagen dealer.

RECALL Subject : Missed Shifts may Result in Chain Detachment

Report Receipt Date: OCT 07, 2014
NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V629000
Component(s):
Potential Number of Units Affected: 23,073
All Products Associated with this Recall
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)
SUZUKI GSX-R1000 2009-2014
SUZUKI GSX-R750 2011-2014
Details

Manufacturer: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

SUMMARY:
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 GSX-R750 and 2009-2014 GSX-R1000 motorcycles. If a gear is missed while upshifting, the strain applied to the drive chain after the next shift may cause the rear axle to move, damaging the left-side drive chain adjuster.

CONSEQUENCE:
If the drive chain adjuster gets damaged, the drive chain may come off, removing power to the rear wheel, and increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:
Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left-side chain adjuster with an improved part. The recall is expected to begin on October 17, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-714-572-1490. Suzuki's numbers for this recall are 2A40, 2A41, 2A42 and 2A43.

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.

Ford Issues Safety Compliance Recall for Certain 2015 Ford Mustang Vehicles in North America for Passenger Safety Belt Buckle Assembly Concern

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 16, 2014 – Ford is issuing a safety compliance recall for approximately 50 (actual 53) 2015 Ford Mustang vehicles for a potential issue with the passenger safety belt buckle assembly. The safety belt buckle tension sensor, included in the assembly, may not have been calibrated at the supplier. A buckle tension sensor that is not calibrated may result in misclassification of the front passenger seat occupant, which is a noncompliance issue with FMVSS 208. This issue may lead to improper passenger airbag deployment for the occupant, which could increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition. Dealers will replace the passenger safety belt buckle assembly at no cost to the customer.

Affected vehicles include certain 2015 Ford Mustang vehicles built at Flat Rock Assembly Plant from Aug. 18, 2014 to Oct. 2, 2014. As of Oct. 16, Ford is aware of 50 vehicles in the United States and federalized territories, and three in Canada.

Consumer Advisory: Vehicle Owners with Defective Airbags Urged to Take Immediate Action

WASHINGTON D.C. - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urges owners of certain Toyota, Honda, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, and General Motors vehicles to act immediately on recall notices to replace defective Takata airbags. The message comes with urgency, 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.

Consumers that are uncertain whether their vehicle is impacted by the Takata recalls, or any other recall, can check on www.safercar.gov. On the site, consumers can search by their vehicle identification number (VIN) to confirm whether their individual vehicle has an open recall that needs to be addressed. In addition, consumers can sign-up for NHTSA recall alerts, which go out before recall letters are mailed by the manufacturers to the affected owners.

Affected Vehicles, by Manufacturer , Impacted by CY 2013 and 2014 Recalls Involving Takata Airbags:
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 cyl)
2001 – 2002 Honda Accord (6 cyl)
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

TOYOTA INTENSIFIES EFFORT TO REPAIR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TAKATA AIRBAG INFLATORS

TORRANCE, Calif., October 20, 2014 – Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today announced plans to conduct a supplemental safety recall of approximately 247,000 Toyota Corolla, Matrix, Sequoia, Tundra and Lexus SC vehicles produced from 2001 to 2004 and equipped with front passenger airbag inflators supplied by Takata Corporation. This action intensifies Toyota's efforts to reach customers and remedy previously recalled vehicles, and a small number of newly included vehicles, in certain geographic areas that appear to warrant immediate action, based on testing by the supplier.

The new initiative targets vehicles in consistently high absolute humidity areas, including southern Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, U.S Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa.

In April 2013 and June 2014, Toyota announced recalls for affected vehicles. Separately, in cooperation with NHTSA and Takata to investigate incidents of ruptured inflators, Toyota recovered inflators from recalled vehicles from areas in South Florida for evaluation by Takata.

Takata provided data to Toyota indicating that a number of the returned inflators performed improperly during component testing. The cause of the potential for ruptured inflators and the influence of high absolute humidity are under investigation. To date, Toyota has received no reports of injuries or fatalities related to this condition.

Beginning this week, all known owners of the affected Toyota and Lexus vehicles will be notified by first class mail to return their vehicles to a Toyota or Lexus dealer. The dealer will replace the front passenger airbag inflator with a newly manufactured one. If a replacement part is not available at the time of vehicle service, the dealer will follow procedures to temporarily disable the front passenger airbag assembly. In addition, the dealer will install a glove box hang tag informing occupants that the front passenger seat should not be occupied until the inflator assembly is replaced and the airbag is fully functional.

Detailed information is available at www.toyota.com/recall and by calling Lexus Customer Service at 1- 800-255-3987 or Toyota Customer Service at 1-800-331-4331.