General Motors, in conjunction with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), has recalled some Chevrolet Captiva model cars due to a power steering fluid leak that could lead to a fire. The recall is for 3,150 units manufactured from October 2, 2009 through April 21, 2011.
When the Captiva is operated in manual mode in first gear, the engine and power steering operate at a higher speed than is normal. This results in excess heat that is transferred to the power steering fluid. The power steering fluid can get so hot that it reaches the pump reservoir’s melting point. Also, after prolonged and repeated exposure to high fluid temperatures, the reservoir could leak flammable fluid, which may catch on fire when near an ignition source.
Owners of affected cars will be notified about the problem by General Motors in January 2012. Replacement parts are expected to be available in March 2012. Owners will be able to bring their vehicles to dealers and have the power steering fluid cooler replaced with an improved model.
If the vehicle you purchased has problems that cannot be repaired after multiple attempts it may be a lemon. For help with your lemon vehicle, contact Southern California Lemon Law attorney Howard D. Silver at (866) 49-LEMON for a free consultation about your problem.
On the same day, Ford has announced two separate recalls through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The first recall is for a faulty slider in the switch that controls the rear lights on several models of Ford trucks and SUVs. The recall affects parts delivered to dealers for 2002-2007 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 regular and Super Duty trucks as well as 2002-2005 Excursions. For 2004-2011 Ranger trucks, Ford is recalling parts sent to dealers as well as 2011 vehicles built between January 25, 2011 and April 25, 2011. If the slider in the switch for these vehicles malfunctions, it may cause the rear turn signal, tail lights, hazard lights and brake lights to stop working.
The second Ford recall is for 2007 Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego vehicles that were manufactured between September 5, 2006 and September 11, 2006. The vehicles may have inconsistent welds between the fuel tank and the fuel filler neck spud. This weakens the joint and could result in a crack which might cause the emissions malfunction indicator light to come on, cause a fuel odor or allow fuel to leak out.
In both recalls, dealers will provide free replacement parts to correct the problem. For more information on either recall, contact the Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
If you have purchased a new car in California which has needed repairs for the same problem multiple times, you may have purchased a lemon. California lemon law attorney, Howard D. Silver, can help you determine if your car qualifies for relief under the CA lemon law and defend your rights as a consumer. Call 1-866-49-LEMON today for a free consultation.
At the end of June, General Motors LLC issued a recall of 2011 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado passenger vehicles. The affected vehicles have a 2.9 or 3.7 liter engine and a four-speed automatic transmission, but fail to conform to requirements set by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 102, “Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect.”
Affected vehicles could have been built with an automatic transmission adjustment clip that may not retain the proper position of the shift cable. If the shift cable is not in the proper position, the prndl shift lever may not show the position of the transmission gear accurately. The driver may be able to move the shifter into park and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear itself may not be in park. As a consequence, the vehicle may not be able to be restarted, and may roll away while the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle.
The recall is expected to begin in mid-July. Owners of an affected vehicle will be instructed to take the vehicle to a GM dealer for a new automatic transmission adjustment clip to be installed at no cost.
Consumers with questions may contact GMC at 1-866-996-9463 and/or Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, or the Vehicle Safety Hotline of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-888-327-4236 or visit http://www.safercar.gov.
If you have purchased a car in California but the vehicle is plagued with persistent problems that impair its use, value, or safety, the vehicle may be a lemon. To learn whether you qualify for a replacement vehicle or a refund of your money under the lemon law in California, contact attorney Howard D. Silver at 1-866-49-LEMON.
On June 15, Mazda announced a recall of 103,300 vehicles due to a problem with the windshield wiper motor. The ground terminal on the motor may have been bent during the manufacturing process. If that happened, the electrical resistance of the motor circuit may increase to a level that would cause the windshield wipers to stop working. While no injuries have been reported in relation to the malfunction, loss of windshield wiper use in stormy weather could increase the risk of a crash. Mazda has so far received 132 reports of the wiper motor defect in cars sold in North America, China, Japan, and Europe.
The recall involves 2008 and 2009 Mazda3 and MazdaSpeed3 cars that were manufactured between January 7, 2008 and November 28, 2008. Owners of vehicles that may be affected will be contacted by Mazda around July 15. Owners will be able to take their car to a dealer to have an additional ground wire harness installed for free. If you have questions about the recall or want more information, call the Mazda customer assistance center at 1-800-222-5500 or contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
In California, if a defect in a vehicle affects its use, value or safety, it may be a lemon. California lemon law attorney, Howard D. Silver can help you determine whether or not your vehicle is a lemon and help you navigate through the process of resolving the issue. Mr. Silver is knowledgeable about the details and complexities of California lemon laws and will help you get the best possible outcome for your situation. Call 1-866-49-LEMON today.
The Chrysler Group LLC recently announced the recall of approximately 11, 351 of its vehicles due to a steering column problem.
The following vehicles are included in the recall:
- Jeep Wrangler
- Jeep Patriot
- Jeep Liberty
- Jeep Compass
- Dodger Caliber
- Dodge Nitro
- Dodge Journey
- Dodge Grand Caravan
- Dodge Avenger
- Chrysler Town & Country
- Chrysler 200 convertible
- Chrysler 200
All vehicles included in the recall are from the 2011 model year, and may have been built with a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet. A rivet that is missing or not installed correctly may compromise the steering column’s ability to support the load of occupants should a frontal crash occur, and decreases the efficiency of the frontal impact safety system. This condition may increase the potential for occupants suffering injury in the event of a front-impact accident.
To remedy the defect, dealers will inspect the affected vehicles for rivet presence and alignment, and repair the steering column pivot if needed. The repair will be free of charge for consumers. Owners of the affected vehicles are instructed to contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403 for more information. They can also contact the Vehicle Safety Hotline of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-888-327-4236 or visit http://www.safercar.gov.
When a vehicle has a defect that impairs its use, value, or safety, it might be a lemon, particularly if a reasonable number of repair attempts have been made yet the non-conformity continues to exist. Lemon law lawyer Howard D. Silver has focused on protecting consumers’ rights under California’s lemon law since 1987, and can help you understand your legal options if you believe your vehicle is a lemon. Call 1-866-49-LEMON to learn more.
There has been a recent proliferation of lawsuits being filed against major auto manufacturers for defects with their vehicles. The most recent, high profile situation involves Toyota Motor Corporation, which has recalled almost 20 million cars this year due to problems with involuntary acceleration. In fact, The Dallas Morning News reports that coupled with more systemic financial woes affecting most major auto manufacturers, juries may be inclined to award large settlements to plaintiffs in these cases.
Lawsuits against auto manufacturers had been on a downward trend the last few years, owing in part to the bankruptcies of GM and Chrysler. However, the industry’s economic recovery in recent months has spurred a renewed wave of defect-related lawsuits. The last major wave of these types of suits coincided with the Ford and Firestone tire recall in 1998.
Government agency sanctioned recalls lend further strength to defect-related lawsuits, as plaintiffs are able to use manufacturer response time to consumer complaints during litigation. The increase in consumer lawsuits will almost certainly encourage car companies to tighten safety monitoring in the hopes of avoiding further financial losses in the future.
If you believe your car suffers from a manufacturing-related defect, you may be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer. The knowledgeable California lemon law attorneys at the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver have the experience and skill to defend your rights and ensure that you are adequately compensated. Call our offices today for a free consultation about your case at (866) 46-LEMON.
The Kia Soul is currently under investigation for a possible manufacturing defect that could result in complete loss of driver steering and limited braking capabilities, Reuters reports. The NHTSA received a complaint from an owner of a two-month-old Soul that the steering shaft detached from the steering wheel of the vehicle, completely inhibiting the driver’s ability to steer. The broken shaft fell to the driver’s side floor and blocked the vehicle’s brake pedal, further compounding the car’s loss of control.
The NHTSA often waits until receiving multiple complaints about similar defects before launching a preliminary investigation. However, the agency determined that this particular case warranted pre-emptive action because the vehicle was so new and had so little use, and the problem was unlikely to have been caused by excessive wear to the part.
Kia, which is an affiliate of the Korea-based Hyundai Motor Company, has indicated that it is fully cooperating with the NHTSA investigation and is committed to ensuring the safety of all Kia vehicles. If a recall were issued, it would cover more than 51,000 vehicles.
California residents are protected by some of the most comprehensive and strongest consumer protection laws in the United States. Under these laws, a new car owner who has been sold a defective product may be entitled to free repairs, a refund or, in some cases, a replacement vehicle. If your new car has required repeated repairs and the problem has not been able to be fixed, contact the Southern California auto lemon law attorneys at the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver for a free consultation about your case by calling (866) 46-LEMON.
