If you own a Nissan, Toyota, Chrysler, Honda, or Ford, you’ll want to know about these new recalls.
More Airbag Problems
More than 2 millions Toyota, Chrysler, and Honda vehicles are being recalled because airbags may deploy suddenly even if there is no crash. This problem was supposed to have been fixed in an earlier recall, but the issue persists. According to an article in the New York Times: “Federal regulators said replacement parts might not be fully available until the end of the year.” (Seriously? The end of the year? It’s only February!)
The recalled vehicles are:
- Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix (2003-2004)
- Avalon (2003-2004)
- Pontiac Vibe (2003-2004)
- Acura MDX (2003)
- Honda Odyssey (2003-2004)
- Jeep Liberty (2002-2003)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee (2002-2004)
- Dodge Viper (2003-2004)
Toyota is also recalling about 52,000 Avalons (2011-2012) because a wire for the stereo system in the trunk could short circuit and cause a fire. (Toyota press release)
Nissan
Nissan is recalling 640,000 vehicles for two highly dangerous problems: fire hazard, and the hood can possibly open up while the vehicle is moving.
The fire hazard recall is for Nissan Rogue (2008-2013). If a driver carries a “mixture of snow and water and salt” into the car on his or her shoes, the mixture can seep into the carpet, reach an electrical connection and cause a “thermal incident.” It sounds crazy, but it’s a real risk.
The malfunctioning hood latch is found in the Nissan Pathfinder (2013-2014), Pathfinder Hybrid (2014), Infinity JX35 (2013), Infinity QX60 (2014), and Infinity QX60 Hybrid (2014). Apparently, the cable for the secondary hood latch is too short and can prevent latching. (Nissan report to NHTSA)
Ford
The car maker is recalling more than 200,000 vehicles: Ford Taurus (2010-2013), Lincoln MKS, and Ford Police Interceptors. A faulty door latch might cause a door to open during a crash. (Ford press release)
What to Do
If you own one of these vehicles, contact your car dealer to find out exactly how the recall issues will be taken care of. These are potentially deadly problems–at least five people have died as a result of faulty airbag deployment, and many others have been injured. Don’t wait for the car company to contact you. Be proactive. Be noisy. Be the squeaky wheel that gets your car taken care of as quickly as possible.