Category Archives: Safety Recalls

2011 – 2012 Ford Explorers recalled due to steering defects

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Ford Motor Company is recalling 300 model year 2011-2012 Explorers equipped with steering gear replacement parts that were installed in September 2013 and January 2014. The  gears may lock, resulting in steering loss and an increased risk of being in a crash.

As required by federal law, Ford will notify owners about the safety recall. Ford dealers will replace the defective steering gears with new steering gears, free of charge to the owners of the Explorers.

The recall was expected to begin on January 24, 2014. Customers who have questions may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford’s number for this recall is #13S14. 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:

 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

If you are shopping for a used Explorer, NEVER trust the dealer to tell you whether or not this safety recall has been performed.  Lobbyists for new and used car dealers claim they cannot tell if a car is safe or not, and say it’s too much bother to check safety recalls prior to selling a used car to the public.

They also say that if there is a delay in getting repair parts, they should be able to sell the unsafe car to a consumer, rather than having to wait until the repairs have been performed.

Want to see for yourself what dealers have to say about their right to sell unsafe, recalled used cars to consumers?  Check out YouTube video from official CA legislative hearing:

car dealer lobbyists trying to kill auto safety legislation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NY Times: Ford issues safety recall, NHTSA upgrades investigation into Jeep fires

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WARNING — FORD EDGE and CRYSLER JEEP owners:

“Ford recalled about 28,000 of its 2012-13 Edge crossover utility vehicles for possible fuel leaks on models equipped with the 2-liter 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine, according to a report posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. The automaker said the fuel line pulse damper was not manufactured properly by a Michigan supplier, which could allow ‘fuel odor, seepage or a small fuel leak.’ ”

Caution: If you are buying a used vehicle, NEVER  rely on the auto dealer to ensure that the safety recall repairs have been performed. Car dealers have been caught over and over again selling unsafe, recalled cars, pickups, and SUVs.

One large new car dealership in California even sold one that was supposedly a  “certified” used car — that nearly killed the buyer when the safety defect occurred.

How can you find out if a vehicle has a pending safety recall? It’s easy — write down the Vehicle Identification Number and call a local dealer, or check the manufacturer’s website.

Read more: “NY Times report”

Dealers selling unsafe, recalled used cars

 

Attack against Tesla : HUTZPAH

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Automotive News publisher attacks Tesla over safety —
Ignores dealers who oppose having to perform safety recall repairs

“Musk Can Run, but he can’t hide,” writes Automotive News publisher Keith Crain, whose publication caters to auto dealers. Crain echoes the sentiments of auto dealers, who have mounted an aggressive campaign in an attempt to force Tesla to sell vehicles through dealership networks, where they can get a cut of the profits and subject Tesla customers to a wide variety of shady practices that further line the dealers’ pockets.

In his editorial, Crain questions whether Tesla has the ability to perform safety recalls on its cars — which so far have not even been subject to a safety recall.

He writes: “If and when, and it’s bound to be when in my opinion, his car is recalled — if not for the three Model S fires since October 1, it will be something else — he’s going to find it increasingly difficult to take care of all his customers in a timely manner. …I doubt that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will allow just anyone to repair a recalled Tesla or let the company ship parts to customers and tell them to install the replacements at their leisure.” (Automotive News: Musk car run, but he can’t hide,” by Keith Crain, Nov. 25, 2013.) Crain implies that Tesla, like other auto manufacturers, should depend on auto dealers to do the safety recall repairs.

What he conveniently fails to write is that auto dealers are aggressively opposing legislation in Washington DC and Sacramento that would require them to get unsafe, recalled rental cars or used cars fixed, before renting or selling them to consumers. A glaring fact that Automotive News has apparently forgotten.

As numerous national and local news organizations have reported, dealers have been caught time and time again selling unsafe, recalled vehicles to unsuspecting used car buyers without bothering to fix them first — even when the repairs are free.

Sample news report: Today Show finds recalled used cars for sale on dealer lots

Unless and until auto dealers show that they actually do place a priority on their customers’ safety, including sales or rentals of recalled cars, they don’t deserve to sell Teslas. They have shown over and over again that they simply can’t be trusted not to sell their customers unsafe cars, knowing full well that the safety recall repairs have not been performed.

Bottom line:  Elon Musk and Tesla are wise to avoid trusting dealers to ensure that recalled cars are safe.

Read more:

Auto dealers oppose rental car safety legislation in Washington, DC

Auto dealers oppose used car safety legislation in Sacramento, CA

Automotive News Editorial: “Musk can run, but he can’t hide”

 

 

 

 

 

Honda announces new safety recall of popular Odyssey and Acura models

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Honda announced it’s recalling 318,000 Odyssey minivans in the U.S. and 63,400 Acura MDX sport-utility vehicles in several nations because the air bags could deploy unnecessarily, due to electrical interference with a computer chip.

Honda acknowledged it had received complaints from owners of 2003 and 2004 model year Odyssey minivans and 2003 Acura MDX sport-utility vehicles, after the air bags popped open while they were just driving along.

Honda said that owners of the recalled vehicles should take them to Honda dealers, where technicians will install an “electrical noise filter.”

Caution:  If you are shopping for a used car, you cannot rely on the dealer to ensure that the safety recall repairs have been performed.  Auto dealers are actively opposing legislation that would require them to fix unsafe, recalled vehicles prior to renting, selling, or loaning them to unsuspecting consumers.

Read more: Dealers play unsafe, recalled used car roulette

 

 

Ford recalls 370,000 sedans over possible steering loss

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Ford Motor Co. announced it is recalling about 370,000 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Cars produced between 2005 through 2011 because corrosion could cause a loss of steering. The safety recall includes about 355,000 vehicles in the U.S. and another 15,000 in Canada.

The recall is focused on vehicles in 22 states and Washington, DC, and includes about 195,000 Crown Victoria police cars.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had been investigating multiple complaints about steering loss in 2005-2008 Crown Victoria cars outfitted for use by police.

Ford said owners in other states, who may not receive notice of the recall in the mail, could take their vehicles to Ford dealers for a check-up, and, if necessary, the cars would be repaired at no cost to the consumers. Federal law requires auto manufacturers to provide auto safety recall repairs at no cost to the owners.

Unfortunately, if the vehicles are owned by new or used car dealers who do not have a Ford franchise, they may not  be repaired before they are rented, sold, or loaned to unsuspecting used car buyers.  Auto dealers are fighting attempts in Washington, DC and Sacramento to help ensure that dealers have the safety recall repairs performed — for FREE — before they foist them off on their customers.

Did a dealer sell you an unsafe, recalled used car? If they did, CARS wants to hear from you — here’s where to contact CARS.

Read more:

NY Times report: Ford announces safety recall

Car dealers oppose having to fix unsafe, recalled used cars