Automotive News, Car Reviews, and Podcast
A class action says GM knew 2019-2020 Silverado and Sierra rear windows leak into the cab, tracked it in a service bulletin for four years, but never issued a recall.
Read moreVehicle recalls and consumer protection laws are essential for ensuring safety and fairness in the automotive industry. These mechanisms protect consumers from defective products and help maintain trust in vehicle manufacturers. Understanding these concepts empowers you to make informed decisions about your vehicle. Vehicle recalls and consumer protection laws are crucial components of the automotive industry, designed to protect consumers from potential hazards. A recall occurs when a manufacturer identifies a defect that could affect the safety or compliance of a vehicle. These recalls are often coordinated with regulatory bodies to ensure that affected vehicles are repaired or replaced at no cost to the consumer. Understanding how these processes work can help you stay informed and proactive about your vehicle’s
Read moreFord Motor Company has issued a safety recall for approximately 149,449 Bronco SUVs due to a potential defect in the rear shock absorbers. The recall affects 2021-2024 model year Broncos equipped with the Badlands trim or Sasquatch package. The Issue The long flange rear shock absorbers in affected vehicles may experience corrosion between the external reservoir, mounting flange, and damper body. This corrosion can lead to the separation of the external reservoir from the shock absorber. If the external reservoir detaches, it could create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. Ford estimates that approximately 30% of the recalled vehicles may have this defect. Affected Models Model Year Trim/Package Wheel Base 2021-2024 Badlands Short 2021-2024
Read moreVehicle recalls are critical for ensuring auto safety and preventing car accidents. Understanding the implications of defective car parts can help you stay safe on the road. Learn what to do if your vehicle is subject to a recall notice. Vehicle recalls play a crucial role in maintaining auto safety. When a manufacturer identifies vehicle defects, they issue recall notices to inform owners of potential risks. Understanding these recalls and the steps to take can significantly reduce the chances of car accidents caused by defective car parts. The importance of addressing vehicle recalls Ignoring recall notices can lead to severe consequences, including catastrophic accidents. For instance, faulty steering equipment and defective airbags are common issues that manufacturers may need to address. By
Read moreWaymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet, recently issued its first recall after two robotaxis collided with the same pickup truck in Phoenix, Arizona, last December. The incidents both occurred on December 11, 2023, prompting an investigation and subsequent software update. Collision Details According to a blog post by Waymo’s chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, the collisions were described as “minor,” with no injuries reported as neither vehicle was carrying passengers at the time. The first robotaxi encountered a pickup truck being improperly towed, leading to a prediction error in the vehicle’s software, resulting in a collision. Minutes later, another Waymo vehicle made contact with the same pickup truck, causing further minor damage. Waymo’s investigation revealed a “persistent orientation mismatch”
Read moreHyundai and Kia, the South Korean automakers, have issued recalls for nearly 92,000 vehicles due to a defect in the oil pump that could potentially cause fires, according to regulatory filings. The recall is the latest in a series of similar actions taken by the companies this year over concerns of fire risks from defective parts. The recall involves an electronic controller for an oil pump assembly, known as the “Idle Stop & Go” system, which may contain damaged components from a supplier. These faulty components could cause the pump to shortcircuit and overheat, leading to a risk of fire. The oil pump in a car is a critical component that circulates engine oil under pressure to the rotating bearings,
Read moreFor the fifth time in five years, Ford is recalling vehicles. The culprit this time is the possibility of nearly three million cars rolling away after being shifted into park mode because of degrading transmission components. The recall covers certain 2013 to 2019 Escape, 2013 to 2018 C-Max, 2013 to 2016 Fusion, 2013 to 2021 Transit Connect, and 2015 to 2018 Edge vehicles. Ford Recall: Latest Defect Cause Unknown According to a Ford recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a damaged bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission could degrade or detach in the affected vehicles. Ford said the cause of the defect is unknown. A damaged or detached bushing could prevent the
Read moreFord MT82 Transmission Recall notice: Mustangs and Mustang GTs from 2011 to 2019 were equipped with a Ford MT82 transmission with a six-speed manual. Many owners have found the transmission faulty. Further, according to Car and Driver, Ford was aware of the problem since the car began testing in 2010. The company had issued no less than seven notices to dealers on how they could fix the problem. The transmissions, supplied by Getrag, had a wide array of issues, and it led to Mustang owners to file a Class Action Suit. Problems Included • Issues with the gearbox• Transmission that slips, jerks and harshly engages• Incurs premature internal wear• Increased shift efforts• Inability to drive• Some suffered complete transmission failure.
Read moreTesla is recalling more than 475,000 of its Model 3 and Model S electric cars from model years 2014 to 2021 because of rearview camera and trunk issues that increase the risk of crashing. The U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer is recalling 356,309 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles to address rearview camera issues and 119,009 Model S vehicles due to front hood problems, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced The federal regulator has been discussing another camera issue with the automaker while probing the electric vehicle manufacturer’s driver assistant system and other issues. According to the manufacturer’s sales figures, the total number of vehicles being recalled is about the same volume of vehicles Tesla delivered in 2020. Tesla: Recall Issues
Read moreEvery Chevy Bolt ever made dating to 2017 has now been recalled after 73,000 vehicles were added to the list because of potentially defective battery modules. The latest recall includes 73,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada from 2019 through 2022 model years, including the recently launched larger version called the Bolt EUV. With the previous recall involving about 69,000 cars globally, including nearly 51,000 in the U.S., the recall expansion is expected to cost the automaker an additional $1 billion. It brings the recall’s total to $1.8 billion. Both issues are related to the same two potential battery defects, stemming from reports of fires when Bolt EV vehicles had been plugged in and or recently charged to full. The
Read moreWelcome to the world of recalls Stellantis! A few months into its tenure, the new owner of Fiat-Chrysler has made two dubious announcements. First, the new owner of Ram announced the wheels of more than a half-million of its Ram pickup trucks can fall off. And now comes word, more than 140,000 Ram trucks have recalled because their backup cameras may stop working when the vehicle is in reverse. The problematic wheels prompted the manufacturer to recall 510,000 Ram 3500 heavy-duty pickups and Ram 4500 and 5500 cab-chassis vehicles from 2012 to 2021 and mostly from North American have been recalled. The trucks in question have dual rear wheels and flanged lug nuts. Stellantis said some service and owner’s manuals
Read moreTesla, despite resisting a previous request by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is recalling 135,000 vehicles made during a seven-year span because the cars’ touch screens can potentially fail. According to the NHTSA report, vehicles’ touch screens could fail when their memory chip is full. If a failure occurs, the vehicle’s backup cameras, defrosters and turn signals could malfunction. The recall includes some Model S luxury sedans built between 2012 and 2018 and Model X SUVs built between 2016 and 2018. In the previous its previous request, NHTSA said the issue could affect 159,000 vehicles. The carmaker said it agrees to the recall but disagrees with NHTSA’s determination. The electric vehicle manufacturer reported it was not feasible for
Read moreFaulty seat belt brackets have prompted a recall of 624,000 pickup trucks and SUVs from the current and past two years General Motors’ brands. The issue affects model-year 2019-21 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks as well as model-year 2020-21 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 and GMC Sierra 2500/3500 pickups. GM recall woes: faulty belt bracket The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL SUVs are also being recalled. Vehicles affected have 40/20/40 split-folding front bench seats. Vehicles with front bucket seats are not being recalled. The issue: The seat belt bracket may not be secured to the center-seat frame. If the bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not restrain the occupant in the front-center
Read moreThere’s never a dull moment in the automotive industry. Car news never stops. Competition is intense. The emerging electric vehicle market continues to emerge but with its future unknown. Recalls aren’t going away anytime soon. And how consumers buy and sell vehicles is further transitioning from in-person sales to the online marketplace. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything. Overall, the automotive industry, just like most businesses, endured a turbulent 2020. Car News Abounds The Weekly Driver reported on much of the car news . . . recalls to bogus speed records, an iconic sports car’s mid-engine revelation to a record sales in the vintage car sales market. Bruce Aldrich and I discuss on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.
Read moreThe Takata airbag fiasco won’t go away, and it’s not good news for General Motors, pickup truck and SUVs owners and the bankrupt Japanese company. General Motors announced it will recall about seven million pickup trucks and SUVs worldwide to replace the potentially dangerous bag inflators made by the Japanese company. About six million of the vehicles scheduled for recall are located in the United States. The recalled vehicles include: full-size pickup trucks and SUVs from the 2007 through 2014 model years, including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups. Takata Airbag Recall Cover Seven Vehicles The Silverado is GM’s top-selling vehicle and the second-best-selling vehicle in the U.S. Also covered are the Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe and Avalanche, Cadillac
Read moreThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced 966 safety recalls in 2019 affecting more than 53 million vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. Its public information media and consumer outreach defines communication efficiency. Still, despite many recall notices and public warnings, some vehicle and quipment recalls are never repaired. It’s why the NHTSA has issued a plea for consumers, particularly in three well-documented areas: * Tens of millions of Takata airbags, the largest recall in U.S. history; * More than 1.7 million Harbor Freight jack stands, which could collapse and injure people around or underneath a vehicle; * More than 2.1 million Denso fuel pumps, which could fail and result in a stall that causes a crash. Safety Recalls: Don’t
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