Potential Number of Units Affected: 9667

SUMMARY: VOLVO IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2010 XC60 VEHICLES. THE DRIVER’S SEAT SIDE COVER PANEL (SEAT CONTROL PANEL) IN CERTAIN DRIVER’S SIDE IMPACTS MAY RELEASE THE ATTACHMENT OF THE SEATBELT TO THE SEAT FRAME.

CONSEQUENCE: SHOULD THIS CONDITION OCCUR IN A CRASH THE SEATBELT MAY FAIL TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY. 

REMEDY: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER’S SEAT SIDE COVER PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 15, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Toyota has announced a solution to fix a sudden acceleration safety issue involving floor mats trapping accelerator pedals in various Toyota and Lexus models. Toyota plans to reconfigure the accelerator pedal (gas pedal), and in some cases the shape of the floor surface under the pedal, to address the risk of pedal entrapment due to floor mat interference, particularly with regard to inappropriate or improperly attached floor mats.

At the same time, Toyota will develop replacement pedals for these vehicles, which will become available for some models in April 2010. Toyota will provide owners with the new pedal, when it becomes available, even if the vehicle has already received the modified pedal under the recall.
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SUMMARY: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR WHEEL DRIVE. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITHOUT A FRONT WHEEL SPINDLE NUT. Yikes!!! Come on, Dodge. Get it together!

CONSEQUENCE: WHILE DRIVING, A TIRE AND WHEEL SEPARATION COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND IF FOUND WITHOUT A SPINDLE NUT IT WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-835-1403.

SUMMARY: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH MASTER CYLINDERS. BRAKE FLUID MAY LEAK FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. IF THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR DECREASES TO BELOW THE MINIMUM LEVEL, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WILL ILLUMINATE AS DESIGNED AND THE BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. 

CONSEQUENCE: IF THE WARNING LAMP IS CONTINUOUSLY IGNORED, ONE OF THE BRAKE CIRCUITS ON THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCES AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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If you or someone you know owns a 2006-2010 Audi A3, TT or TT Roadster, get that car back to an Audi dealer before someone gets hurt!

SUMMARY: VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 AUDI A3, TT, AND TT ROADSTER PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 AND AUGUST 26, 2009. THE CLOSING FORCE OF AN INTERNAL SPRING OF THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE IS NOT ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO HOLD THE VALVE CLOSED UNDER EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS POSSIBLY ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.

CONSEQUENCE: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.
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Toyota, the world’s largest car maker, is recalling almost four million vehicles in the US due to the risk of the gas pedals in some Toyotas could become caught under the edge of floor mats causing the accelerator to stick. The move came after a family in San Diego died in a terrifying 120mph crash when the accelerator on their Lexus became stuck. The family made a frantic emergency call telling police they could not slow the vehicle down.
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Summary: VOLVO IS RECALLING YEAR 2008-2010 S80, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 XC70 AND XC60 VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE SOFTWARE WITHIN THE CENTRAL ELECTRONIC MODULE (CEM) MAY NOT SEND A SIGNAL TO THE FUEL PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE (PEM). THIS MISSING SIGNAL TO THE PEM INHIBITS THE START OF THE FUEL PUMP. THE DRIVER MAY BE ABLE TO START THE ENGINE IN SPITE OF THE FUEL PUMP NOT BEING ACTIVATED DUE TO RESIDUAL PRESSURE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. IN SOME CASES, THE DRIVER MAY BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE A SHORT DISTANCE AT IDLE BUT THEN THE ENGINE MAY STALL.
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BMW has issued a recall for the 2009 Z4 30i and 35i vehicles according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall is due to a defective crimp connector in a belt tensioner wiring plug. The defective connector could lead to increased electrical resistance of that connection, which could cause the seat belt tensioner to not deploy in a crash. This could lead to injury of the seat’s occupant.

Owners may contact the automaker at 800-831-1117. They may also reach the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

The Honda Motor Company just announced that it expanded a previous recall from late last year and is now adding nearly a half-million—about 440,000—cars that could contain a dangerous and deadly airbag defect.

The affected Honda models include the 2001-2002 Honda Accord, the 2001 Civic, and the 2002-2003 Acura TL. The potential airbag defect has resulted in six injuries and one death. Acura is Honda’s luxury brand automobile.

A recall notice will be sent to registered owners of the vehicles involved in the recall, with customers likeliest to experience a problem contacted first. F*%k that! Take your car into a Honda dealership ASAP!

If you or someone you know owns a 2007-2009 Touareg, get that car back to a VW dealer before someone gets hurt!

SUMMARY: VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 14,416 YEAR 2007-2009 TOUAREG VEHICLES. THE FASTENING STRUTS ON THE ROOF EDGE SPOILER CAN CRACK, CAUSING THE SPOILER TO BECOME LOOSE AND POSSIBLY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING, EVEN THOUGH INITIALLY THE SPOILER MAY FEEL SECURE. Whoa!

CONSEQUENCE: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SPOILER COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. That is s-c-a-r-y!
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SUMMARY: BMW IS RECALLING MY 2009 X5 AND X6 VEHICLES. THE REAR BRAKE DISCS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. AS A RESULT, A REDUCTION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE AT THE AFFECTED REAR WHEEL COULD OCCUR. 

CONSEQUENCE: IN AN EXTREME CASE, THE AFFECTED REAR BRAKE DISC COULD BREAK RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKING AT THAT WHEEL INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCES AND THE RISK OF A CRASH.

REMEDY: THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED THE AGENCY WITH A REMEDY OR NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

What!? So Soon? That is saaad.

PROBLEM: GM’s much awaited 2010 Chevrolet Camaro has only been on dealership floors for a few weeks but the car has already suffered its first recall due to an exposed power cable.  The issue lies in the V8 Camaro’s battery, V6s are fine.

CONSEQUENCE: The faulty battery may prevent the Camaro from starting up, cut off power during driving, or even spark a fire in the engine compartment.
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PROBLEM: TOYOTA IS RECALLING 1,281 MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2009 SIENNA, 2004 LAND CRUISER, AND 2009 LEXUS GX PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT ON THE TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL AND THE GVWR ON THE CERTIFICATION LABEL IS INSUFFICIENT FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES.

CONSEQUENCE: INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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PROBLEM: THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SWITCH MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY PROGRAMMED. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE BRAKE LAMPS MAY BE CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATED AND FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING.

CONSEQUENCE: INAPPROPRIATE, NON-STANDARD LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR DRIVING ON A SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER-INFLATED TIRE CAUSES THE TIRE TO OVERHEAT AND CAN LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE.

REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE BRAKE POSITION SENSOR AND THE REMOTE CONTROL DOOR LOCK RECEIVER WITH THE CORRECT VALUES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JUNE 5, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GM PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

PROBLEM: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 37,407 2009 DODGE RAM LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL (MTC) ONLY. THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMED INTO THE HEATING VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING MODULE MAY CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING FUNCTIONS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. 

CONSEQUENCE: THIS CAN DECREASE THE DRIVER’S VISIBILITY UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS AND RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE HVAC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-835-1403. CHRYSLER RECALL NO. J12. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
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VEHICLES RECALLED

2007 KIA AMANTI
2007 KIA RONDO
2006-2007 KIA SEDONA
2006-2007 KIA SORENTO
2006-2007 KIA SPORTAGE 

Problem: THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. ON SOME OCCASIONS, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE SHIFTER CANNOT BE MOVED FROM THE PARK (P) POSITION.

Consequence: THE MALFUNCTION OF THE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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Again and again and again and again…

Models Affected:
1997-2003 Buick Regal
2000-2003 Chevrolet Impala
1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina
1998-2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix

THE PROBLEM: Apparently, some of these GM engines can drop oil onto the exhaust manifold during hard braking.

CONSEQUENCE: If that manifold has gotten hot enough and the oil dribbles below the heat shield, it can start a small fire. The flames can then engulf the plastic spark plug wire channel, potentially resulting in a full-on engine compartment fire.
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THE PROBLEM: Dodge is recalling about 17,000 2009 Dodge Journey SUVs due to an electrical problem that poses a fire risk. This is the third time the Journey has been recalled in its short lifespan. A new model for 2009, the Journey was recalled over a similar but unrelated wiring problem last June. Tsk tsk tsk… a new car off on a bad start.

CONSEQUENCE: If a fuse  doesn’t blow, the connector may overheat and catch fire.
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THE PROBLEM: Mercedes-Benz is recalling 16,130 2009 M-Class W164 Passenger vehicles equipped with the optional power life gate. The faulty seal around the rear tail lamp assembly, water may enter the rear compartment containing the spare tire.

CONSEQUENCE: Water will cause a short circuit which could lead to a fire.

REMEDY: 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. Recall expected to begin April 2009.
Owners can also contact NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

THE PROBLEM: Chrysler’s recalling 2009 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 trucks heavy duty cab chassis equipped with FTE automotive manual transmission and power adjustable pedal package. The clutch pedal connecting rod to the clutch master cylinder may seperate from the master cylinder.

CONSEQUENCE: Increased stopping distance and engine stalling will occur increasing the risk of crash.

REMEDY:  Dealers will replace the clutch master cylinder hydraulic system free of charge. Recall expected to begin in March 2009. Owners can contact CHRYSLER at 1-800-853-1403.