Tag Archives: recall

Hyundai Recalls 27,500 Genesis Sedans

The Korean manufacturer will recall about 27,500 Genesis sedans from the 2009-2012 model years for a breaking problem.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the recalled cars since last Thursday. According to a Genesis spokesperson, the brake fluid, in these vehicles, may cause corrosion on brake control unit valves. A gel may build up on valves in the braking system, resulting a loss of brakes. This defect may reduce braking power. To fix this problem, dealers will replace the brake fluid. Some vehicles will have their control units replaced.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched the investigation because of complaints from 23 owners. Some owners reported brake pedal issues.  There have been reports of accidents related to this defect. Owners have also reported loss of control of the vehicle.  There are no reports of any injuries related to the defect.

Hyundai is fully cooperating with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s investigation. 69,000 Genesis models from these years were sold. About 60 percent of them have been repaired through a company service campaign. This company service campaign took place in March. Hyundai replaced brake fluid as part of a service campaign.

Owners of affected models will be notified of the recall by mail starting in November. Dealerships will provide a pickup service for affected cars.  Dealerships will also provide a loaner vehicle. Owners should call their local dealer to set up a time to get their car checked and repaired. The dealership will change brake fluid in cars and inspect electronic brake control modules.  The recall affects cars built from April 1, 2008 through March 16, 2012.

Thankfully, no one has been injured due to this defect. If you are ever injured in a car accident due to another individual’s negligence, you may want to hire an Orange County car accident lawyer. Car accidents can be quite serious. Injuries sustained from a car accident may require time away from work and extended physical therapy. Insurance may cover some of these costs, but a car accident lawyer can ensure that you receive maximum damages for your losses.

Contact the Law Offices of Dara Khajavi if you have any questions. Our expert car accident lawyers focus on negotiations so you can focus on your recovery.  Do not worry if money is an issue. There are absolutely no costs until your case is won. Call us today for a free consultation.

The Recall Process

The investigation and recall process has 4 steps. Before the investigation starts, it is important that all consumers report any safety complaints. Without these reports, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s, NHTSA, would not be able to recall any vehicles.

There are three ways to submit a complaint:

  • Send a paper report to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
  • Submit a complaint online
  • Call the vehicle safety hotline

Reports submitted are entered into the NHTSA consumer complaint automated database. The report is catalogued by vehicle make, model, model year, manufacturer, defect, assembly, and system. All of these complaints are listed online, without your personal information. If you file a complaint, an ODI investigator may contact you. The investigator will want to clarify information in your report. Check the ODI website or call the hotline if you have any questions. The ODI may launch an investigation based on the reports.

The ODI’s investigation process has four parts.

  • Screening

In the ODI, the Defects Assessment Division, DAD, is responsible for going through the reports, any emails, letters, anonymous reports, and manufacturer submitted information. The DAD will also investigate service bulletins, foreign recalls, customer satisfaction, and consumer advisories.

  • Petition Analysis

After screening, the ODI will deal with petitions. Anyone can submit a petition requesting that the NHTSA open an investigation into a possible safety defect.  The ODI will conduct a technical analysis of the petition. If the petition is granted, a defect investigation is opened. When the petition is denied, it is published in the Federal Register.

  • Investigation

There are two phases of the investigation: Preliminary Evaluation and the Engineering Analysis.

The first step is opened because of information submitted by DAD. During the Preliminary Evaluation stage, the ODI will obtain relevant info from the manufacturer. This information could be anything from complaints to reports of crashes. The first stage is an opportunity for the car manufacturer to defend their product. This stage usually only lasts for about four months. If the ODI believes that more investigation into the product is necessary, the office enters into the next phase.

The Engineering Analysis phase is the more intensive analysis phase. Investigators will determine the full scope of the alleged defects. There are inspections, tests, and surveys done. If the ODI determines that there is an alleged defect, investigators will present all the information to a panel of experts. The panel of experts will analyze all the information. If the panel decides that a recall is necessary, the ODI will notify the car manufacturer. This is the last opportunity for the car manufacturer to defend its product. If there is no further information, the ODI will send a Recall Request letter to the manufacturer.

  • Recall Management

The last step of the recall is Recall Management. The Recall Management Division (RMD) is responsible for maintaining administrative records of recalls and monitoring recalls to ensure that the scope is appropriate. If the recall is not effective, there may be another investigation into the recall.

If you are in an accident because of a recalled vehicle, you may want to contact a Santa Ana car accident lawyer.

Nissan and Honda Announce Recalls

Nissan is recalling 123,000 Altimas. Affected vehicles are being recalled because of an issue in the spare tire. The recall only affects 2013 model year Altimas produced before for about a year before March 26. Nissan’s spare tire supplier, Maxxis, had a faulty inflation gauge on an air pump. The air pump was over inflating or under inflating spare tires. Currently, Nissan does not know of any accidents or injuries related to this defect.

This defect has caused some tires to blow out. An increase of temperature can cause the air pressure in the spare tire to rise. This increase of air pressure may result in the tire blowing out in the truck. It may also result in a blowout while the driver is on the road. The problem was discovered when an owner of an affected vehicle brought in their vehicle to a dealership. Nissan was able to trace back the defect back to a malfunctioning pressure regulator and pressure gage. The defective equipment was found in a Canton, Mississippi. The equipment was repaired on March 26. Altimas produced after this date should not be affected by the recall.

Nissan asks that owners of affected cars take their vehicle to a dealership. The spare tire will be inspected and inflated properly. Any damaged spare tires will be replaced. Any repairs related to the defect will be done at no cost for the owners.

In another major recall, Honda is recalling more than 43,700 Honda Fit Sports. These vehicles are being recalled because of an issue with electronic stability control units. In these affected vehicles, the electronic stability control is not working correctly, which may increase the risk of accident. The electronic stability control system in affected Honda Fit Sport was designed to be compatible with Dunlop SP tires. The system is less effective with different tires. It fails to react as quickly to skidding.

The issue is a software problem with the central computer. Honda dealerships will fix the software issues at no cost for owners. Dealerships will begin fixing affected cars on May 17.

These recalls are the second recalls for both car manufacturers. If you are ever a victim of a car defect, do not hesitate to report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These complaints often lead to recalls. You should also contact a Santa Ana car accident lawyer.

Honda and Nissan Announce Recalls

The two Japanese car manufacturers are recalling several vehicles.

Honda is recalling 200,000 vehicles for a shift interlock issues. The recalled vehicles include sedans, crossovers, and minivans. Approximately 17,500 of the 2013 Acura RDX sedans are being recalled. 128,000 Honda CR-Vs is also being recalled. 59,000 Odyssey minivans are also affected by the recall. The Honda CR-Vs and Odyssey minivans affected by the recall were sold during the 2012 and 2013 model year.

In the recalled vehicles, the automatic transmission can be shifted out of park if the brake pedal is not depressed. This issue is more likely to occur in sub-freezing temperatures. The defect significantly increases the risk of an accident. Currently, Honda is not aware of any complaints, accidents, or injuries related to this issue.

Honda will begin notifying vehicle owners. The car manufacturer recommends that affected owners visit their local dealerships. The dealership will examine and fix the car if necessary at no cost for the owners.

Industry analysts state that this recall reflects the fact that many car manufactures use the same components in different products to reduce costs. This may reduce costs, but this strategy backfires if there is a defect in that product.

Nissan is recalling 19,000 vehicles for brake issues. 14,000 Pathfinders and 5,000 JXs from the 2013 model year are affected by this recall.

In the affected vehicles, part of the front brake caliper assembly, the brake torque member, was not cast properly. This issue could lead to premature failure and cracking. In the case that it breaks, the brake caliper may move and come in contact with the inside of the road wheel. This contact could affect braking therefore increasing the risk of a crash.

It is not clear whether there has been any crashes or injuries related to this problem. Nissan has stated that the recall was voluntary. When Nissan became aware of the safety problem, it informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of its recall plan. Affected Nissan owners should visit their local dealership. Recalled vehicles will be examined and fixed at no cost to the owners.

If you ever experience safety issues in your vehicle, do not hesitate to report the issue to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These complaints often lead to recalls. After reporting the issue, you will probably be contacted by the NHTSA for more information about the issue.

If the defect caused a car accident, you may also want to contact an Orange County car accident lawyer.

Hyundai and Kia Recalls 1.9 Million Cars

English: Hyundai Elantra

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hyundai and Kia are recalling approximately 1.9 million vehicles for brake and air bag issues.

Hyundai will recall 1,059,824 cars and SUVS for brake light issues. Kia is also recalling 623,658 vehicles from 2007 through 2011 to for the same brake light issues. Hyundai is also recalling an additional 186,254 Elantra cars from 2011 through 2013 for airbag issues.

This faulty brake light switch can be dangerous for four different reasons. One, the brake lights may not go on. This may increase the risk of car accidents. Secondly, the cruise control may not turn off when the driver presses the brake pedal. The driver has less control of the vehicle because of this defect. In the 3rd possible safety issue, the push-to-start buttons on vehicles equipped with push-to-start buttons may not work. Lastly, these vehicles have a safety feature that prevents drivers from shifting out of park. In vehicles affected by the recall, the safety feature may fail. It could also result in a vehicle rollaway. All of these problems could increase the risk of a car accident.

The Korean car manufacturer will notify owners of affected vehicles in the next two months. Hyundai and Kia will notify affected owners to visit their local dealership. Dealers will inspect cars and replace the switch at no cost for the owner. The new stop lamp switch will have the most recent technology improvements. Currently, it is not known if there have been crashes or injuries caused by this defect.

The Hyundai Elantra recall is for an air bag problem. Affected vehicles may have a support bracket that can come loose when the side air bags are inflated. This defects could cause injure car occupants. There has been a report of people being injured by this car defect. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was able to trace the problem specifically to cars with auto-dimming rear-view mirrors installed after arriving in the U.S. During installation of the mirrors, technicians may have dislodged the bracket.

Hyundai will notify owners. Affected owners can visit their local dealership. Dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to keep the brackets safely in place.

If you ever encounter any possible safety defects in your vehicle, do not hesitate to report to the National Highway of Traffic Safety Administration. These reports often lead to recalls. If you are ever in a car accident, contact an Orange County car accident lawyer.

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Federal Safety Agency Investigating 3 Car Companies

1.3 million Toyota, Ford, and Honda vehicles are being investigated. No recalls have been announced, but this investigation could lead to a recall.

Approximately 725,000 Ford cars and SUVs are being investigated. Vehicles under fire include Ford Escape, Mercury Marnier SUVs, Ford Fusion, and Mercury Milan from the model years 2009 through 2011. There have been different problems associated with these vehicles. The biggest safety issue is vehicle stalling. Ford and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have received 1,500 complaints about the problem. There have been three crashes and one injury related to this problem.

The American car manufacturer has reported that vehicles produced from June 22, 2009 to October 15, 2009 may contain faulty circuit boards that affect the throttles. After October 15, 2009, Ford changed its circuit board manufacturing process. According to Ford, the problem was resolved after this change.

Japanese car manufacturer, Toyota, is also being investigated. The Toyota Prius is being investigated. 561,000 Prius vehicles built between 2004 and 2009 are affected by the investigation. The federal investigation will be inspecting the vehicles’ steering shafts. The steering shafts may have been improperly assembled.

These affected vehicles were also part of another Toyota recall that also involved steering shaft issues. In the recall, 669,000 were recalled. The steering assembly of these vehicles could deform if the driver made frequent aggressive turns at low speeds. In another Prius recall, the Prius was recalled for steering related issues. The steering issues could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. A total of 170,000 vehicles were affected by this recall.

Japanese car manufacturer, Honda, is also under investigation. 87,000 Honda Pilots, produced in 2005, are affected by the investigation. The federal agency has received 205 reports of unexpected severe braking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes that this problem could be caused by a faulty sensor in the Vehicle Stability Assist system.

If you experience any safety issues with your vehicle, please do not hesitate to report it. Your report could save many lives. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration takes these complaints very seriously. These particular investigations were the result of nonprofit safety groups. If you experience a car accident because of a safety issue, you should also contact an Orange County car accident lawyer. Contact the Law Offices of Dara Khajavi, if you have any questions. There are absolutely no charges until your case is won.