The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced its plans to require automakers and motorcycle manufacturers to provide consumers with a free online tool that will enable them to search recall information by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) starting next year. Many manufacturers already do this, but some don’t — like…
Honda Motors will expand a recall of its Honda Fit hatchback to include another 48,000 vehicles due to an issue with the stability control software. The original recall took place in April after it was discovered the car’s software may allow its body to “roll too much before intervening, possibly causing the driver to lose…
This morning, a huge billboard adjacent to one of the largest Toyota dealerships in the country, located on a busy street in San Diego, went up with this image: http://www.usedcarnightmare.org/ Views of the YouTube video, embedded in this website, have taken off, and it’s now received over 525,000 views, and the numbers are rapidly rising….
MINI Cooper. Owners/lessees and certain prior owners/lessees of the 2007-2009 MINI Cooper R56 (“Cooper Hardtop”) and 2008-2009 MINI Cooper R55 (“Cooper Clubman”). A defect with the timing chain tensioner can cause sudden engine failure at even high speeds. The Timing Chain Tensioner is a component that maintains proper tension of the guide rails against the…
Jeep Liberty or Jeep Cherokee. Owners/lessees and certain prior owners/lessees of 2005-2007 Jeep Liberty or Jeep Cherokee models should be aware of a potential window mechanism defect. There appears to be a defect in the window regulators, lift plates and related mechanisms that causes the windows to bind, stick, tip forward, chatter and fall to…
Ford Ecoboost. Owners/lessees and certain prior owners/lessees of 2010-2013 Ford vehicles containing a 3.5L V6 Ecoboost Engine should be aware of a potential engine defect may cause the vehicle to suddenly limp or stall. Ford’s Ecoboost engine utilizes a “Charge Air Cooler” to cool the engine and conserve gas. As moisture collects in the cooler,…
Ford Fusion and C-Max Hybrids. Owners/lessees of Model Year 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid and C-Max Hybrid vehicles should be aware that independent testing performed by Consumer Reports indicates that the Vehicles’ EPA-reported gas mileage far overstates the actual mileage achieved by the Vehicles. Ford marketing materials assert that the Vehicles have an EPA-reported gas mileage…
BMW. Owners/lessees and certain prior owners/lessees of certain BMW vehicles should be aware of a potential design defect that allows water to enter the vehicle’s trunk and potentially damage electronics. Because of the design of the vehicles’ drainage system, as well as certain other design issues, water may enter into and collect in your trunk,…
Lemon Alert: 2011-2012 Ford Focus/Fiesta transmission cases are piling up, but Ford is fighting consumers seeking buybacks. The transmissions all seem to exhibit the same problems: a shudder going from 1-2 gear; an grinding/rubbing noise on turns, and just all around poor transmission performance
