July 2001 Recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released a list of auto safety recalls announced in July 2001 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 1-800-424-9393.  Hotline also can be used to report safety problems.

SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGNS
July 2001

VEHICLES:

CARS, VANS, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS AND MOTORCYCLES

Bayerische Motoren Werke
Models:   BMW M3         Year: 2001
Number Involved:  2,438
Dates of Manufacture:  October 2000 - May 2001
Defect:  On certain passenger vehicles, two screws that secure the parking brake cable mounting bracket to the backing plate on one or both sides of the vehicle were not tightened properly. As a result, the screws could loosen and eventually fall into the parking brake drum. If this were to happen, the cable mounting bracket would no longer be fixed to the backing plate and the parking brake could no longer be applied on that side of the vehicle. It is also possible that a screw could lodge within the parking brake drum, impairing the free movement of the drum. This would produce noise and could cause the parking brake on that side to lock up while driving.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace the parking brake cable attaching screws and securing them with the proper torque. The manufacturer reported that owner notification would begin during August 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V245]

Bayerische Motoren Werke
Models:   BMW R1150GS        Years: 2000-2002
Number Involved:  2,997
Dates of Manufacture:  May 1999 - June 2001
Defect:  On certain motorcycles, the distance between the brake line and the speedometer drive cable could be too small. Due to compression and rebound of the fork, the speedometer cable could contact and chafe the brake line. Brake fluid leakage could occur, resulting in a loss of front braking capability. If this happened, depending on traffic conditions and the rider's reactions, a crash could occur.
Remedy:  Dealers will measure the distance between the front brake line and speedometer cable. The brake line will be replaced if the distance to the speedometer cable is found to be too small or if it is damaged. A new protective sleeve will be installed on the speedometer cable near the front fender.
The manufacturer has reported that owner notification will begin during September 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117, Option #5.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V246]

DaimlerChrysler Corporation

Models:   Dodge Dakota Truck         Years: 1989-1990
Number Involved:  4,000
Dates of Manufacture:  October 1988 - June 1990
Defect:  On certain 4x2 convertible pickup trucks equipped with V6 engines and 4x2 pickup trucks equipped with an optional Shelby package, the steering gear could potentially separate from the vehicle frame. Should this happen, there could be a loss of steering control.
Remedy:  Dealers will add reinforcements to the frame and have the steering gear mounting bolts replaced. If the frame is already cracked, the steering gear weld nuts will also be replaced. The manufacturer reported that owner notification would begin during August 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact DaimlerChrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V232/DaimlerChrysler Recall No. 988]

DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Models:   Dodge Dakota Quad Truck         Year: 2001
Number Involved:  104,252
Dates of Manufacture:  March 2001
Defect:  On certain Quad Cab pickup trucks, the front outboard lower seat belt anchor bolts may not be tightened correctly. An improperly tightened seat belt anchor may not provide the anticipated level of occupant restraint in a crash.
Remedy:  Dealers will inspect and tighten the driver and passenger side lower seat belt anchor bolts. The manufacturer reported that owner notification would begin during August 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact DaimlerChrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V233/DaimlerChrysler Recall No. 989]

Ford Motor Company

Number Involved:   1,400,000
Dates of Manufacture:  April 2000 - June 2001
Defect:  On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans equipped with seat belts supplied by TRW, it is possible that the driver's and/or outboard front passenger's seat belt buckle may not fully latch. In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant. The vehicles equipped with these belts include Ford Crown Victorias built at St. Thomas Assembly Plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01; Mercury Grand Marquis built at St. Thomas Assembly Plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01; Lincoln Town Cars built at Wixom Assembly Plant from 3/27/00 - 5/30/01; Lincoln Navigators built at Michigan Truck Plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01; Ford Windstars built at Oakville Assembly Plant from 3/23/00 - 5/30/01; Ford Rangers built at Twin Cities Plant from 3/28/00 - 5/30/01 and also at the Edison Plant from 3/13/00 - 5/25/01; Ford F-150 trucks built at the Norfolk Plant from 4/18/00 - 5/25/00, at the Ontario Plant from 5/10/00 - 5/28/01, at the Kansas City Plant from 9/11/99 - 5/25/01, and at the Cuautitlan Plant from 5/16/00 - 6/9/01; Ford Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks built at Kentucky Plant from 4/17/00 - 5/27/01 and at the Cuautitlan Plant from 5/16/00 - 6/19/01; Ford Excursions built at Kentucky Plant from 4/17/00 - 10/2/00; and Ford Expeditions built at Michigan Truck Plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01.
Remedy:  Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles. If a buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began on July 25, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V227001/Ford Recall No. 01S21]

Ford Motor Company

Models:	Ford Contour	Years:  1996-1998
	Mercury Mystique	Years:  1996-1998
	Mercury Cougar	Year:  1999

Number Involved:   342,962
Dates of Manufacture:  June 1996 - May 1998
Defect:  On certain passenger vehicles, the rough surface of the heater blower resistor's stainless steel blades can damage the copper surface of the wiring harness connector. The damage could, over time, cause increased resistance in the connector and, due to subsequent terminal relaxation, result in an open circuit condition. The open circuit could lead to electrical arcing that could melt the connector housing material, increasing the potential for a fire.
Remedy:  Dealers will install a new heater blower resistor and a new wire jumper harness. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Aug. 6, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V230/Ford Recall No. 01S22]

Saab Cars USA, Inc.
Models:   Saab 90         Year:  1998
Number Involved:   12,036
Dates of Manufacture:  July - December 1997
Defect:  On certain passenger vehicles, static electricity can build up within the passenger-side air bag module and create enough of a charge to cause an inadvertent air bag deployment. Most of these inadvertent deployments have occurred in cooler, dry weather, and have generally been triggered by dusting or wiping of the dashboard, starting the car, or closing the door.
Remedy:  Dealers will install a front passenger-side air bag module grounding strap. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during September 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V222/Saab Recall No. 15002]

Toyota Motor Company, Ltd.
Models:   Toyota Highlander         Year:  2001
Number Involved:  41,169
Dates of Manufacture:  August 2000 - May 2001
Defect:  On certain sport utility vehicles, the reservoir filler cap of the brake master cylinder may induce a vacuum, introducing some air into the brake master cylinder reservoir. This could cause abnormal brake noise and increased pedal stroke when the brakes are applied. The increased pedal stroke will lengthen the stopping distance of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:  Dealers will bleed the air from the brake lines and replace the reservoir filler cap. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began July 30, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V228/Toyota Recall No. SSC 10G]

MEDIUM/HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUSES AND MOTOR HOMES

American Transportation Company

Models:	AmTran FE	Years:  1998-2001
	AmTran RE	Years:  1998-2001

Number Involved:  9,173
Dates of Manufacture:  January 1998 - June 2000
Defect:  Certain school and transit buses were built with heater/defroster blower motors drawing current in excess of circuit capacity. In some cases, this excessive current draw caused the heater switch connections to overheat, damage the switch and switch harness, and result in failure of the blower motor. Loss of visibility could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:  Owners will be provided with instructions and parts to replace the blower assembly motor, switch, and switch harness. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification will begin during September 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact AmTran Bird at 1-800-993-7686.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V241/AmTran Recall No. 01-302]

Thomas Built Buses, Inc.
Models:   Thomas Conventional         Years:   1999-2001
Number Involved: 16,165
Dates of Manufacture: January 1999 - May 2001
Defect: On certain school buses, the main body power supply wire from the chassis can chafe on the chassis (cowl) sheet metal panel, causing arcing and could result in a fire.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with inspection and remedy procedures to be used in correcting this condition. The manufacturer reported that owner notification began Sept. 14, 2001. Owners should contact Thomas Built at 1-336-889-4871.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V214]

Volvo Trucks North America, Inc.
Models:   Volvo VHD        Years:  2000-2001
Number Involved:  584
Dates of Manufacture:  March 2000 - June 2001
Defect:  On certain heavy duty class 8 trucks, non-uniform steering wheel efforts can occur when turning the steering wheel. In addition, once the steering wheel turn is initiated, the vehicle may continue turning without returning to the straight ahead position, creating the potential for loss of steering.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace the lower steering shaft. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began July 19, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Volvo Trucks at 1-800-528-6586.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V226/Volvo Trucks Recall No. RVXX0105]

Winnebago Industries, Inc.

Models:	Winnebago Brave	Year:  2001
	Winnebago Sunrise	Year:  2001

Number Involved:  101
Dates of Manufacture:  March 2000 - June 2001
Defect:  Certain motor homes built on a Ford chassis may have an incorrect liquid propane (LP) gas tank bracket. Depending on how the tank was installed, there may not be adequate clearance between the tank and a bolt head on the suspension. Without clearance, the tank could be damaged and, over time, develop a leak which has the potential to ignite, resulting in bodily injury and/or property damage.
Remedy:  Dealers will reposition the LP gas tank. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began July 19, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Winnebago at 1-641-585-6939.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V225/Winnebago Recall No. 81]

EQUIPMENT

Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Models:   Ignition Modules and Kits
Number Involved:  
Dates of Sale: July 2000 - May 2001  
Defect:  Certain ignition modules and ignition module kits used on 1999 and later model Twin-Cam 88 Screamin' Eagle motorcycles and sold as dealer-installed accessory items were manufactured with a software fault that could allow the module to shut off without warning. Module and kit part numbers included are: 31710-01, 32721-01, 31713-01, 32724-01, 31775-01, 32810-01, 32748-99A, 32749-99A, 31781-00, 32719-01, 32720-01, 31778-01, 32750-99A, and 31782-00. A sudden loss of power could cause a loss of control of the motorcycle and result in a crash, possibly resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace the ignition module. The manufacturer reported that owner notification would begin during August 2001. Owners who do not receive the free replacement seat within a reasonable time should contact Harley-Davidson at 414-342-4080.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01E040/Harley-Davidson Recall No. 0103]

Tekonsha Engineering Company
Models:   Tekonsha Trailer Hitch Receiver
Number Involved:  10,026
Dates of Sale:  September 1994 - June 2001
Defect:  Certain Tekonsha/SurePull Towing Systems' trailer hitch receivers sold for use on certain Chevrolet Blazer, Oldsmobile Bravada, and GMC Jimmy sport utility vehicles were mislabeled as to their weight distributing capabilities. These hitches could fail if overloaded, causing the support arms to break without warning. This could allow the towed vehicle to disengage from the towing vehicle, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Remedy:  Tekonsha is notifying distributors and original equipment manufacturers and will replace the defective hitches free of charge. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began July 30, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free replacement seat within a reasonable time should contact Tekonsha Towing Systems at 1-888-422-8060.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01E036]

TIRES

Cooper Tire and Rubber Company

Models:	Cooper Trendsetter A/W
	Cooper Trendsetter SE
	Cooper Radial XL
	Cooper Durasteel
	Dean Galaxie GT
	Dean Alpha IV Season
	Trailcat All Season
	Falls Roadmaster IV
	Starfire Flite-line A/S
	Laramie Tempra Year Round
	Sentry Deluxe Classic LX
	Premier II All Season
	Cordovan Centron
	Merit Four Season 75

Number Involved:  14,993
Dates of Manufacture:  February - March 2000
Defect:  On certain P205/75R14 tires, excessive flexing of the tire sidewall occurs, causing cracks to extend to the body ply cords. This condition could lead to the degradation of the body ply cords and consequent loss of inflation pressure. The loss of inflation pressure could cause the tire to run under-inflated and result in early tire failure. Also, air loss in the tires could result in a decrease of steering control, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace these tires. The manufacturer reported that owner notification would begin during August 2001. Owners who do not receive the free replacement tire within a reasonable time should contact Cooper at 1-800-854-6288.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01T014/Cooper Recall No. 117]