People who own a 2005 through 2007 Chevrolet Corvette with a removable roof or 2006 to 2007 Corvette Z06 have to contact their dealer now. General Motors is recalling these vehicle models due to possible roof panel problem. Seems like the adhesive attaching the roof panel to the vehicle’s frame has been failing causing these parts to separate. When partial separation happens, the driver may notice symptoms like snapping noise when driving over bumps, poor roof panel fit, wind noise, water leak in the headliner, and roof panel movement or bounce when the door or hatch is closed.

If there is a complete separation, it is possible that the roof panel will be detached from the vehicle and if it happens while the vehicle is running, it can hit a following vehicle and cause injury or fatality and/or property damage.

As remedy, Chevy Corvette dealers will install a newly designed roof panel free of charge. This recall is expected to begin in January 2010.

Info Source: NHTSA
Image Source: Autoblog

Source: NHTSA Press Release

Consumer Advisory: Dorel Recalls 447,000 Infant Child Restraint Systems

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission are alerting consumers of a recall involving certain infant child restraints manufactured by Dorel Juvenile Group under Safety 1st, Cosco, Eddie Bauer and Disney branded names. Consumers should immediately stop using the infant seat carrying handle.

Dorel is recalling 447,000 seats because when used as an infant carrier, the bolts that attach the child restraint handle to the seat can loosen causing the handle to fully or partially separate from the seat creating a fall hazard. Consumers should not use the handle until the repair kit has been installed. The car seat is safe for use in a vehicle as it meets federal safety standards.

To receive a free repair kit, owners of the affected child restraint models should contact Dorel’s customer service department at 1-866-762-3316 or visit http://www.djgusa.com/safety_notice.

In addition, parents and caregivers are urged to sign up with NHTSA to automatically receive updates about child seat recalls via email. Consumers may sign-up for recall notifications by visiting www.safercar.gov and clicking on the “e-mail” or “RSS” option to register.

Consumers with questions about this or any other safety recall campaign may call NHTSA’s toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153).

The all-new 2010 Kia Forte received highly esteemed honor from NADAguides.com for delivering new-edge styling, value, and fuel efficiency. It is also recognized above competition for providing consumers with high-class combination of standard safety features.

According to Michael Sprague, Vice president for Marketing of Kia Motors America, consumers and dealers have come to recognize the Kia Motors brand for their attractively designed and priced models (including Kia Forte) with impressive fuel efficiency and a long list of standard safety features that are backed by an industry-leading warranty. “Forte is a very strong contender in the popular compact segment and it has definitely helped us continue to raise our brand awareness,” Sprague added.

To qualify for NADAguides.com “Car of the Month,” the vehicle must come new for the model year and should carry an impressive blend of fuel efficiency, styling, low price point and cost of ownership. Vehicles that are previously chosen as “Car of the Month” are carefully reviewed by the editors at NADAguides.com to pick the most worthy “Car of the Year.”

Info Source: Kia
Image Source: jalopnik

To meet the Federal Motor Safety Standard No. 108, a vehicle’s rear turn signal at present can be either amber or red. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is asking for the public’s opinion on a proposed regulation that would mandate vehicle rear turn signal to be amber-colored only.

This regulation was made after a study proved that amber lights are 5.3% more effective than red turn signals in preventing crashes. The study focused on vehicles that switched rear turn signal color from one model year to the next. Though 5.3 seem like a small percentage, NHTSA believes that it is statistically significant.

European countries already require that rear turn signals be amber.

Public comment for the proposed regulation will be accepted until Sept. 6.

Info Source: KickingTires
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Mazda is recalling 7,100 Mazda3 2009 models for stability software concern. According to NHTSA, Mazda 3 models equipped with Dynamic Stability Control is not in compliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. NHTSA added that the problem is that “the yaw rate measured after completion of the sine with dwell steering input exceeded the test standards.”

If you own a 2009 Mazda3, find some time to visit your dealer. Mazda dealers will inspect and replace the unit for free. Mazda hasn’t yet released an owner notification schedule, but owners can contact the manufacturer at 1-800-222-5500 to know if your model is affected by the recall.

Source: NHTSA

Photo Credit: autoblog

After Isuzu trucks, here’s another Safety Recall. But this time, it’s for Lexus vehicles. So if you own one, check out immediately which units are being recalled.  

Toyota Motor Sales,USA, Inc., along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announces a Safety Recall which involves around 214,500 Lexus vehicles sold in the United States.

“On certain 2006 through 2008 model year GS300/350, IS250/350, and LS460/460L vehicles, Lexus has determined that some ethanol fuels with a low moisture content may corrode the internal surface of the fuel delivery pipes. If this condition occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) in the combination meter may illuminate. Over time, the corrosion may create a pinhole in the fuel delivery pipes resulting in fuel leakage.

Lexus dealers will replace the fuel delivery pipes with newly designed components. No other Lexus or Toyota vehicles are involved.”

Owners of the vehicles involved will receive a Safety Recall notification through first-class mail starting late January. Once they received the notified, Lexus Owners should contact their local dealers immediately for free diagnosis and repair.

Should there be questions and concerns, Lexus owners should contact the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-255-3987.

Infor Credit:Toyota
Image Credit:sportscarsfans

To the owners of model year 2005 through 2009 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, or Xterra truck/SUV: you better contact your dealer immediately.

According to yahoo news:

Nissan Motor Co. is recalling more than 240,000 trucks in 20 cold weather states to fix a problem that could prevent front air bags from deploying in a crash.

In states where winter time road salt is used, a mix of snow and salt could enter a crash zone sensor area and rust, interrupting the signal and potentially preventing the front air bags from deploying in a crash.

While it’s true that there had been no accidents and injuries linked to the problem, we should act now to prevent this thing from happening. And the best thing we can do is to let Nissan remedy the problem.

Image Credit: caranddriver

For a vehicle to qualify for the Top Safety Pick Award, it should have electronic stability control (ESC). Just what is electronic stability control? This is considered as one of the greatest enhancements in vehicle safety. According to IIHS:

Electronic stability control senses when a driver may lose control and automatically applies brakes to individual wheels to keep the vehicle stable and avoid a rollover. It helps motorists avoid skidding across icy or slick roads or keep control when swerving to avoid an unexpected object in the road.

Unlike airbags, which only assist you in times of collision, ESC will guide you so you won’t loss control of your vehicle at high speed. It will help you stay in control of your automobile during emergency maneuvers such as coming into a bend too fast, swerving, skidding, or braking suddenly to avoid an obstacle. This means that ESC will assist the driver even without sending out commands to the vehicle.

So you may now ask, how does ESC do this very important task? ESC keeps an eye on your steering versus the vehicle’s direction. When it senses that the two factors do not match, the ESC will automatically actuate the brakes in the appropriate wheel for short periods of time and will reduce engine power.

Electronic Stability Control is such a great feature for your ride. It assists you at times when you need to be in control of your vehicle. It will make sure that you and your vehicle are on the safe side and not towards danger even if your ride oversteers or understeers.

Image Credit: conti-online

Right now, anything positive about US automakers is very good news. And here’s something to perk up the spirits of Ford SUV aficionados: among the 34 SUVs that earned the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick, eight models are from Ford and its subsidiaries. These Ford models make the company and its subsidiaries dominate the 2009 Top Safety Picks.

Recipients of the Top Safety Pick Award perform best in front, side, and rear crash tests. Winners are also equipped with electronic stability control (ESC), which significantly reduces crash risks. This is the first time in the industry that there’s a top pick for every vehicle category that the IIHS tests except microcars.

Here’s a list of the 2009 Top Safety Pick award winners:

Large Cars:
Acura RL
Audi A6
Cadillac CTS
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Mercury Sable
Toyota Avalon
Volvo S80

Midsize Cars:
Acura TL
Acura TSX
Audi A3
Audi A4
BMW 3 Series (4-door models)
Ford Fusion (with optional electronic stability control)
Honda Accord (4-door models)
Mercedes C class
Mercury Milan
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy
Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen Passat

Midsize Convertibles:
Saab 9-3
Volkswagen Eos
Volvo C70

Small Cars:
Honda Civic (4-door models except Si; with optional electonic stability control)
Mitsubishi Lancer (with optional electronic stability control)
Scion XB
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Corolla (with optional stability control)
Volkswagen Rabbit (4-door models)

Minicar:
Honda Fit (with optional electronic stability control)

Minivans:
Honda Odyssey
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Sedona

Large SUVs:
Audi Q7
Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Traverse
GMC Acadia
Saturn Outlook

Midsize SUVs
Acura MDX
Acura RDX
BMW X3
BMW X5
Ford Edge
Ford Flex
Ford Taurus X
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Veracruz
Infiniti EX35
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes M class
Nissan Murano
Saturn VUE
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Toyota Highlander
Volvo XC90

Small SUVs:
Ford Escape
Honda CR-V
Honda Element
Mazda Tribute
Mercury Mariner
Mitsubishi Outlander
Nissan Rogue
Subaru Forester
Toyota RAV4
Volkswagen Tiguan

Large Pickups:
Ford F-150
Honda Ridgeline
Toyota Tundra

Small pickup:
Toyota Tacoma

So, do you think it is right for people to say that U.S. automakers make lousy and UNSAFE cars? Ford begs to differ.

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The American auto industry is indeed in deep sh*t. And U.S. automakers only got themselves to blame. But yesterday, two of the Detroit Big 3 automakers proved to the country that they are doing not just something right, but something significant. Vehicles of Ford and its Volvo subsidiary top the insurance industry’s list of the safest vehicles for 2009 model year. GM models also did well.

From the Associated Press:

“Ford and Volvo have 16 vehicles on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s list of the safest cars, followed by Honda Motor Co. with 13 vehicles, the institute said Tuesday.
Seventy-two cars, trucks and SUVs received the top safety pick designation for the 2009 model year, more than double the number of vehicles in 2008 and three times the number in 2007.

“No matter what kind of vehicle buyers may be considering, now they can walk into just about any dealership and find one that affords the best overall protection in serious crashes,” said Institute president Adrian Lund.

The selected vehicles are tops in protecting people in front, side and rear crash tests based on institute evaluations during the year. The vehicles are required to have electronic stability control, or ESC, to qualify for the award.

Ford’s top performers include the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan midsize cars with optional ESC, the Ford F-150 pickup, Ford Edge and Ford Flex midsize sport utility vehicles and the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small SUV. It also includes the Mazda Tribute, which has the same underpinnings as the Escape and Mariner.

The awards bolster the case made by Ford CEO Alan Mulally in Washington last week when he testified along with Big Three executives seeking massive government aid. Mulally argued that Ford had made significant strides.

“Every year, we’re going to improve the quality, we’re going to improve the fuel efficiency, we’re going to improve the safety, and we’re going to keep improving the productivity so we can offer the consumer the very best value,” Mulally told a House committee.

Honda and its Acura unit had vehicles in nearly every category, including top-sellers such as the Honda Accord, the Honda Civic 4-door with optional ESC, and the Acura MDX and RDX midsize SUVs, and the Honda Fit with optional ESC. The Fit is the first mini car to earn the safety award.
Volkswagen AG and its Audi brand had nine vehicles on the list, including the Volkswagen Jetta and Passat and the Audi A3, A4 and A6.

General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. both had eight vehicles on the list. GM’s included the Cadillac CTS and the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook large SUVs.
Toyota’s top performers were the Toyota Corolla with optional ESC, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra and Scion xB.

Using the awards, consumers can compare vehicles without having to review results from multiple tests. Automakers pay close attention to the institute’s findings and frequently note positive ratings in television commercials.

The institute has advocated for an early adoption of anti-rollover technology such as ESC ahead of a government requirement for the systems by the 2012 model year.

Electronic stability control senses when a driver may lose control and automatically applies brakes to individual wheels to keep the vehicle stable and avoid a rollover. It helps motorists avoid skidding across icy or slick roads or keep control when swerving to avoid an unexpected object in the road.

IIHS said Chrysler LLC was the only major automaker that did not receive a single award. They said Chrysler could have picked up five awards if the head restraints had been improved in the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, the Sebring convertible and the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country.

Chrysler spokesman Cole Quinnell said he could not comment on whether the head restraints might be upgraded in the future. He said Chrysler vehicles are equipped with a variety of safety features and the institute’s results “are just one of the sources of information about a vehicle’s crash performance.”

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