April 2002 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 2002 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,1-888-327-4236. The Hotline also can be used to report safety
problems.
SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGNS
CARS, VANS, LIGHT
DUTY TRUCKS AND MOTORCYCLES
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Models:
Jeep Wrangler
Years: 2000-2002
Jeep Cherokee
Years: 2000-2001
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Years: 1999-2002
Number Involved: 1,115,322
Dates of Manufacture: June 1998 – March 2002
Defect: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with
4.0L engines, the design of the intake and exhaust manifolds could allow
debris to accumulate at the #3 cylinder location, possibly resulting in a
vehicle fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install a manifold shield to modify
the airflow characteristics and to prevent the accumulation of debris in
the area of the #3 cylinder. The manufacturer has reported that
owner notification began May 13, 2002. Owners who do not
receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact
DaimlerChrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
[NHTSA
Recall No. 02V104/DaimlerChrysler Recall No. B06]
Ford Motor Company
Models:
Ford Windstar
Years: 1995-1996
Number Involved: 250,283
Dates of Manufacture: January 1994 – May 1996
Defect: Affected vehicles are certain minivans built at
the Oakville Assembly Plant and sold or currently registered in the states
of 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. During assembly, some brake
lines were installed in a twisted position, causing contact with the dash
panel insulator above the catalytic converter. This contact could
abrade the brake line corrosion protection; consequently, salt or water
absorbed in the dash panel insulator could promote corrosion. This
corrosion could ultimately lead to a leak in the brake line. Leaking
brake fluid will result in brake light activation. Extended stopping
distance could also result, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake line for corrosion and
clearance conditions. A brake line that is not corroded will be
repositioned. A brake line that is corroded or leaking will be
replaced with a nylon coated brake line and secured using three retaining
clips to assure clearance from the insulator. The manufacturer has
reported that owner notification began May 10, 2002. Owners who do
not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford
at 1-866-436-7332.
[NHTSA Recall No. 02V101/Ford Recall No. 02S36]
General Motors Corporation
Models:
Chevrolet Malibu
Year: 2002
Number Involved: 10,168
Dates of Manufacture: February 2002
Noncompliance: Certain passenger vehicles fail to
conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, “Lamps,
Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.” Some of these
vehicles were produced with a left low-beam headlamp that does not meet
the photometric performance requirements of the standard. Light
intensities below the minimum intensity requirements cause reduction in
visibility down the road for the driver of the vehicle and intensities
above the maximum intensity requirements cause increase in glare for
drivers ahead of or approaching the vehicle.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect the left low-beam headlamp and replace the headlamp
if it does not meet requirements. The manufacturer has reported that
owner notification began May 23, 2002. Owners who do not receive the
free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chevrolet at
1-800-222-1020.
[NHTSA Recall No.
02V107/GM Recall No. 02015]
General Motors Corporation
Models:
Chevrolet TrailBlazer
Year: 2002
GMC Envoy
Year: 2002
Oldsmobile Bravada
Year: 2002
Number Involved: 60,044
Dates of Manufacture: September – November 2001
Defect: On certain sport utility vehicles, a fuel filter
fitting can become disconnected. If this were to occur while
attempting to start the engine, a no-start condition would result and fuel
would be pumped out onto the ground. If the fitting becomes
disconnected while the vehicle is in motion, the engine would stop due to
inadequate fuel supply and cause a loss of power steering assist. If
an ignition source were present, fuel leakage from a disconnected fuel
filter fitting could result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel filter quick connect
retainers. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification
began May 20, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within
a reasonable time should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, GMC at
1-800-462-8782, or Oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
[NHTSA Recall No.
02V121/GM Recall No. 02016]
Hyundai Motor America
Models:
Hyundai XG300
Year: 2001
Hyundai Sonata
Years: 1999-2001
Number Involved: 145,355
Dates of Manufacture: March 1998 – July 2001
Defect: On certain passenger vehicles, an intermittent
condition that leads to illumination of the Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) air bag warning light could result from motion of the side
impact air bag wiring harness and side impact air bag wiring harness
connector, which mount to the adjustable seat cushion assembly. This
condition relates only to the side impact air bags and could prevent
air bag deployment during a crash where such deployment should occur.
Non-deployment of the SRS side impact air bag could increase the risk of
injury during a side impact crash.
Remedy: Dealers will more securely fasten the side
impact air bag wiring harnesses and connectors to the vehicle’s front
seat cushion frames. The manufacturer has reported that owner
notification began May 28, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free
label and inserts within a reasonable time should contact Hyundai at
1-800-633-5151.
[NHTSA Recall No.
02V105/Hyundai Recall No. 052]
Mitsubishi America
Models:
Mitsubishi Diamante
Year: 2002
Number Involved: 3,885
Dates of Manufacture: August – November 2001
Defect: On certain passenger vehicles, the main under hood
electrical wiring harness may have insufficient clearance between the
engine control harness and the exhaust heat shield. As a result, the
harness could come in contact with the heat shield, which could result in
melting of the harness insulation. The melting of the harness
insulation could result in grounding of the crank angle sensor wiring,
causing the engine to run erratically or stop suddenly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the harness for damage and,
if none is evident, will tie the harness back to prevent the harness from
ever coming into contact with the heat shield. Any harness that
shows evidence of damage will be repaired as necessary and then be tied
back to prevent future damage. The manufacturer has reported that
owner notification began May 13, 2002. Owners who do not receive the
free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Mitsubishi at
1-800-222-0037.
[NHTSA
Recall No. 02V100]
Volvo Cars of North America, Inc.
Models:
Volvo S80
Year: 1999
Number Involved: 25,876
Dates of Manufacture: April 1998 – May 1999
Defect: On some passenger vehicles, the electric cooling
fans could be inadequate in a hot climate. Under certain
circumstances, excessive heat could be generated. Should this occur,
the engine cooling fan components could overheat and cause the melting of
electrical connections and adjacent components, increasing the likelihood
of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine cooling fan. The
manufacturer has reported that owner notification began April 1, 2002.
Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should
contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
[NHTSA Recall No.
02V096/Volvo Recall No. 110]
MEDIUM/HEAVY
DUTY TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUSES AND MOTOR HOMES
Freightliner Corporation
Models:
Freightliner FS-65
Years: 1999-2002
Number Involved: 16,000
Dates of Manufacture: March 1999 – March 2002
Defect: On certain school buses, the brake hoses from the
chassis to the front brake chambers could develop leaks due to the hose
routing that could overstress the hose during sharp turns. The
vehicle could have reduced braking capacity, increasing the risk of a
crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for improper routing.
If improper routing is found, dealers will replace and correct the hose
routing. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began
April 29, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a
reasonable time should contact Freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
[NHTSA Recall No. 02V084/Freightliner Recall No. FL-349]
EQUIPMENT
Auto Meter Products, Inc.
Models:
Auto Meter Z-Series
Auto Meter Ultra-Lite
Auto Meter Sport-Comp
Auto Meter Phantom
Auto Meter Fuel Pressure Gauge
Number Involved: 6,247
Dates of Manufacture: October 1999 – March 2002
Defect: Certain fuel pressure gauge and sending units,
commonly known as "short-sweep" gauges, Part Nos. 2659, 3309,
3509, 4309, 4409, and 5709, may leak fuel. In the presence of an
ignition source, the vehicle could catch fire.
Remedy: Auto Meter Products will notify its customers to
remove the sending units immediately. Customers will receive
replacement parts free of charge when they become available. The
manufacturer has reported that owner notification began May 24, 2002.
Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should
contact Auto Meter at 1-815-895-8141.
[NHTSA
Recall No. 02E025]
Norcold Incorporated
Models:
Norcold N621
Norcold N641
Norcold N821
Norcold N841
Number Involved: 28,144
Dates of Manufacture: May– November 1999
Defect: These refrigerators can experience a cooling system
leak caused by operation in the AC electric mode. If a leak occurs,
the cooling performance of the refrigerator will deteriorate.
Extended operation of a leaking cooling unit in the AC electric mode can
result in a fire.
Remedy: Norcold will notify its customers and replace
the cooling unit free of charge. The manufacturer has reported that owner
notification began April 12, 2002. Owners who do not receive the
free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Norcold at
1-800-767-9101.
[NHTSA Recall No. 02E019]
Xportation Safety Concepts
Models:
XSCi Pioneered
Number Involved: 150
Dates of Manufacture: February – March 2002
Noncompliance: These rear facing child seats with seat pad
colors of Blue/Blue and Brown/Blue exceed the maximum head excursion
criteria of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, "Child
Restraint Systems." In the event of a vehicle crash, the infant
seat can detach from the seat base, possibly resulting in serious injury
or death.
Remedy: XSCi is offering a replacement seat (produced by
an alternate child seat manufacturer) and will pay for the return of the
noncompliant seat. XSCi will repair the noncompliant seat and return
it to the customer. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification
began April 17, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free label and
installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact
Xportation at 1-800-630-6850.
[NHTSA Recall No. 02E024]
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