APRIL 2000 Safety Recalls

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released a list of auto safety recalls announced in April 2000 and urged consumers to have the problems fixed promptly.

The list identifies the make and model of the vehicle or equipment involved, with a brief description of the safety problem.

NHTSA said it is publicizing the recalls to alert consumers about safety problems and encourages them to take action. Under federal law, safety problems must be remedied without cost to consumers. Currently, 72 percent of the owners of vehicles with safety problems have the recall work performed.

NHTSA said manufacturers are required to mail a recall notice to all purchasers, owners and dealers when a safety defect or noncompliance with federal safety standards is found. The agency urges owners to wait until they receive notification from the manufacturer before contacting their dealers to schedule the repair work. Not all vehicles of a particular make and model may be subject to the recall.

Consumers can get up-to-the-minute information on safety recall campaigns, or information on the recall history of a particular make and model of car, truck, motorcycle, or child safety seat, by calling the agency’s toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). The Hotline also can be used to report safety problems.

American Honda Motor Company
Models: Honda Odyssey Years: 1999-2000
Number Involved:  7,085
Dates of Manufacture:  December 1999 - January 2000

Defect:   On certain minivans, the sliding doors may not latch properly because the latches were not correctly riveted during manufacture.

Remedy:  Dealers will replace the door latch assembly on all Odyssey minvans built from Dec. 10, 1999 through Jan. 7, 2000. Also included in this recall are approximately 1,400 Odyssey minivans that had the latches replaced under recall 99V-158 or under warranty, that may need to have the latches replaced again. Owners of these vehicles will be notified by Honda to bring the vehicle to their Honda dealer for inspection of the previously replaced latch assembly. Latches with the suspect date code will be replaced. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification will begin June 22, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V119]

DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Models: Jeep Cherokee Years: 1997-1999
Number Involved:  391,623
Dates of Manufacture:  July 1996 - June 1999

Defect:   On certain sport utility vehicles, water or road salt in the proximity of the air bag control module could lead to corrosion. Such corrosion can lead to illumination of the air bag warning light or could allow inadvertent deployment of the air bags.

Remedy:   Dealers will replace the air bag control module and locate the new module on the top of the transmission tunnel. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began May 15, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chrysler at 1-800-992-1997.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V105/Chrysler Recall No. 860]

DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Models: Dodge Dakota Years: 1991-1992
Number Involved:  123,000
Dates of Manufacture:  September 1990 - August 1992

Defect:   On certain pickup trucks equipped with A500 automatic transmissions, inadvertent placement of the shift lever in "reverse" can occur when the driver believes that the transmission as been placed in "park." This can cause the vehicle to roll away with the engine on after the driver has left the vehicle.

Remedy:   Dealers will replace the steel manual valve in the transmission with an aluminum version. The manufacturer reported that owner notification was to begin during May 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chrysler at 1-800-992-1997.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V106/Chrysler Recall No. 871]

DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Models: Dodge Ram Years: 1998-2000
Number Involved:  357,000
Dates of Manufacture:  January 1998 - September 1999

Defect:   On certain pickup trucks equipped with optional trailer hitch, the trailer hitch side brackets were manufactured using material of insufficient strength. Brackets built without proper material could fatigue and fracture in the area where the trailer hitch mounts to the frame.

Remedy:  Dealers will inspect the trailer hitches and replace any trailer hitch showing signs of fatigue cracking. If no evidence of cracking exists, the dealer will install two reinforcement brackets. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began April 24, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chrysler at 1-800-992-1997.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V107/Chrysler Recall No. 872]

Ford Motor Company
Models: Ford Econoline E350 Years: 1999-2000
Number Involved:  3,300
Dates of Manufacture:  August 1998 - December 1999

Defect:  On certain cutaways and stripped chassis with single rear wheels, the lug nuts can potentially bottom out on the shoulder of the studs. If this occurs, there will be inadequate clamp load to attach the wheel to the axle hub, resulting in noise, damage to the wheel and hub, and possibly loss of the rear wheel while the vehicle is being driven.

Remedy:  Dealers will replace the rear wheel attaching studs. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during May 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V115/Ford Recall No.00S08]

General Motors Corporation
Models: Chevrolet Corvette Years: 1997-2000
Number Involved:  71,569
Dates of Manufacture:  October 1996 - August 1999

Defect:  On these passenger vehicles, the lap belt webbing can twist, allowing the webbing to become jammed in the retractor. When the belt webbing becomes jammed in the retractor, the seat belt may be unusable.

Remedy:  Dealers will install inserts to the belt web guide of each lap belt retractor. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during May 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V111/GM Recall No. 00034]

General Motors Corporation
Models: Buick LeSabre Year: 2000
Buick Park Avenue Year: 2000
Pontiac Bonneville Year: 2000
Cadillac Seville Year: 2000
Cadillac Deville Year: 2000
Oldsmobile Intrigue Year: 2000
Oldsmobile Aurora Year: 2001
Number Involved:  8,132
Dates of Manufacture:  January 2000

Defect:  Some of these passenger vehicles have internal fluid leaks in the brake hydraulic control unit. When the rear brake proportioning, antilock brake, traction control, or stability control feature is activated in some driving situations, the feature may not perform as designed.

Remedy:  Dealers will inspect the ABS hydraulic modulator unit and, if necessary, replace the hydraulic modulator. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during May 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, Oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or Cadillac at 1-800-458-8006.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V114/GM Recall No. 00035]

General Motors Corporation
Models: Buick Park Avenue Years: 1997-1998
Number Involved:  77,952
Dates of Manufacture:  April 1996 - October 1997

Defect:  Some of these passenger vehicles have front seat shoulder belts that may twist, allowing the webbing to become jammed in the retractor. When the shoulder belt webbing becomes jammed in the retractor, the seat belt may be unusable.

Remedy:  Dealers will inspect for the presence of updated front shoulder belt bezels and where necessary, install new front seat shoulder belt opening bezel kits. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification will begin during July 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V117/GM Recall No. 00039]

Gulf States Toyota
Models: Gulf States Toyota Tundra Years: 1999-2000
Number Involved:  7,000
Dates of Manufacture:  April 1999 - March 2000

Defect:  On certain pickup trucks distributed by Gulf States Toyota and equipped with a Tekonsha trailer hitch wiring harness and converter, an electrical short circuit can occur if water enters the converter housing. This short circuit could cause a failure of the converter, and if a trailer is being towed at the time, can also cause inoperative trailer lights.

Remedy:  Dealers will replace the wire harness and converter. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during May 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Gulf States Toyota at 1-800-444-1074.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V103]

Isuzu Motors Limited
Models: Isuzu Rodeo Year: 1999
Number Involved:  72,752
Dates of Manufacture:  July 1998 - October 1999

Noncompliance:  These sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the performance requirements of FMVSS No. 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact." In the event of a crash, personal injury could occur.

Remedy:  Dealers will modify the interior of the vehicle. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during May 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Isuzu at 1-734-455-7595.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V121001]

Mazda (North America), Inc.
Models: Mazda MPV Year: 2000
Number Involved:  39,095
Dates of Manufacture:  March 1999 - March 2000

Noncompliance:  These minivans do not have tire information labels that comply with Section 5.3 of FMVSS No. 120, "Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other than Passenger Cars."

Remedy:   Owners will be sent accurate tire information labels and owner manual inserts. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification will begin during June 2000. Owners who do not receive the tire information labels and owner manual inserts within a reasonable time should contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V113001/Mazda Recall No.90006]

Mazda (North America), Inc.
Models: Mazda MPV Year: 2000
Number Involved:  19,526
Dates of Manufacture:  March 1999 - March 2000

Noncompliance:   Certain minivans equipped with original equipment 16-inch tires do not have the correct recommended cold inflation pressure on the label and thus do not comply with Section 5.1.2 of FMVSS No. 120, "Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other than Passenger Cars."

Remedy:   Owners will be sent accurate tire information labels and owner manual inserts. In addition, owners of MPV's with 16-inch tires will be advised to check their tire pressure to make sure that the tires are inflated to 35 psi. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification will begin during June 2000 Owners who do not receive the tire information labels and owner manual inserts within a reasonable time should contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.

[NHTSA Recall No.00V113002/Mazda Recall No. 90006]

Mazda (North America), Inc.
Models: Mazda Protege Year: 1995
Number Involved:  79,000
Dates of Manufacture:  June 1994 - July 1995

Defect:   The headlights on certain passenger vehicles may blink as a result of headlight switch lead wire damage before the complete loss of headlights.

Remedy:  Dealers will repair the headlight switch. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification will begin during July 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V118/Mazda Recall No. 91007]

Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Models: Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Years: 1999-2000
Number Involved:  2,734
Dates of Manufacture:  September 1998 - February 2000

Defect:   Some of these passenger vehicles, incorrect programming of the electronic logic unit can cause an incorrect fuel level. The vehicle could run out of fuel, causing a loss of power.

Remedy:  Dealers will update the software in the Instrument Cluster so that the fuel level and the range of remaining fuel are determined and displayed correctly. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began April 14, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Porsche at 1-800-545-8039.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V109]

SCHOOL BUSES AND MOTOR HOMES
Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.
Models: Fleetwood Jamboree Years: 1996-2000
Fleetwood Tioga Years: 1996-2000
Fleetwood Montara Years: 1996-1997
Number Involved:  3,897
Dates of Manufacture:  July 1995 - April 2000

Noncompliance:  Certain motor homes are equipped with a spare wheel with insufficient weight carrying capacity when matched to a maximum loaded tire. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 120, "Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other than Passenger Cars." Premature wheel failure can result in a loss of vehicle control.

Remedy:  Dealers will replace the spare wheel with a new higher capacity wheel. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began May 3, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Fleetwood at 1-800-322-8216.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00V104/Fleetwood Recall No. 00229]

EQUIPMENT:

Basic Comfort, Inc.
Models: Basic Comfort Galaxy 2000 and Galaxy 2000 with backs
Number Involved:  2,061
Dates of Manufacture:  November 1998 - January 1999

Noncompliance:  Certain booster seats (Models 960 and 961) were manufactured with defective polystyrene backs and cushions which were not subjected to steam pressure in the molding process for an adequate period of time, resulting in the inner polystyrene beads not completely bonding. These seats do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, "Child Restraint Systems." The final material is more porous than normal (brittle) and weaker in tensile strength. In the event of a vehicle crash, the child seat backs and cushions may experience a complete separation of a load bearing part of the booster seat.

Remedy:  Consumers will be sent free replacement parts along with installation instructions. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began April 26, 2000. Owners who do not receive a free remedy kit within a reasonable time should contact Basic Comfort at 1-800-640-8469.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00E018]

Reese Products, Inc.
Models: Reese Trailer Hitch
Number Involved:  5,800
Dates of Manufacture:  August 1999 - April 2000

Defect:  Aftermarket trailer hitch ball mount components, Parts Nos. 65509, 67509, 61009, and ball mount 58112, can break without warning. If the ball mount breaks, the tongue of the trailer can fall to the ground, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy:   Purchasers of these aftermarket trailer hitches should contact their dealers or Reese products at 1-800-758-0869 to have the trailer hitch replaced free of charge. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during May 2000.

[NHTSA Recall No. 00E021]