GM Recalling 22,000 Corvette C6s Because... Targa Top Could Fly Off

Owners of Chevrolet Corvette Coupes from the 2005-2007 model years and Corvette Z06s from the 2005-2006 model years equipped with a detachable roof panel will soon have to pay a visit to their local dealers as GM is recalling approximately 20,090 Vettes over a problem with the top.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the adhesive between the roof panel and the frame may separate either partially, in which case the driver may notice one or more symptoms, such as a snapping noise when going over bumps, wind noise and poor roof panel fit, or worst case scenario, the targa top may completely detach from the vehicle - no need to explain the dangers in this case...

General Motors said that the safety recall on the Corvette C6 is expected to begin sometime in January 2010 with dealers installing a newly designed roof panel free of charge. For more information, owners can contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or at www.gmownercenter.com.

L.A. Times Investigation Claims Toyota Has Been Keeping a Lid on Potential Safety Problems

In the wake of Toyota's recent recall of a record 4.26 million vehicles in the United States because the gas pedal can get stuck in the floor mats and cause sudden acceleration, the Los Angeles Times has posted an article that portrays the Japanese automaker as a company that has habitually delayed or even covered up safety recalls and tried to put the blame on human error in cases where owners claimed vehicle defects.

The lengthy LA Times story investigates several cases going back almost a decade and examines how Toyota has dealt with recalls that concern safety issues in recent years.

Among the cases reported is a "dangerous steering defect in vehicles including the 4Runner" that was allegedly known by Toyota for years before a recall was issued in Japan in 2004, while it took the company another year or so to address the problem in the States, despite "having received dozens of complaints from drivers."

The newspaper notes that Toyota tried to avoid problems by paying cash settlements to people who claimed "their vehicles went out of control, sometimes causing serious accidents", according to consumers and their lawyers.

The LA Times report also finds that the sudden acceleration issue is not a new one and that it has been around for nearly a decade as a computerized search of NHTSA records found that Toyota has issued a total of eight recalls in relation to this problem since the beginning of 2000.

To its defense, Toyota sent a written statement to the newspaper saying that it has done its best to keep government officials and consumers informed about any potential safety problems with its vehicles.

"Toyota has absolutely not minimized public awareness of any defect or issue with respect to its vehicles," the company told the LA Times.

You can check out the complete LA Times story by clicking the link below.

Source: LA Times - Thanks for the tip Obsidian!

Fatal Accident Prompts Toyota and Lexus to Warn Drivers to Remove Floormat Due to Risk of Accelerator Getting Stuck

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Toyota have eleased an official announcement to warn drivers of seven Toyota and Lexus models that there's a possibility that the accelerator pedal may get stuck in the full open position due to an "unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat." Even though it may not sound serious at first, Reuters reported that the U.S. government said it has received reports of 100 incidents related to this problem including 17 crashes and 5 fatalities involving Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

In one of these accidents, it was reported that an off-duty California state trooper and three members of his family were killed in a 2009 Lexus ES350 crash in San Diego. Reuters said that before the crash, a passenger of the ES350 has called the police to inform them that the accelerator was jammed and the car had reached 120mph (193km/h) at that time.

Although the San Diego incident is still under investigation, meaning that it is not yet confirmed that the floormat is to blame, Toyota said that it wanted to take precautionary measures on the matter.

"Obviously the tragic accident in San Diego was certainly an eye opener for all of us and we've paid very, very diligent attention to moving forward to try to make sure none of us will be reliving that kind of a very tragic situation," said Toyota spokesman Irv Miller.

Overall, Toyota is planning to issue a safety recall on around 3.8 million vehicles due to the issue with the driver's floor mat.

The affected Toyota models are the 2007-2010 Camry, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2004-2009 Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma and 2007-2010 Tundra.

The Lexus modes affected by the recall are the 2007-2010 ES 350 and 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS 350 sedans.

Surprisingly, this is not the first time that Toyota has faced a problem with the driver's floormat as in September 2007, the firm recalled an accessory all-weather floor mat sold for use in 2007 and 2008MY Lexus ES 350 and Toyota Camry sedans because of similar issues.

The Japanese company said that until it "develops a remedy", it is asking the owners of the above models to "take out any removable driver's floor mat and NOT replace it with any other floor mat."

In the case that drivers are confronted with a jammed accelerator pedal, here's what Toyota recommends that they do:

From Toyota and Lexus Press Release: Should the vehicle continue to accelerate rapidly after releasing the accelerator pedal, this could be an indication of floor mat interference. If this occurs, Toyota recommends the driver take the following actions:

First, if it is possible and safe to do so, pull back the floor mat and dislodge it from the accelerator pedal; then pull over and stop the vehicle.

If the floor mat cannot be dislodged, then firmly and steadily step on the brake pedal with both feet. Do NOT pump the brake pedal repeatedly as this will increase the effort required to slow the vehicle.

Shift the transmission gear selector to the Neutral (N) position and use the brakes to make a controlled stop at the side of the road and turn off the engine.

If unable to put the vehicle in Neutral, turn the engine OFF, or to ACC. This will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost.

-If the vehicle is equipped with an Engine Start/Stop button, firmly and steadily push the button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine. Do NOT tap the Engine Start/Stop button.

-If the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position to turn off the engine. Do NOT remove the key from the ignition as this will lock the steering wheel.

Via: Toyota & Lexus, NHTSA and Reuters

2010 Nissan Altima Sedan Photo Leaks Online after Pre-Production Recall!

Nissan may have wanted to keep the 2010 Altima -mostly- under covers for a week or so, but a full blown picture of the redesigned version of the sedan made its way onto the internet today along with the news that the Japanese firm is recalling 26,398 Altimas and Maximas from the 2009 and 2010 model years, including some 2010 Altimas that never went on sale, due to a potential safety issue regarding the front struts.

The new photo confirms that the 2010 Altima sedan gets a new front grille, tweaked headlamps that look a bit like the ones featured on the now discontinued 350Z, a restyled front bumper with three separate air-intakes and a more sculpted hood plus new alloy wheel designs.

From what we've heard, it won't be long before Nissan officially released detailed information and photos on both the sedan and coupe variants of the 2010MY Altima.

Kudos to Mehdi - Via: Altima Forums , Motortrend and Autonews

2009 NISSAN ALTIMA vs 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA

VW and Audi Models Recalled Over Two Separate DSG Problems

Volkswagen Group of America has issued two separate recall for numerous Audi and VW models equipped with its DSG dual-clutch transmission. The first recall involves 16,000 2009-2010MY cars manufactured between September 2008 and August 2009. The models affected are Audi's A3, TT Coupe and Roadster, plus VW's Eos and Jetta Sedan and SportWagen. In this case, a faulty temperature sensor could cause the DSG transmission to shift into neutral while the vehicle is being driven.

The company said that it will contact owners of the affected models so they can take the cars to local dealers for any necessary repairs free of charge.

The second recall affects approximately 43,000 Volkswagens and 10,300 Audis of the 2007-2009 model years including the VW R32, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, GTI, Eos, as well as the Audi A3 and TT.

According to the German automaker, some customers reported transmission performance issues under certain driving conditions. Volkswagen claims that the problem was caused by a faulty component inside the Mechatronic unit. The company will repair or replace the components in the transmissions of the affected models free of charge.

Furthermore, VW said that it will extend its New Vehicle Limited Warranty to cover the DSG transmissions affected by the customer service program and the voluntary safety recall. According to the company, the extended warranty is for 10-years/100,000-miles and can be transferred to subsequent owners of the cars.

"Safety, customer satisfaction, quality and long-term reliability are top priorities at Volkswagen and Audi. We have been studying the symptoms customers have reported, and are working closely with the NHTSA," said Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO, VWGoA. "We listened to our customers' concerns, and are taking action to address them. We are focused on taking all the appropriate actions to ensure the complete satisfaction of our existing customers."

Wobbly Roof Spoiler Prompts Recall of 14,000+ VW Touareg SUVs

Volkswagen's U.S. division has issued a recall notice on 14,416 Touareg SUVs from the 2007-2009 model year. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, on these particular models, the fastening struts on the roof spoiler may crack, causing the spoiler to become loose and quite possibly, fall off from the vehicle without any warning at all. The German automaker said that its dealers will install reinforcement wedges to the roof edge spoiler on the affected models free of charge.

Volvo Recalling Thousands of S80, V70 and XC70 Models

More than 17,600 MY2008-2009 Volvo S80 sedans, V70 station-wagons and XC70 crossovers are being recalled in the States because of a potential problem with the engine cooling fan. The Swedish automaker said that due to a software programming error in the fan control module, the engine cooling fan may stop working. Depending on conditions, the driver could face reduced air conditioning performance, and/or a rapid increase in engine coolant temperature.

The recall is expected to begin in July with Volvo dealers replacing the fan control module on the affected vehicles free of charge. Concerned owners may contact Volvo for more information directly at 1-800-458-1552.

Kia Optima Also Recalled Over Rust Problems

Same maker (aka the Hyundai Group), same problem (potentially excessive corrosion of the front sub-frame), different car. What initially started out in April 2008 as a recall for the 1999-2002MY Hyundai Sonata sedans over rust-related issues, has spread out to a number of models throughout the Hyundai and Kia range. In addition to the Hyundai Sonata '99-'02, XG300 and XG350 '01-'04, Elantra '01-'03, Coupe '03 and the Santa Fe '01-'03, the South Korean automaker has now issued a recall for a total of 36,538 MY2001-2004 Kia Optima sedans sold in the so-called 'Salt-Belt' states.

Again, the recall is centered around the internal corrosion of the front subframe caused by the winter application of salt on the roads. According to NHTSA, if the problem is not fixed, over time, the corrosion of the front subframe could lead to the detachment of the lower control arm. Owners of the affected cars can contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542 for more detailed information on the recall.

Lotus Elise and Exige Recall Affects Most Tesla Roadster Models

As most of you may already know, the all-electric Tesla Roadster is based on the Lotus Elise with which its shares numerous parts including the rear hub flange bolts that have been deemed defective. According to the NHTSA, on some vehicles the bolts may be under-torqued and could become loose. The two companies issued separate notifications on the matter with Tesla saying that the recall affects 345 Roadster models manufactured between March 2008 and April 22, 2009 (out of a total of 400 cars sold until May 2009) while Lotus is recalling 27 Elise and Exige vehicles built from January 14 through May 5, 2009.

Both recalls are expected to begin in June. Tesla owners may contact the company at 1-877-888-3752 while Exige and Elise drivers can call Lotus at 1-800-245-6887.

GM Recalling 35,000 Pontiac G8s Over Minor Electronic Glitches

As many as 35,038 2008-2009 model year Pontiac G8 sport sedan owners will be receiving recall notices soon from GM to tackle two separate electronic glitches on their cars. The first problem concerns the brake pedal position switch that could be incorrectly programmed causing the brake lamps to be continually illuminated. General Motors also noticed that some cars may have incorrect values programmed into the tire pressure monitoring system meaning that drivers will not be notified about low tire pressure. GM's dealers will reprogram both the brake position sensor and the tire pressure monitoring system on the affected vehicles free of charge.

VW Jetta 2.0 TFSI MY2006-2009 Recall Alert: Driveshaft Could Detach from Gearbox...

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration -NHSTA for short- has issued a recall of more than 25,500 fifth-generation Volkswagen Jetta cars from the 2006-2009 model year, equipped with a 2.0-liter TFSI engine. According to the NHTSA, VW is concerned about the quality of the fastening screws on the driveshaft cover plate as they may not have been torqued properly during assembly and could loosen over time.

In fact, VW says that the screws could loosen to the point where the driveshaft detaches from the gearbox. The German firm's U.S. dealers will replace the screws on the affected models free of charge. The recall is expected to begin around mid-June.

First Recall for the 2010 Chevy Camaro

The new Camaro has only just gone on sale in the U.S., but General Motors has already issued the first recall on the retro-styled pony car. The recall concerns 1,243 V8-powered Camaros over an issue with the battery cable. Turns out that the positive battery cable has been positioned too close to the starter motor housing. According to GM, the cable may come in contact with the starter motor, wearing the insulation and potentially causing the vehicle to stall without the ability to restart, or even result in an engine compartment fire, though no such case has been reported.

General Motors said that its dealers will reroute the positive battery cable to ensure adequate clearance. If you happen to own a new Camaro with the new V8 engine, you can call Chevy at 1-800-630-2438 for more detailed information.

Volvo Recalling Thousands of S80, V70 and XC70 Vehicles

It's recall time for Volvo as the Swedish automaker has detected a faulty diagnostic software in the central electronic module (CEM) on the MY 2007-2008 S80, V70 and XC70 models. Volvo said that the software problem could cause the windshield wipers to not operate when activated or in certain cases they may be activated when not switched on. Overall, some 12,300 S80s, V70s and XC70s are affected from this recall. Beginning from May, Volvo dealers will inspect the CEM and if required, upgrade the software free of charge.

Mercedes-Benz Recalling 16,130 MY09 M-Class SUVs in the U.S.

A faulty seal around the rear-tail lamp assembly is behind Mercedes-Benz's latest recall that concerns 16,130 M2009 M-Class SUVs in the USA equipped with the optional power lift gate. The German automaker said that the seal could allow water to enter the rear compartment that contains the spare tire and the control unit for the power lift gate. This could lead to the disabling of the power lift gate motor as well as to a short circuit that could result to a fire.

Merc dealers will replace the seal of the rear tail lamp assembly with a thicker one and reposition the affected power lift gate control unit inside the chassis. The recall is expected to begin during April 2009.

Honda Recalling 2009MY Odyssey Minivans in the U.S.

Owners of the 2009MY Honda Odyssey minivan need to pay attention as the Japanese firm is recalling 421 vehicles in the States over a problem with the braking system. According to Honda, during assembly, incorrect front brake hoses were installed on these particular cars. The brake hose may come in contact with the caliper bolt and over time a hole may develop allowing the brake fluid to leak and consequently, result in reduced brake system performance. Honda's dealers will inspect both front brake hoses and replace with the correct brake hoses free of charge.

New 2009 Mazda6 Receives its first Recall

Approximately 29,000 MY2009 Mazda6 cars are being recalled in the States due to a problem with the outer door handles that may not latch correctly allowing the door to open while the vehicle is in motion. In an official announcement, Mazda said that its U.S. dealers will inspect the 6's door handles and if necessary, repair or replace the handles free of charge. The recall is expected to begin before the end of February. Concerned owners may contact Mazda for more information directly at 1-800-222-5500.

Ferrari Recalling 1,950 F430 Spiders over Roof Top System Leak

It's not often that we hear about recalls from exotic marques like Ferrari, not because they don't have problems, but simply due to the fact that there aren't many out there. In one of those rare 'occasions', Ferrari is getting ready to send a letter to 1,950 MY 2005-2007 F430 Spider owners in the U.S. over a problem with the hydraulic hoses for the convertible top that are located inside of the engine compartment. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) said that the engine heat could cause cracks to the hoses leading in fluid leakage.

In this case, the fluids may leak into the engine compartment causing smoke and quite possibly, a fire. Ferrari's U.S. dealers will install protective heat shields over the convertible top hydraulic lines to insulate them from the heat of the engine compartment. Understandably, this service will be performed free of charge.

Toyota Recalls 134,900 Yaris in the States

Approximately 134,900 Yaris vehicles are being recalled in the U.S. over a seat belt pretensioner issue. On 2006 through 2007 model year Yaris, the Japanese automaker determined that the driver's and front passenger's seat belt pretensioner deployment could affect the sound insulating foam in the center pillar, after a collision. Toyota said that it will begin informing owners of the affected models from early February. According to Toyota, the repair will take approximately one hour, depending on the dealer's workload.

Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione Recalled Along with Maseratis in the US

A few dozens of extremely fortunate American owners of one of the world's hottest sports cars, the Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione, will have to return their Italian beauty for a quick fix after it was discovered that certain models were manufactured with incorrectly torqued front and rear suspension upper and lower ball joint nuts. The recall also affects MY 2008 Maserati Gran Turismo and Quattroporte which share the same platform with the Alfa.

Overall, 7,912 Maseratis and Alfa 8c Competiziones will be recalled in the States. While the Italian automaker did not reveal specific numbers, we do know for a fact that only 84 Alfas were allocated in the U.S.

Maserati said that the incorrectly torqued ball joint nuts may loosen with consequent steering wheel vibration, a growing metallic noise and progressive loss of driving precision in the transients. According to the Italian automaker, continued use of the vehicle in these conditions may lead to damage of the suspension lever, which in the long term and depending on vehicle usage, may cause the ball joint/suspension arm to break.

The firm's dealers will inspect the torque of the front/rear upper and lower ball joint nuts and, if necessary, replace the suspension arms and hub carrier. The recall is expected to begin during February 2009. Concerned U.S. owners may contact Maserati for more information at 1-201-816-2600.

Lexus Recalling 214,500 LS, IS and GS Sedans in the USA

Approximately 214,500 Lexus car owners in the U.S. are to receive a recall notification in their mail box over the next few weeks. The Japanese automaker determined that on certain 2006 through 2008 model year GS300/350, IS250/350, and LS460/460L vehicles, some ethanol fuels with a low moisture content may corrode the internal surface of the fuel delivery pipes. Over time, this condition could lead to the creation of a pinhole in the fuel delivery pipes resulting in fuel leakage. As one would expect, Lexus dealers will replace the fuel delivery pipes with newly designed components at no extra cost.