Toyota and Lexus Hybrids Recalled Over Stalling Issues

A problem with the electronics of the hybrid system, which could cause certain Lexus RX 400h and Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUVs to lose power or stop running, is the reason behind the Japanese carmaker’s latest recall.

Toyota said about 45,500 Highlander Hybrid and 36,700 Lexus RX 400h vehicles from the 2006 and 2007 model years sold in the USA are affected by the voluntary recall.

According to the automaker, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) located inside the Hybrid System Inverter contains a control board with transistors that may have been “inadequately soldered and could be damaged from heat caused by a large current flow during high-load driving”.

Toyota said if the transistors are damaged, then the various warning lamps will illuminate on the instrument panel and in most cases, the vehicle will enter a fail-safe driving mode, resulting in reduced power in which the vehicle can still be driven for short distances. In some cases though the power supply circuit fuse could blow bringing the vehicle to complete stop.

The company noted that it does not have the necessary replacement parts readily available but is working on obtaining them. Toyota said it will notify owners once the replacement parts have been “produced in sufficient quantities”.

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GM Recalling 47,401 Cadillac SRX Crossovers Over Airbag Software Issue

A potential issue with an air-curtain air bag that may not deploy during a crash has prompted the U.S. recall of 47,401 Cadillac SRX crossovers from the 2011 model year. For the same reason, 3,099 vehicles are being recalled in Mexico and Canada, with GM stating that the problem is only in North America.

The Detroit automaker said the car’s computer is programmed to turn off the right side roof-rail airbag if someone is not sitting in the front passenger seat thus not protecting the rear occupants in the event of a crash. GM said it will reprogramme the system to allow the air-curtain to open even if the front passenger seat is not occupied. The company added that it is not aware of any injuries or complaints related to this issue.

As expected, GM’s dealers will reprogram the sensing and diagnostic module free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about June 17, 2011

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Toyota Recalling 106,000 Prius Hybrids Globally Over Steering Wheel Issue

The newest Toyota recall affects approximately 106,000 Prius hybrids globally built from 2001 to 2003 for a fault with the electric power steering system. The Japanese automaker said the voluntary action affects around 52,000 Prius models sold in the United States.

“If the steering wheel is repeatedly and strongly turned to the full-lock position, there is a possibility the nuts securing the pinion shaft in the steering gear box assembly may become loose,” Toyota said in a statement. The company added that if the owner leaves the condition uncorrected, over time they will gradually notice significant increased steering effort when making a left turn.

Toyota said its dealers will install “improved nuts” that secure the pinion shaft at no charge, with the repair expected to take approximately 4 hours. Owners of the affected models in the U.S. will be notified by first class mail in early July, 2011.

In a separate action, Toyota’s US division also announced a recall for 34 Venza AWD and 16 Sienna AWD vehicles from the 2011MY to replace an insufficiently heat treated front right-hand driveshaft.

“Due to insufficient heat treatment, there is a possibility that the front right-hand driveshaft may break,” said Toyota adding that if this happens, engine power will not be transferred to the wheels and the vehicle will roll to a stop. This recall is expected to begin in June.

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Citroen C3 Picasso Recalled in the UK because the Brakes can be Activated from the Passenger Side!

Citroen announced it will recall over 20,000 C3 Picasso models sold in the United Kingdom for a rather unusual reason. It seems that the car's brakes can be activated accidentally by the front passenger when pushing their feet into the footwell! The discovery was made by a BBC TV show called Watchdog that was alerted about the problem from a cleaning company owning three C3 Picassos.

The reason for this malfunction is a manufacturing flaw occurring in France during the right-hand drive assembly of the C3 Picasso for the UK market. Even though the brake pedal is switched to the right, it remains connected to a mechanism on the left passenger side, BBC's Watchdog explained. It was discovered that the mechanism was covered only by a thin piece of felt, and that it could be easily activated by the passenger’s feet.

"It's potentially very dangerous indeed because the passenger wouldn't know he's the one activating the brake. The driver wouldn't know what's going on, and the people behind wouldn't know what's going on,” said motor engineer expert Mark Brown, who closely examined the cars.

The British program tested two C3 Picassos on sale at dealerships in the UK and found that both featured this problem.

In response, Citroen said there had been no reports of this problem before the Watchdog show, but said it will issue a recall action. "The recall will require the fitment of an additional component to isolate the braking mechanism from the front seat passenger," the company announced in a statement, adding the modification will be free of charge at Citroen dealers.

By Dan Mihalascu

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Audi A6, S6 and RS6 Models Recalled Over Valve Nipple Crack Fears

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] has released a recall notice for certain model year 2001-2004 Audi A6, 2002-2003MY S6 and 2003MY RS6 vehicles equipped with 4.2-liter V8 engines and manufactured from June 19, 2001, through June 8, 2004. Overall, 5,992 A6, S6 and RS6 models are being recalled in the States over a potential problem with a part described by the company as the rollover valve nipple.

Audi told the NHTSA that, “the aging of the plastic material in the fuel tank rollover valve combined with bending stress from the aluminum ventilation line to the rollover valve nipple may lead to cracking of the nipple”. The German automaker added that this issue could result into a fuel leak and possibly lead to a vehicle fire if there’s an ignition source.

The recall is expected to begin in June, 2011, with Audi planning to deal with the problem by reinforcing the nipple on the rollover valve and if necessary, repair any cracks.

*EU-Spec Audi S6, RS6 shown in photo gallery

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Kia Recalling Spectra Models Over Fears that the Fuel Tank May…Fall Off

South Korea’s Kia Motors said Friday it will recall certain Spectra LD vehicles from the 2004-2007 model year in the United States over a corrosion issue that could cause the fuel tank to fall from the car. The recall covers 58,322 Kia Spectra models build from November 7, 2003, through March 6, 2007, and sold or currently registered in states that rely heavily on road salt to melt ice in the winter.

The states are Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

The automaker informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] there’s a chance that due to prolonged exposure to salt, the fuel tank straps which hold the tank may rust and the tank can fall to the ground, causing a fuel leak and possibly a fire.

Kia said that its dealers will replace the fuel tank straps and attaching hardware with new zinc coated parts, with the service being performed free of charge. The automaker told the NHTSA that safety recall is expected to begin during June 2011.

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GM Issues Recall for 2011 U.S.-spec Chevrolet Cruze Models

After the initial 2,100 inspections triggered by a detached steering wheel, General Motors announced a new recall involving 154,112 units of the 2011 model year Cruze - pretty much all models built for North America since production started in summer 2010.

The reason for this action is related to a steering issue as well, with GM saying it wants to check that the steering shaft was properly installed. The company didn't say whether or not the two recalls are related, but added it will use the latest one action to check on another issue that might affect some 120,000 models with automatic transmission. In this case, GM wants to verify whether the transmission shift linkage was properly installed.

GM stressed in a statement that “very few” of the recalled models should have both problems and that it has already made quality process changes to make sure neither error occurs again. According to a GM spokesman, the steering shaft issue was discovered when a customer lost steering control in a parking lot, without being involved in any type of accident. As for the automatic transmission problem, the carmaker says it was discovered when customers brought in their cars under warranty.

The company added that no accidents or injuries related to the Cruze recall have been reported. Built in Lordstown, Ohio for the U.S. and Canadian markets, the compact sedan was GM's second best selling vehicle in April.

By Dan Mihalascu

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