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This e-mail service automatically informs you if your vehicle has a lubrication, coolant or brake fluid related defect - so that you can contact the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for corrective action before serious failure occurs.
Below is partial listing by Manufacturer or Brand Name of vehicles with known problems that require corrective action(s):
To find out about other defect recalls in USA you can contact :
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20590
or call the Tool Free Auto Safety Hotline
1-800-424-9393
or go to www.nhtsa.gov website for more information on recalls and other vehicle safety issues.
Our list also includes some known defects where NO recalls were ordered by the OEM.
It isn’t always good to be number one, as Toyota clearly understands. While it is all but certain to slip from first to third in the global automotive sales sweepstakes when the books are closed on 2011 the Japanese giant is expected to be leading the pack in terms of U.S. recalls – for the third year in a row!
Despite the maker’s claim that it has put its quality and safety problems behind it, Toyota and its Scion and Lexus brands recalled 3.5 million vehicles this past year, significantly more than any other manufacturer. And that doesn’t include a sizable number of vehicles for which the maker issued technical service bulletins, which encourage dealers to fix nagging problems but don’t wind up getting tallied on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s formal recall chart.
In all, automakers recalled 13 million light vehicles in 2011, according to an analysis by WardsAuto, a sharp decline from the year before when the industry – largely due to Toyota — saw callbacks jump to 17.2 million cars, trucks and crossovers. The worst year for the auto industry was 2000 when 24.3 million vehicles were involved in safety-related recalls.
The number of cars and light trucks recalled in USA have been steadily rising since 2002 even as studies show that overall vehicle and engineering quality has never been better.
In 2003, automakers recalled 19.5 million cars and trucks — or 8 percent of all
light vehicles in use. The number of recalls issued by automakers also is rising again
— reaching 529 in 2003, up from 436 in 2002 and just below the record 541 recalls in
2000, government figures show. In 1990, there were 208 recalls industry-wide.
By 2008, however, manufacturers seemed to be getting things under control, the number of vehicles affected by safety-related problems slipping to just 7.7 million.
Long known for what analysts and automotive journalists would frequently describe as “bullet-proof” quality, Toyota ran into quicksand in late 2009 following a highly-publicized crash that took the life of a California Highway Patrol officer and several family members. The accident was blamed on loose floor mats that jammed the accelerator in the Lexus the trooper was driving. After initially hesitating, Toyota eventually recalled millions of vehicles to deal with “carpet entrapment.”
The situation grew worse when a second recall related to so-called “unintended acceleration” was announced, this one because of potentially sticky throttles. Ultimately, the two issues impacted over 10 million vehicles worldwide. But millions more Toyota, Lexus and Scion products were recalled for a variety of other issues ranging from steering problems to excessive corrosion that could lead to parts falling off an affected vehicle while driving.
Further embarrassing the industry giant, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration accused Toyota of illegally delaying action on several safety-related issues and leveled record fines against the Japanese giant.
Initially TOYOTA was issued a $16.4 million fine in conjunction with dangerous unintended acceleration. Latter in December 2010, the Japanese automaker has received an additional two fines totaling $32.4 million for further recalls.
With CEO Akio Toyoda proclaiming quality and safety critical issues – and with the company appointing a U.S. quality czar – things began to turnaround but Toyota still faced a variety of nagging issues during the first half of 2011. Of the 3.5 million vehicles covered by safety actions this year, six in 10 were recalled during the first half. Only two campaigns were announced since the end of June – and the most recent, involving 200,000 Sienna minivans, centered around improper tire inflation information posted in the door jams of the people movers.
Nonetheless, industry analysts say the recall issue couldn’t have occurred at a worse time for Toyota as the maker was only barely beginning to recover when, last March, Japan was slammed by a record earthquake and tsunami that crippled the island nation’s auto industry. Toyota production was only beginning to return to normal levels when, in October, record floods struck Thailand setting back Toyota’s recovery efforts once again.
The maker has lost about 2.5 points of market share in the U.S. for 2011, a massive figure in an industry where manufacturers will fight viciously over a tenth of a point of share. With competitors like Ford and Hyundai stressing their own quality efforts, analysts like Aaron Bragman, of IHS Automotive, warn that it will be difficult for Toyota to regain its once-lustrous image. In turn, that is forcing the maker to reach record levels of spending on incentives.
Of course, Toyota wasn’t the only automaker facing recall problems this past year. In terms of individual actions, General Motors led the pack, according to the WardsAuto analysis, with 21 separate recalls – though they impacted only about 456,000 vehicles.
FORD had the second-highest figure in terms of vehicles recalled, at 3.2 million, in 10 separate safety-related actions.
HONDA was third, with 2 million vehicles recalled, three-fourths of those due to a faulty transmission control module.
Even some of the smallest makers can be found on NHTSA’s recall list, including Maserati, which had to service 760 of its sports cars, and Rolls-Royce, which had to replace a faulty circuit board on 600 of its small Ghost sedans that could overheat and cause a fire.
Since 1966 more than 390 million cars, trucks, buses, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and mopeds, as well as 46 million tires, 66 million pieces of motor vehicle equipment, and 42 million child safety seats have been recalled to correct safety defects.
Manufacturers voluntarily initiate many of these recalls, while others are either influenced by NHTSA investigations or ordered by NHTSA via the courts. If a safety defect is discovered, the manufacturer must notify NHTSA, as well as vehicle or equipment owners, dealers, and distributors. The manufacturer is then required to remedy the problem at no charge to the owner. NHTSA is responsible for monitoring the manufacturer’s corrective action to ensure successful completion of the recall campaign.
Experts blame the proliferation on a convergence of issues, including tougher federal reporting requirements, wider use of glitch-prone computers, an ongoing shift to electrical controls from mechanical devices, and a proliferation of new model launches.
The United States Code for Motor Vehicle Safety (Title 49, Chapter 301) defines motor vehicle safety as “the performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment in a way that protects the public against unreasonable risk of accidents occurring because of the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle, and against unreasonable risk of death or injury in an accident, and includes nonoperational safety of a motor vehicle.” A defect includes “any defect in performance, construction, a component, or material of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment.” Generally, a safety defect is defined as a problem that exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that:
 | Park Avenue 3.8L V-6 - 1996 |
Problem: Dipstick for Motor Oil reads up to two quarts low, when engine oil is at full capacity.
Solution: Replace with revised dipstick tube and dipstick (P.N.# 12564961 and 24505407)
| Rainier 2004 -2005 |
Defect 051201 see defect list below
| 540iA sedan & wagon - 1999 |
| 740i - 1999 |
| 740iL - 1999 |
Ring Gear in the five speed automatic transmission may fail and cause loss of reverse, first, second & third gears.
Fix: Replace transmission
About 250 vehicles are affected
| 5 - series - 2004 |
| 6 - series - 2004 |
| 7 - series - 2004 |
| X5 - 2004 |
In early 2004, BMW recalled about 4,000 of its 5-, 6- and 7-series and
X5 off-road vehicles due to engine problems.
| 1997 to 2001 Catera with 3.0L V-6 Engine |
Low coolant light illuminates frequently, engine overheats.
GM engineers have traced this problem to a slow leak caused by poor seal at interface between engine coolant and the oil cooler cover at the engine block.
Resealing the cover with good quality RTV sealalnt and giving it at leat 15 minutes cure time before re-installation fixes the problem in most cases.
However engine damage may have already been caused if the overhat condition existed for prolonged time and the vehicle was operated at high highway speeds.
| Cirrus 1995-1998 |
| Concorde/LHS/300M 1998-1999 |
| Sebring Convertible 1996-1998 |
| PT Cruiser 2001-2004
|
Chrysler group spokeswoman Curtrise Garner said there had been nine reports of underhood fires apparently caused by the problem.
"The likelihood of fires is very low," she said, adding that no injuries or deaths had been reported.
Other than fire hazard the loss of power steering fluid causes loss of power assist for the steering, making slow speed turns and parking very difficult.
438,391 PT Cruisers from the 2001-2004 model years were affected by the recall
http://www.daimlerchryslervehicleproblems.com/
| Intrepid 1998-1999 |
| Ram Pickup 2003 with 5.9L Cummins turbodiesel with 6 speed gearbox |
Transmission rattle at idle.
Replace the clutch disk with upgraded unit part number 52107775AC
| Neon 1995-1998 |
| Stratus 1995-1998 |
http://www.daimlerchryslervehicleproblems.com/
|
Astro 2000 |
Equipped with 4.3 Liter V-6 Gasoline Engine
| Blazer 2000 |
Equipped with 4.3 Liter V-6 Gasoline Engine
Two wheel drive (any engine model)
| TrailBlazer 2002 - 2005 4WD |
Defect 051201 see defect list below
| S10 - 2000 |
Equipped with 4.3 Liter V-6 Gasoline Engine
Two wheel drive (any engine model)
| Silverado 2000 |
Equipped with 4.3 Liter V-6 Gasoline Engine
|
CAPTIVA 2011 - 2012 |
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 21, 2011. DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MANUAL MODE AND IN FIRST GEAR CAUSES THE ENGINE AND POWER STEERING PUMP TO OPERATE AT HIGHER SPEED THAN IS TYPICAL. INCREASED PUMP SPEED GENERATES HEAT THAT IS TRANSFERRED TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND CAN RESULT IN POWER STEERING FLUID TEMPERATURES THAT APPROACH THE POWER STEERING PUMP RESERVOIR'S MELTING POINT.
AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ELEVATED FLUID TEMPERATURES, THE RESERVOIR MAY LEAK. LEAKING FLUID, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER WITH AN IMPROVED VERSION, FREE OF CHARGE. AN ADVISORY LETTER TO CUSTOMERS, ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS, WILL BE MAILED IN JANUARY 2012. WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, GM WILL SEND ANOTHER LETTER ASKING CUSTOMER TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIRS PERFORMED. GM ANTICIPATES PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MARCH 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
GM'S RECALL NUMBER IS 11333.
|
JOURNEY 2012 |
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 DODGE JOURNEY AND FIAT 500 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. SOME VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID AND MAY EXPERIENCE A DEGRADATION OF THE SEALING COMPONENTS WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT COME IN CONTACT WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Ferrari North America
Models: Oil Filter 111782
Dates of Manufacture: May 2000 - May 2001
Defect:
Some replacement oil filters (Ferrari Part No. 111782) were made in a different manner
from the original version. As a result, the oil filter may leak engine oil from the seal
ring area. In the presence of an ignition source, the engine oil could be ignited, causing
a vehicle fire, possibly resulting in personal injury or death. These oil filters can be
used on Ferrari model vehicles dating back to the 1960s.
The model vehicles these filters can be used on are:
Dino 206 GT, Dino 246 GT/GTS, Dino 308 GT4, 208 GTB/GTS turbo, 208 GT4, 208
GTB/GTS turbo intercooler, GTB/GTS turbo, 275 GTB4, 308 GT4, 308 GTB/GTS, 308i GTB/GTS,
328 GTB/GTS, 330 GT, 330 GTC, 365 GT, 365 GT4, 365 GT4BB, 365 GTC (1970), 365 GTC/GTS, 365
GTC4, 365 GTS4, 400I GT/GTA, 4000 GT/GTA, 412 GT/GTA, 512BB, 512i BB, Mondial 3.2, Mondial
3.2 Cabriolet, Mondial 8, Mondial 9 Cabriolet, Mondial 4V, 288 GTO.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the oil filters with a new style of oil filter having a Ferrari part number of 191993, free of charge. The manufacturer has reported that notification began Oct. 12, 2001.
Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact
Ferrari at 1-201-816-2600.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01E051]
|
FIAT 500 - 2012 |
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 DODGE JOURNEY AND FIAT 500 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. SOME VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID AND MAY EXPERIENCE A DEGRADATION OF THE SEALING COMPONENTS WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT COME IN CONTACT WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
|
Crown Victoria 1992-2001 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Crown Victoria 2001-2004 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Mustang 1992-2001 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 32 Valve Engine
|
Mustang 2001-2004 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Taurus 1994-95 |
with 3.8 Liter V-6 Engine
|
Taurus 1999 |
with California Emission Package
|
Windstar 1995 |
with 3.8 Liter V-6 Engine
|
E-series vans 2001-2004 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
F-150 1992-2001 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
F-150 1999-2001 |
with 5.4 Liter V-8 Engine
|
F-150 2001-2004 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Expedition 1999-2001 |
with 5.4 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Expedition 2001-2004 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Explorer 1992-2001 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Explorer 2002-2004 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
F Super Duty Trucks 1999-2001 |
with 5.4 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Econoline E-150 Van 1992-2001 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Econoline Van 1999-2001 |
with 5.4 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Focus PZEV 2.3L - 2003-2005 |
|
Focus 2.0L - 2003-2009 |
|
Transit Connect 2.0L - 2010-2012 |
Problem: Dipstick for Motor Oil reads up to two quarts low, when engine oil is at full capacity.
Solution: No OEM cure is offered at this time, therefore we are cautioning customers to do following:
Remove the dipstick from the tube and after about a minute re-insert and imediately withdraw the dipstick, reading taken this way will be accurate if the vehicle is parked on a level surface and the engine oil is warm.
More than 265,000 vehicles are affected
|
Envoy - 2000 |
Equipped with 4.3 Liter V-6 Gasoline Engine
|
Envoy 2002 - 2005 |
Defect 051201 see defect list below
|
Jimmy - 2000 |
Equipped with 4.3 Liter V-6 Gasoline Engine
Two wheel drive (any engine model)
|
Sonoma - 2000 |
Equipped with 4.3 Liter V-6 Gasoline Engine
Two wheel drive (any engine model)
|
Accord 1993-1995 |
Flaw in the engine oil seal causes excessive leakage or sudden total loss of motor oil leading to catastrophic engine failure, due to lack of lubricant.
Vehicles affected were made in the Ohio, USA plant from July 1993 to September 1995.
Honda has already recalled 557,000 cars that were sold in Japan, however no decision has been made to recall cars sold outside Japan.
|
Odyssey 1993-1995 |
See above this minivan also carries the seal flaw.
|
2003 - 2004 CR-V |
Vehicle is prone to catch fire when engine is restarted imediately after oil change.
Cause has been determined to be improperly tightened oil filter, which causes engine oil to leak onto hot exhaust system that is positioned just under the oil filter in back of the engine.
18 cases of fire reported to NHTSA.
|
2001 Santa Fe SUV |
2.7 Liter V-6 Engine ONLY
About 300 engines of estimated 8,000 that were manufactured from March 2000 to November 2000 have defect with cylinder liners that crack. That causes engine failure at highway speeds. The flaw has been "eliminated" in later production engines. Hyundai has been replacing the failed engines under warranty, it is however NOT recalling vehicles or notifying owners of the potential problem of vehicle suddenly stopping on highway.
Thicker liners were used in the engines beginning in November 2000.
|
2005 - 5.7 Liter V-8 Grand Cherokee |
Oil pressure warning light and warning chime come on under heavy braking.
First check the oil level in the crankcase, which may be OK, but if not add oil to restore oil level.
If problem persists even with proper oil level then problem is caused by software glitch in the oil pressure monitor system of the engine control module which needs to be reprogrammed with new software.
|
2005 - 2.8 Liter Turbo Diesel Cherokee |
|
2005 - 2.8 Liter Turbo Diesel Liberty |
Higher than normal temperature gauge reading
Caused by calibration error in CCN module, which needs to have new software installed.
|
2003 Liberty |
|
2003 Wrangler |
Delayed transmission engagement and harsh downshifts
New front pump must be installed to fix this problem (Part Number 05127199AA)
|
1998 -2002 Sephia |
Battery cable shorts out on oil dipstick tube, causing a fire.
Six, plus seven other fires of undetermined origin.
|
Lexus ES 300August 1998 to July 2001 See problem 020211 below |
|
Lexus RX 300January 1998 to July 2001 |
See problem 020211 below
|
Continental 1992-2001 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Continental 1994 |
with 3.8 Liter V-6 Engine
|
Navigator 1999-2001 |
with 5.4 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Town Car 1992-2001 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Town Car 2001-2004 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Miata 1999-2003 |
No 5th Gear or Reverse engagement
If the 8mm Hex Plug which looks like oil level check plug is removed the crank lever shaft falls into the transmission and the transmission must be removed and disassembled to fix this problem. Not really a defect just very poor design and no warning DO NOT REMOVE on the transmission.
|
C230 Kompressor 1.8L I-4 2003 |
Problem: Motor Oil Leak from front of the engine.
Cause:Vibration Damper cutting into the rubber of the crankshaft seal ring.
Solution: Instal revised damper and new seal No 271 030 00 03 and 023 997 84 47.
|
SLR McLaren 2005 & 2006 |
High underhood temperatures that could damage the alternator and cause a fire have
prompted Mercedes-Benz USA LLC to recall all SLR McLaren sports cars from the 2005 and 2006
model years.
The problem occurs under "hard operating conditions,"
Mercedes-Benz said the recall covers 433 vehicles in the United States.
|
Grand Marquis 2001-2004 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Mountaineer 2002-2004 |
with 4.6 Liter V-8 Engine
|
Sable - 1994-95 |
with 3.8 Liter V-6 Engine
|
Sable - 1999 |
with California Emission Package
|
Altima 2006 |
|
Sentra SE-R 2006 |
Reports of excessive oil consumption that could damage the engine or cause a fire.
About 100,000 Altimas and Sentra SE-Rs built between January and May 2006 may have the
problem.
Nissan said it had extended the engine portion of the vehicles' warranty on Altimas and Sentra SE-Rs built during January to May 2006 to 84 months or 100,000 miles.
|
FRONTIER 2012 |
|
NV 2012 |
|
PATHFINDER 2011 - 2012 |
|
XTERRA 2011 - 2012 |
ENGINE OIL LEAK
Reports of excessive oil consumption that could damage the engine or cause a fire.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 INFINITI FX, MODEL YEAR 2012 INFINITI M, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN FRONTIER, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN XTERRA, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 NISSAN NV VEHICLES. SOME OF THE BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE ENGINE OIL COOLER AND THE ENGINE OIL FILTER TO THE ENGINE IN THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO BELOW SPECIFICATION STRENGTH. AS A RESULT, THE BOLT MAY BREAK AT THE OIL FILTER ATTACHMENT POINT AND CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE OIL LEAK.
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTOR BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 19, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
|
Bravada 2000 |
Equipped with 4.3 Liter V-6 Gasoline Engine
|
Bravada 2002 -2004 AWD |
Defect 051201 see defect list below
|
Intrique 1999 |
Equipped with 3.8 Liter V-6 Gasoline Engine
Missing clip allows heater hose to touch oxygen sensor unit. This leads to hose damage and coolant leak onto hot exhaust system, this in turn can cause engine fire.
Install Missing Clip
|
Breeze 1995-1998 |
|
Neon 1995-1998 |
|
Range Rover 1995-1999 |
Transmission Breather Tube collects water that may freeze in cold weather and this clogs the tube, which in turn causes the transmission fluid to leak through the dipstick tube and contact hot engine parts.
Fix: Remove Breather Tube from inner fender and cut a section off the hose to prevent water from collecting.
About 26,000 vehicles are affected.
|
Discovery 1999 |
Brakes may briefly apply without driver action due to defective relay.
Replace anti-lock brake relay.
|
1991 - 1995 Twin Cam |
| Is the Twin-Cam an Oil Burner? |
| We have seen, heard and even
experienced first-hand abnormal oil consumption in twin-cam (SL2, SW2, SC2) Saturns.
Consumption of one quart every 1000 to 1500 miles appears fairly common. This consumption
rate can set in early in the life of the car, so it is not attributable to normal wear and
tear. Although Saturn has a procedure to deal with this issue, they do not acknowledge that a problem exists. They recommend that you bring your car to a Saturn dealer to be put on an "oil consumption watch". This entails bringing the car into your dealer every few hundred miles so they can monitor the situation. Not very convenient for the owner. Depending on the diagnosis, it can involve valves, valve seals, piston rings, and even the pistons themselves. Some owners report the fix only cures the oil burning for a while. The procedure usually runs between $1000 and $1800, depending on what is done. Depending on mileage, Saturn will often pick up at least some of the tab. A Saturn representative told us that all Saturn engines should use no more that one quart every 3000 miles.
|
| SL - 2000 |
| SC - 2000 |
| SW - 2000 |
Brake Fluid leaks from brake pipes with improperly tightened nuts.
Fix: Tighten nuts to specifications if too loose or replace brake pipes if overtightened.
About 5,400 cars are affected
| Camry,
|
| Camry Solara,
|
| Sienna, July 1997 to May 2001
|
|
Sienna 2002Problem: Fire breaks out in engine compartment. Complaints: Two. Vehicle population: To be determined. |
|
Avalon, July 1996 to May 2001See problem 020211 below |
| Celica, 4-cylinder, August 1996 to April 1999
|
| Highlander, November 2000 to July 2001
|
See problem 020211 below
|
Corrado 1992-1994 |
If a cooling system component malfunctions and causes a increase in system pressure, the heat exchanger may burst and spill hot coolant into vehicles passenger compartment, burning an occupant's feet or causing steam that impairs driver visibility.
Fix: Inspect system components for proper functioning and install pressure relief valve for the heat exchanger.
|
VMX17 (V-MAX) |
YAMAHA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 VMX17 (V-MAX) MOTORCYCLES, INCLUDING THE YB, YCB, ZR, ZCR AG AND ACG VARIANTS, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2008 THROUGH APRIL 2011. ON AFFECTED MOTORCYCLES, HIGH OIL PRESSURE CAN BUILD UP INSIDE THE OIL PUMP CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION. OIL MIGHT THEN STOP PUMPING THROUGH THE ENGINE RESULTING IN SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE THAT CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL AND NOT RESTART AGAIN.
AN ENGINE STALL CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH WITH INJURY OR DEATH.
YAMAHA DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OIL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT YAMAHA AT 1-800-962-7926.
Premature failure of a head gasket(s) on 3.8 Liter V-6 engines causes loss of coolant, engine overheating or in extreme case engine failure.
Ford has extended warranty for this defect to seven years or 100,000 miles, which ever comes first.
More than 700,000 vehicles are affected.
Wrong Transmission Cooler line was installed on some 1999 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable cars with California Emission Package.
This causes it to scrape against anti-lock brake module bracket and could in turn cause ATF fluid leak on to exhaust manifold or catalytic converter and cause fire.
Fix: Install correct transmission cooler line.
About 1,800 cars are affected
A cavity machined into the crankshaft's counterweights may have pierced an oil gallery in the crankshaft. This allows oil to run out of the shaft prior reaching the crankshaft bearings. This eventually causes a catastrophic engine failure. On vehicles that are equipped with oil pressure gauge, low oil pressure is noticeable.
Approximately 20,000 GMC/Chevy
light trucks and vans equipped with
4.3 Liter V-6 Gasoline Engine are affected.
Brake fluid leaks from right side anti-lock brake module feed pipe and/or crossover pipe.
Fix: Install new brake pipe union.
About 4,000 vehicles are affected
Power Steering Noise
There is a problem with some 1995 to 1999 Dodge, Chrysler and Plymouth cars. When ambient temperatures are low (10ºF and below) excessive noise is generated in the power steering system after the vehicle is started and the colder it gets the more annoying the noise and vibration gets. In extreme situations the power steering pump or the drive belt can be permanently damaged. The problem is the Power Steering OEM Fluid designated as MS-5931. The cure is complete drain of the system and replacement with better quality fluid such as DaimlerChrysler Part Number #05010304AA or better yet the NEW SynLube Lube-4-Life Power Steering Fluid which exceeds even the latest DaimlerChrysler specification MS-9933
More than 7,000 owners have complained to Toyota about vehicles equipped with two of
the automaker's core engine families - the 1MZ V-6 and 5SFE inline 4
These engines are choking on a buildup of sludge, oxidized oil in the form of mucky goo.
Sludge buildup causes engine performance to deteriorate and, in extreme cases, causes engines to seize.
But because the problem can be caused from failure to change the oil regularly, Toyota steadfastly has refused to cover it under its five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Toyota has instituted "special adjustment program"
In a letter sent to more than 3.3 million owners of vehicles equipped
with the two engines, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. says it will pay repair costs for
sludge damage in cases where customers can provide proof of "reasonable efforts"
to maintain the vehicle.
The so-called special policy adjustment, requiring proof of only one oil change in a year,
is good for one year. At the same time, though, the U.S. sales arm refused to veer from
its position that negligent owners, not the product, are the source of the problem.
"We're not aware of any cases of oil gelling in properly maintained engines,"
said Bob Daly, general manager of Toyota Customer Services, in a press release that
admonishes owners to maintain their vehicles properly.
After threat of class action lawsuit TOYOTA has on April 8, 2002 changed its policy of refusing to fix the affected engines.
Currently following is offered by TOYOTA:
Toyota will pay for sludge-related repairs for eight years from the date of purchase for all 1997-2002 Toyota and Lexus vehicles with the 3.0-liter IMZ V-6 engine and all 1997-2001 Toyota vehicles with the now discontinued 5SFE 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine. This adjustment also has following features:
| Has no mileage limitation. | ||||||
| Covers owners who buy used vehicles. | ||||||
| Reimburses drivers who already have paid for repairs | ||||||
| Includes payments for:
|
FORD - Head gasket failure
Ford dealers are repairing or replacing engines due to problems arising from a 1999
model-year revision to the 5.4-liter engine's head gasket. In defective units, the head
gasket fails to seal variances in the engine block's surface, permitting oil seepage
The problem is often though to be a result of a crack in head or a block, since no problems with head gasket is found. In this case however the cause of the leakage is a leaking "core plug".
There are two located in the front of the cylinder block. As a result of several possible causes, the defective plug can cause coolant to leak into the motor oil. Neglecting to change the coolant regularly and frequently causes the core plug to rust through from the backside.
The 38-mm (1.5") plugs may be replaced while the engine is in the vehicle.
Irritating engine noise while engine idles
Carbon buildup in the rear exhaust guides is the cause.
New design cylinder head and cam assemblies need to be installed to solve this problem. (Part Number 4L3Z-6049-AA and 4L3z-6049-BA).
Problem: High pitched squeal squeak or whistle coming from front axle.
Cause: combination of low temperature below 40 F and most likely due to dry seal at the outboard end of the right axle intermediate shaft housing and /or the left side of the differential carrier.
Solution: Replace with revised seal with better lubricity (P.N.# 12479302 and 12471618) Applying SynLube Lube-4-Life Grease to the seal lips will also scilence the noise.
