Recalls galore

[The General]

When I read the following, I can't help be think: "they've been there and they've done that..." Manufacturers have seen some of these problems before, why do they have them again. My favorite example is Ford coil springs: Present generation Tauruses have the same problem as the Contours from the early 90s, same with the 1st generation Windstars.


NHTSA reported:

GM is asking owners of nearly 200,000 Buick Regal and Century cars built for the 1999 model year to return to dealerships to have their cars’ low-beam headlight bulbs replaced. GM determined that the original bulbs do not cast enough light upward for drivers to see overhead signs at night. That is a requirement of federal safety standards.

DaimlerChrysler AG is recalling nearly 700,000 minivans built for the 2002-04 model years. The upper power steering cooler hose must be replaced because the hose may split and leak power steering fluid. That can cause a fire under the hood, NHTSA says. The affected vehicles are the Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan and Chrysler Voyager and Town & Country. All have 3.3- or 3.8-liter V-6 engines.

Suzuki is recalling 2004 Veronas because of a problem with the fuel control system that can cause stalling. The electronic control module will need to be reprogrammed on 16,000 of those vehicles.

In 2004 BMW 7 Series vehicles, the advanced airbag system may not detect the presence of a person in the driver’s seat, causing the airbags and seat belt pretensioner not to deploy in a crash. BMW has recalled 3,900 of those vehicles.

A potential fire risk led to the recall of 2,300 2004 Dodge Rams equipped with 4.7-liter engines. In those vehicles, alternator wiring short-out potential creates a risk of fire under the hood. Clips will be installed on valve cover studs in those vehicles to solve the problem.

Several 2005 Chevrolet vehicles with 5.3-liter engines have been recalled because of possible fuel leaks. The company will replace fuel rail crossover tube retainer screws in Silverados, Suburbans, GMC Sierras and Yukon XLs.


Why can't they get it right the first time? :?:

[snoproblem]

Probably because the carmakers are pressuring their parts suppliers to manufacture the parts cheap, cheap ,cheap.

Well, you buy cheap, you get cheap, whether you're a customer at a department store, or a multi-billion-dollar corporation, negotiating with your suppliers. You'd think they'd invest more up front, to save aggravations afterwards.

Makes too much sense? :wink:

[The General]

Snoproblem, your logic is too simple and straight forward.

Shame on you for being intelligent.

[snoproblem]

Yeah, too bad auto execs don't feel that shame more often! :wink:

[The General]

If they would, they would be looking for new jobs...

[The General]

Chrysler continues the tradition:

"AUBURN HILLS — Chrysler Group is recalling 955,000 minivans in the United States — part of a global recall of 1.2 million — because an electrical problem could cause the driver's side airbag to fail.


Chrysler Group is recalling 955,000 minivans, including the 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan, because of possible airbag failure.

The vehicles affected are the Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and Grand Voyager and Chrysler Town & Country from the 1998-2000 model years, Chrysler said Monday.

Four people have been injured in crashes because of the defect, according to records submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There also have been 782 complaints about the defect to Chrysler and NHTSA.

The defect involves a clock spring that supplies current to the driver's side airbag, the horn and the cruise control. If the clock spring is working properly, the airbag warning light will illuminate for a few seconds when the vehicle is started and then go out. If the airbag warning light isn't working properly, the clock spring may have failed.

"We are voluntarily treating this issue as a safety recall to increase the likelihood that owners will take action to have it repaired," said Curtrise Garner, a Chrysler spokeswoman.

Garner said Chrysler would begin notifying customers about the recall this week. Dealers will replace the clock spring for free on vehicles with fewer than 70,000 miles. The company will extend the warranty on the clock spring for vehicles with more than 70,000 miles.

Chrysler recalled 1996-1998 minivans in 2002 for the same defect, NHTSA said.

Safety restraint systems are among the most common components cited in recalls."

[snoproblem]

Sometimes I wonder if airbags are even worth it. The airbag failed to deploy in the the one auto mishap I was in. ( flipped into a ditch in a snowstorm) That was a '91 Ford Aerostar.

I think the big automakers ought to think about coming up with a common airbag design, used by everybody. That way, engineers could focus on perfecting one design only.

Who knows, maybe the flippin' thing might actually work! :evil:

[The General]

As far as I know, everyone is using SRS generation II air bags now.

The reason for air bags, again as far as I know, was to make up for the poor seatblet wearing habits of many many drivers...

[snoproblem]

What gives, then? It makes me a little uncomfortable to have a device like this, practically in my lap, that behaves as erratically as it does. People have gotten hurt and killed because either it didn't go off, or it went off when it shouldn't .

And they call it a 'safety' device! :evil:

[The General]

Air bags are one of the main reasons, for now, why I don't buy recent cars.

[snoproblem]

:o Just remembered something!

If airbags really do bother you a lot, General, there are after-market solutions. People can get disable switches installed for their air-bag systems. I don't know about Montreal, but it can be done in the GTA. I'm tempted to go that way myself. 8)

[The General]

In Quebec, you need a special permission from the SAAQ (MOT or DOT depending on where you live) to have the air bags deactivated. You need to be to short, handicaped or something of the sort.

If you do not have the special permission, and you get into an accident, and you're hurt, you're not going to be covered.

[snoproblem]

Bummer. :(

Actually, in Ontario, I think there's a little more latitude on the issue, but I'd have to do a little research to know for sure.

[The General]

I'd be surprised... The safety device exists to help (apparently).

[rivsy]

i'm not offering my opinion of airbags per se , but one would be absolutely nuts to de activate an airbag in a car equipped with one...think of the liability...if you had a passenger who was injured , some lawyer would have you dragged through court for all your worth in the blink of an eye.

[rivsy]

...and that is pecisely why you would be very hard pressed to find anyone to install a suppression switch or pull a fuse even for you...when airbags started to become standard equipment we wouldn't de-activate even if someone offered to sign a waiver etc., because the potential liability is not worth it.

[The General]

In Quebec, for those with the permission, there are garages that will do the work.

Certainly if you remove the airbag or its fuse and you get into an accident and/or injure a passenger that was not aware of the modification, you will be sued.

The same can be said about the garage that does the modification.

I'm sorry if I'm repeating what was said before, I just wanted make it a little clearer.