Nissan Recalling 169,202 MY 2007-2008 Sentras Due to Brake Problems

Nissan has issued a recall on 169,202 MY 2007-2008 Sentra sedans to address a problem with the brake cylinders. According to Nissan, due to the machining irregularity by the supplier, the internal seal groove in the body of some brake master cylinders may allow for a gap in the groove contact area of the seal resulting to a leak of the brake fluid from the master cylinder into the brake booster assembly. If left unaddressed, the leakage could lead to a brake failure. Nissan said that dealers will inspect the master cylinder/brake booster assembly and if brake fluid leakage is detected, the master cylinder will be replaced with a new one. For more information owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Honda Recalling MY2008 Element

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall of 241 MY 2008 Honda Element vehicles due to a problem in the rear suspension. In particular, the front bushing bracket of the left trailing arm of the rear suspension may have been improperly welded and could separate from the trailing arm. If this occurs, then the bushing bracket could cause the suspension to release the lower portion of the wheel hub, causing a loss of control and damage to the brake system which could potentially lead to a crash.

Honda said that it will notify owners and advise them to stop driving their cars until they have taken their vehicle to a dealer where it will be inspected and if necessary, have the left-rear trailing arm replaced. If you’re not sure if your vehicle has been affected by this recall you may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

BMW Recalling 200,000 Vehicles in the U.S. Over Airbag Problem

Today, NHSTA announced that BMW is recalling 200,000 vehicles in the U.S. over concerns that the front passenger airbag may not deploy in the even of a crash due to a sensor problem. The models affected from the recall include the 2006 MY 3-Series, the 2004-2005 MY 5-Series and the 2004-2006 MY X3 SUV. According to NHTSA, depending on the manner and frequency of the front passenger's entry and exit, small cracks could develop in a seat detection mat. If this occurs, the front passenger air bags (with the exception of the head protection system) will be deactivated and the air bag warning lamp as well as the passenger air bag "on-off" lamp will be illuminated. -Continued

BMW said that its dealers will rework the front passenger seat sensor mat so that external force application to the seat does not cause a crack to the mat. The recall is expected to begin during late September 2008. The German carmaker also announced that it will extend the warranty on these vehicles to 10 years from first registration without any mileage limit.

Mercedes Recalling 52,740 ML & GL-Class Over Trailer Hitch… Glitch

More than 52,000 MY 2006-2008 Mercedes-Benz ML and GL-Class vehicles are being recalled no thanks to a faulty trailer hitch. According to the German carmaker, some of the weld seams connecting the trailer hitch receiver to the attachment bar used to secure the trailer hitch to the body frame do not meet performance specifications.

To put it simple, there’s a chance that the trailer hitch receiver could separate from the attachment bar, and that’s something you wouldn’t want to see happening. Mercedes-Benz warns the owners of the affected SUVs not to use the trailer hitch for any purpose until it has been repaired. If you have any questions, you can call Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Nissan Recalling MY 2005-2006 Titan, Armada and Infiniti QX56

The first recall of the month concerns 180,664 MY 2005-2006 Nissan Titan, Armada and Infiniti QX56 vehicles manufactured after March 17, 2005, that are equipped with a Visteon air conditioning condenser fan motor. According to the recall note, the fan motor may not be properly sealed allowing excessive water intrusion and insufficient drainage of moisture which could cause corrosion in the motor leading possibly to overheating and a fire. Nissan/Infiniti dealers will test the AC condenser fan motor and replace it if needed. The recall is expected to begin near the end of July 2008.

NHTSA Investigates Fire Hazard on 2.7 Million GM Trucks & SUVs

Federal regulators have began an investigation into more than 2.7 million SUVs and trucks built by General Motors between 2006 and 2008 after reports of 41 non-crash engine compartment fires, including 8 fires that may have caused significant property damage along with 16 cases where fires started while the vehicles were turned off. The probe covers 21 models sold by Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and Hummer.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) investigators are currently examining the electrical system, engine and engine cooling system, battery cables, under-hood wiring, fuses and circuit breakers. For the time being, NHTSA calls the probe an "engineering analysis", but this could eventually lead to a recall of all the affected General Motors vehicles. -See the affected models after the jump

GM vehicles under investigation:

• Cadillac Escalade ESV and EXT MY2007-2008,
• Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 MY2007-2008,
• Chevrolet Avalanche 2500, MY2007
• Chevrolet Silverado MY2007,
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 MY2007-2008,
• Chevrolet Surburban 1500 and 2500 MY2007-2008,
• Chevrolet Tahoe MY2007-2008,
• GMC Sierra, MY2008
• GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 MY2007-2008,
• GMC Sierra Classic, MY2007
• GMC Silverado, GMC Yukon MY2007,
• GMC Yukon XL 1500, XL 2500 MY2007-2008,
• Hummer H2 MY2006-2007,
• Hummer H2 Utility, MY2008
• Hummer H2 MY2006-2008.

Volvo Recalling XC90 and S80 Models Equipped with V8 Engines

Swedish carmaker Volvo is recalling 102 MY 2008 XC90 and S80 vehicles equipped with V8 engines as these models may have been built with incorrect bolts to the engine mount. The aluminium bracket for the engine mount could break due to lack of adequate clamping force allowing the engine to come in contact with the sub-frame, resulting in a reduced engine torque or stalling of the engine without prior warning. Volvo’s dealers will inspect the engine mount bolts for specific markings. If any of the bolts contain the incorrect markings, the bracket and bolts will be replaced free of cost.

Ford Recalling 605,684 F-150s and Lincoln Mark LTs over Brake Issues

More than 600,000 MY2005-2006 Ford F-150s and Lincoln Makr LTs equipped with 5.4L 3-Valve engines are being recalled due to a faulty brake booster vacuum supply hose. Over time, the hose that is attached to the intake manifold may swell and lose retention force, a condition that could allow the hose to become detached from the fitting during an intake manifold backfire.

If this happens, once the vacuum reserve is depleted drivers will no longer have power assist braking. They still will have foundation brake function, but with increased brake pedal effort –a scenario that most drivers will want to avoid. Ford is expected to begin the recall on or about July 7, 2008, but if you want to learn more, you can contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

Bentley Recalling 13,420 Vehicles!

What a drag; thousands of Bentley owners are having their cars recalled after it was discovered that there is a potential for road salt to corrode the outer surface of the fuel filter. This could lead to the filter housing becoming porous with a corresponding fuel leak, which in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire. The recall that affects 13,420 MY 2004-2008 Continental GT, Continental GT Speed, Continental Flying Spur, and Continental GTC vehicles is begin during June 2008.

Ferrari Recalling 612 Scagliettis with F1 Transmission

Italian sports carmaker Ferrari announced today that it will recall MY 2005 – 2007 612 Scaglietti vehicles equipped with F1 transmissions. The reason behind the recall is a faulty clutch sensor in the transmission that could malfunction under normal operating conditions due to the heat produced by the vehicle, resulting to improper function of the clutch assembly and making gear shifting very difficult. If you happen to be one of the 366 owners affected by the recall in the U.S., you may contact Ferrari at 1-201-816-2600.

Audi Recalling 68,240 A6 Quattro and AllRoad Quattro Models

More than 68,000 all-wheel-drive MY 2001-2004 Audi A6 Quattro vehicles equipped with 2.7L, 2.8L, or 3.0L engines and MY 2001-2005 Audi Allroad Quattro vehicles equipped with 2.7L or 4.2L engines are being recalled due to a fault in the gas tank.

In particular, the aging of the plastic material in the fuel tank rollover valve combined with bending stress from the aluminium ventilation line to the rollover valve nipple may lead to cracking of the nipple leading to a fuel leak. The recall is expected to begin on or before May 30, 2008 with Audi dealers either reinforcing the nipple on the rollover valve or repairing the cracking at the nipple.

BMW Recalling MY 2008 X5 SUVs

The Bavarian automaker has announced that it will be sending a recall letter to 55 MY 2008 X5 owners in the States for problems with the SUV's rear axle stabilizer (anti-sway bar). These particular X5s were equipped with a sports-suspension stabilizer instead of the standard suspension stabilizer on the rear axle. According to BMW, under certain driving conditions, such as high speed fast lane changes, the vehicle could experience a dangerous 'over-steer' behavior. BMW dealers will replace the rear axle stabilizer free of charge.

57,389 Saab 9-5 Models Recalled

Faulty A-pillar trims are the reason behind a relatively large recall of MY 2002-2009 Saab 9-5 models. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA), during compliance testing, one of the upper interior occupant protection test points exceeded the standard's requirements. In other words, occupants could hurt their heads in the event of an accident. Saab dealers will install a new A-pillar trim with improved energy-absorbing capability free of charge.

Hyundai Recalling MY 2006-2008 Sonata Models

A total of 393,714 MY 2006-2008 Hyundai Sonata vehicles are being recalled this month due to an issue with the passenger airbag system. In particular, the occupant classification system (OCS) in the right front seat which disables the air bag when it detects the presence of a child restraint system or small child may misclass a small stature adult as a child causing the air bag not to deployed in an accident.

The recall is expected to begin on or about May 26, 2008 with Hyundai dealers removing the right front seat cushion assembly and shipping it to an evaluation and repair facility.

662,178 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Pontiac Vibe Models Recalled

This month’s first recall concerns 662,178 MY 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix and subsequently its Pontiac sibling, Vibe due to a problem with the front electric powered windows. The driver and front passenger door glass bolts may loosen and come off, leading the door glass to separate from the window regulator.

This could cause the door glass to bind and shatter during operation of the power windows, causing driver distraction and/or injury. Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger door glass bolts with newly designed bolts free of charge.

Rusting Hyundai Sonatas Prompt Investigation as Suspension Corrosion Can Even Cause Wheels To Fall Off!

UPDATE: New Recall Over Same Issue for MY2001-2004 Sonata and XG300 & 350

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an official investigation on the Hyundai Sonata after receiving 40 individual complaints about front subframe corrosion in the 1999 through 2002 model year Sonatas.

There are 19 complaints for MY 1999 Sonatas, 16 for MY 2000, 3 for MY 2001 and 2 for MY 2002 with most of the complaints (35) from States that use large amounts of salt on the roads during snowy months.

NHTSA supports that the corrosion in the subframe is pretty severe as consumers have reported 'fist-sized holes in the frame'. According to NHTSA investigators, this can result to complete or partial suspension control arm detachment from the vehicle, wheel collapse or separation, half shaft detachment resulting in sudden vehicle disablement and/or steering anomalies. -Continued

Incident speeds range from 5 to 65 mph. NHTSA reports that one incident allegedly resulted in the vehicle becoming disabled in the traffic lanes of a parkway at night with the driver and child passengers stuck in the car while passing traffic swerved around the vehicle at high speeds.

Another complaint alleged the failure resulted in the vehicle becoming "stuck in the middle of a dangerous intersection" while a third complaint indicated that the vehicle was declared a total loss by the insurance carrier due to damage caused by the lower control arm completely separating from the frame, causing the half-shaft to detach from the transmission and resulting in damage to the wheel housing and quarter panel from the partially detached wheel.

Volvo Recalling 65,000 V70 & XC70 Cars in Europe

Approximately 65,000 2008 Model Year Volvo V70 and XC70 models will be recalled due to a software problem that delays that triggering of the side-impact air-bags. The recall affects models primarily sold in Europe and does not apply to owners in the U.S. and Canada.

"We will fine-tune the software that triggers the release of the inflatable curtain," said Volvo Cars spokeswoman Maria Bohlin. "Now we will send letters to all the owners of the affected cars and tell them to take the car to a mechanic to get this upgrade."

Toyota Recalls More Than Half-A-Million Corolla and Matrix Models

Toyota has launched a safety recall involving approximately 539,500 Corolla and Matrix vehicles sold in the U.S. The recall concerns 2003 and 2004 Model Year Corolla and Matrix models equipped with power windows. According to Toyota, the driver and front passenger door glass bolts may loosen and come off, causing the door glass to separate from the window regulator. Vehicles that are equipped with manual windows are not involved in this campaign.

The Japanese carmaker said in a statement released today that it will notify owners of the involved vehicles with a Special Service Campaign letter via first class mail beginning in late April. As usual, replacement of the driver and front passenger door glass bolts will be done at no charge to the owners of the vehicle.

GM Recalling Supercharged Buick Regal & Pontiac Grand Prix Sedans

Today’s recall concerns 207,542 MY 1997-2003 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8L supercharged V6 engine. According to GM, engine oil can leak from the valve cover and migrate during manoeuvres such as hard braking. If by any chance the oil reaches the hot exhaust manifold, it may ignite causing an underhood fire.

Unfortunately for the owners of the affected Regal and Grand Prix models, GM stated that that there’s a current shortage of spare parts. What GM recommends that owners do until sufficient parts become available, is that they take the following precautions:

1. It is strongly recommend that owners do not park their vehicle in a garage, car port, or other structure
2. If owners notice a burning odor, they should have their dealer inspect the vehicle. The dealer will inspect the vehicle without charge
3. Use premium fuel (91 octane or higher) in the vehicle as recommended in the vehicle's owner manual.

If you still have any questions, we’d advise you to contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080 or Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.

Volkswagen Recalling 410,000 Passats in the U.S.

German carmaker Volkswagen has announced a voluntary recall of all gasoline powered Passat models from 1999 through 2005. In particular, some Passat vehicles with an automatic transmission may have an underbody heat shield that could be subject to damage. If the damaged heat shield comes in contact with the vehicle’s exhaust system, it could create a potential safety risk.

Additionally, some Passats equipped with 1.8T engines have a fuel line that requires inspection and potential replacement. A small number of vehicles equipped with 4Motion all-wheel-drive will be inspected for potential damage to a fuel tank ventilation valve. According to VW, no accidents or injuries have been recorded. Owner notification is scheduled to begin by May 30, 2008.