June 2001 Recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released a list of auto safety recalls announced in June 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 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).  The Hotline also can be used to report safety problems.

SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGNS
June 2001

VEHICLES:

CARS, VANS, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS AND MOTORCYCLES

American Honda Motor Company
Models:  Honda Civic         Year:  2001
Number Involved:  120,649
Dates of Manufacture:  June 2000 - January 2001
Defect:  On certain sedans and coupes, the hose clamps on the filler neck tube have insufficient clamping force. In a collision, the tube could disconnect from the fuel tank, resulting in fuel leakage. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Remedy:  Dealers will check the hose clamps for proper torque and tighten them correctly, if necessary. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began June 29, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V182]

American Honda Motor Company
Models:  Honda Civic          Year:  2001
Number Involved:  56,269
Dates of Manufacture:  August 2000 - February 2001
Defect:  On certain sedans, a small amount of water may have been left in the fuel pump electrical connector after testing. This residual water could cause the fuel pump to fail due to corrosion. If the pump stops working, the engine will stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:  Dealers will inspect the fuel pump. If corrosion is found, the fuel pump will be replaced. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began June 29, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V183]

Bayerische Motoren Werke
Models:  BMW X5 4.4i         Years:  1999-2000
Number Involved:  13,721
Dates of Manufacture:  September 1999 - February 2001
Defect:  On certain sport utility vehicles, there is a plastic carrier to which the oil filter housing is attached. Oil supply and return lines are attached to the filter housing. Over time, this carrier could sag slightly. If this happens, one of the oil lines, which are armored with steel mesh, could come into contact and chafe a steel brake line located immediately underneath. Continued chaffing can cause the anticorrosion coating of this brake line to fail, allowing the brake line to rust through and leading to loss of brake fluid, failure of the rear brake circuit, extended stoppage distances, and possible crash.
Remedy:  Dealers will install a rubber spacer below the plastic carrier to prevent sagging and subsequent contact between the oil and brake lines. Brake lines whose anticorrosion layer is found to be damaged as a result of contact with the oil line will be replaced. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V195]

Bayerische Motoren Werke
Models:  BMW X5 4.4i         Years:  2000-2001
Number Involved:  14,300
Dates of Manufacture:  September 1999 - February 2001
Defect:  On certain sport utility vehicles, over an extended period of time, abrasion particles could deposit on the electrical contacts within the transmission gear position indicator switch, causing a disruption of the electric current through the contacts. If the disruption occurs when the vehicle is stationary with the transmission in the Neutral or Park positions, the transmission will switch automatically into the emergency program, which is displayed in the instrument cluster via a warning lamp and a message, "TRANS. FAIL-SAFE PROG." In this case, the vehicle can be driven in lower gears only with limited engine output. If this problem occurs, the ability to maintain speed in traffic and/or accelerate could be greatly diminished, possibly leading to a crash.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace the transmission gear position indicator switch. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V196]

Bayerische Motoren Werke
Models:  BMW R100RT-P        Years:  1998-2001
Number Involved:  990
Dates of Manufacture:  October 1997 - December 2000
Defect:  On certain police motorcycles equipped with Dunlop Sportmax A rear tires, size 160/60 ZR18, it is possible that areas of reduced adhesion on the tread reinforcing cushion strips may have resulted during production of the tires. This could lead to localized separations and blisters where the tread joins the sidewall. If this problem occurs, the rider may notice a vibration of the rear tire and, depending on the degree of blistering, vehicle handling could also be affected. Continued operation of the vehicle could lead to further weakening of the sidewall area and cause a further deterioration of vehicle handling. The tires may have been installed on some of the vehicles as replacement equipment. The campaign is limited to Sportmax A rear tires having date stamps of 189, 199, or 209.
Remedy:  Dealers will inspect the rear tire for the production date. If an affected tire is found, it will be replaced. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification will begin during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117, Option #4.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V198]

Bayerische Motoren Werke

Models:	BMW 7 Series	Year:  2001
	BMW 3 Series	Year:  2001
	BMW X5	Year:  2001
	BMW Z8	Year:  2001

Number Involved:  22,345
Dates of Manufacture:  November 2000 - April 2001
Defect:  On certain passenger vehicles, the engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing the fan to stop operating. If this were to occur, engine overheating and subsequent engine damage could result. In addition, it is possible for the failure of the electrical circuitry to cause a fire in the fan control unit, which is mounted on the fan and located in the front of the engine compartment.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace the fan. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V206]

Bayerische Motoren Werke
Models:  BMW R1200C        Years:  1998-1999
Number Involved:  3,342
Dates of Manufacture:  June 1997 - June 1998
Defect:  On certain motorcycles with chrome-plated frames, copper residue can remain in the tapped hole where the upper fork bridge attaches to the frame. Moisture can cause corrosion to occur between the copper residue and the aluminum frame. The stress of the connecting bolt attaching the upper fork to the frame could then decrease, leading to loosening, and ultimately, breakage of the bolt. If this happened, the dynamic stability of the motorcycle would be affected and a loss of control could occur.
Remedy:  Dealers will ream the hole in the frame head and install a thread insert and a new bolt. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117, Option #4.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V217]

Ford Motor Company
Models:   Ford Windstar        Years:  1997-1998
Number Involved:   198,583
Dates of Manufacture:  August 1996 - July 1998
Defect:  On certain minivans originally 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, and Wisconsin, and in the District of Columbia, the front coil springs could fracture as a result of corrosion. Depending on the location of the fracture, a broken spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire. Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring.
Remedy:  Dealers will install protective shields around the front coil springs. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began on June 25, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V199/Ford Recall No. 01S19]

Ford Motor Company
Models:  Ford Windstar        Years  2000-2001
Number Involved:   45,800
Dates of Manufacture:  February - December 2000
Defect:  On certain minivans equipped with an adjustable pedal option, the driver floor mat could interfere with the accelerator pedal, potentially resulting in a stuck throttle.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace both front driver and passenger side floor mats in the vehicle. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began July 6, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V207/Ford Recall No. 01S20]

General Motors Corporation

Models:	Chevrolet Blazer	Years: 1996-1997
	GMC Jimmy	Years: 1996-1997
	Oldsmobile Bravada	Years: 1996-1997

Number Involved:   48,600
Dates of Manufacture:  Not yet available
Defect:  On certain sport utility vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, failure of an upper and lower control arm ball joint assembly could occur due to corrosion, resulting in impaired steering or steering loss, or a partial or complete collapse of the front suspension.
Remedy:   GM has not yet provided a remedy for this campaign. The manufacturer has not yet provided NHTSA with an owner notification schedule for this campaign.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V200/GM Recall No. 01048] 

General Motors Corporation
Models:  Pontiac Grand Prix        Year:  1999
Number Involved:   738
Dates of Manufacture:  September 1998
Defect:   On some passenger vehicles, the driver's air bag inflator modules could produce excessive internal pressure. In the event of a crash that would trigger a driver's air bag deployment, the increased internal pressure can cause the inflator module to explode. Metal and plastic debris could cause severe injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace the driver side air bag module. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began July 11, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V210/GM Recall No. 01053]

General Motors Corporation

Models:	Chevrolet C2500/K2500	Years:  2001-2002
	Chevrolet C3500/K3500	Years:  2001-2002
	GMC C2500/K2500	Years:  2001-2002
	GMC C3500/K3500	Years:  2001-2002

Number Involved:   38,863
Dates of Manufacture:  April - June 2001
Noncompliance:  Certain pickup trucks equipped with 6.6L diesel engines fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems." These vehicles have a brake system warning light in the instrument cluster that may not illuminate when the brake fluid is low. In addition, when the brake fluid is low, the vehicle may not meet the partial system requirements of this standard. These conditions could result in reduced braking capability, which could lead to a crash.
Remedy:  Dealers will change the location of a wire connection in the underhood electrical center. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began July 9, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC at 1-800-462-8782.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V220/GM Recall No. 01050]

Subaru of America, Inc.
Models:  Subaru Legacy        Year:  1995
Number Involved:  180,000
Dates of Manufacture:  January 1994 - January 1998
Defect:  On certain Legacy passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, and in the District of Columbia, the front coil springs were produced with poor paint quality which, after continued exposure to corrosive salt, can result in breakage of the spring. Depending on the location of the fracture, a broken spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire. Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring.
Remedy:  Dealers will install a spring guard on both front struts that will retain a broken spring, preventing its puncturing a tire. Any broken springs will also be replaced. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Subaru at 1-856-488-8644.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V216]

Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Models:  Audi A6 (Allroad)        Year:  2001
Number Involved:  2,837
Dates of Manufacture:  August 2000 - January 2001
Defect:   On certain A6 passenger vehicles, when activating the windshield wiper under a heavy load condition such as freezing, snow, or heavy rain, one wiper could be delayed behind the other wiper. If that happens, the wiper blades, because they overlap wiping areas, could become entangled with each other and cease functioning. This could impair the driver's visibility.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace the entire driver side wiper arm. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was expected to begin during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Audi at 1-800-822-8987.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V202/Audi Recall No. LJ]

MEDIUM/HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUSES AND MOTOR HOMES

Blue Bird Body Company

Models:	Blue Bird Commercial Series	Years:  1996-2001
	Blue Bird Q-Bus	Years:  1996-2001
	Blue Bird TC2000	Years:  1996-2001
	Blue Bird All American	Years:  1998-2001

Number Involved:  5,631
Dates of Manufacture:  Not yet available
Defect:  On certain school and transit buses equipped with rear mounted engines, the 12-volt power supply cables may be chaffed by hoses, harnesses, frame components, or clamps, resulting in power failure or risk of fire in the engine compartment or both.
Remedy:  Dealers will remove and inspect the 12-volt power cables from the battery to the starter and, if necessary, will replace the cables. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Blue Bird at 1-912-822-2242.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V191/Blue Bird Recall No. R01FF]

Freightliner Corporation

Models:  Freightliner FS-65        Years:  2000-2001
Number Involved:  8,753
Dates of Manufacture:  June 2000 - May 2001
Defect:  On certain bus chassis vehicles, an electrical pass-through connector may not fit in the firewall mounting hole correctly, resulting in the connector dislodging and an electrical terminal contacting the firewall. This can cause an electrical short and potential fire.
Remedy:  Dealers will inspect vehicles for proper mounting of the electrical pass through and correct if necessary. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V215/Freightliner Recall No. FL-382]

Paccar, Incorporated

Number Involved:  52,500
Dates of Manufacture:  April 1999 - June 2001
Defect:   On certain heavy duty trucks, a change in the internal linkage of certain cab doors has created a possible binding condition. If the linkage binds, full engagement of the door latch may not occur, allowing the door to open inadvertently.
Remedy:  Dealers will modify the door linkage to correct the potential of binding. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Peterbilt at 1-510-790-4013.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01V179/Peterbilt Recall No. 601-G]

EQUIPMENT

Graco Children's Products

Models:	Century Accel
	Century Bravo
	Century Smartmove
	Century Encore

Number Involved:  6,509
Dates of Manufacture:  April - May 2001
Defect:  On certain convertible child seats equipped with a central adjuster device, an A-Lok assembly malfunctions. The following models are included: Encore (44612 GTn and 4662 WSC 01); Bravo (44622 LTG, 44630 LTH, 44631 PFN, and 44662 WSC); Accel (45100 CHT, 45100 MTE, 45100 STH, 45200 LFT, 45200 MXM, 45600 JTI, 45600 MTE, 45600 MTO, 45600 MXM, 45600 SAF, 45700 GSD, and 45700 LFT); and Smartmove (44709 MTE and 44709 SVR). The adjuster device allows consumers to tighten the child seat harness straps on the child. In the event of a vehicle crash, the A-loks on these seats may allow the webbing to slip 4 to 6 inches, which would not adequately protect the seat occupant, possibly resulting in injury or death.
Remedy:  Century will notify its customers and provide a replacement seat free of charge. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the free replacement seat within a reasonable time should contact Graco Century at 1-800-575-6097.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01E025]

Peg Perego USA, Inc.

Models:	Peg Perego Infant Car Seat
	Peg Perego Primo Viaggo System
	Peg Perego Pliko Travel System

Number Involved:  14,087
Dates of Manufacture:  February - June 2001
Noncompliance: Certain infant car seats with base and car seat/strollers bundled as a single product, fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, "Child Restraint Systems."   Due to the improper positioning of a metal reinforcing bracket during manufacture, the bottom latch mechanism of the child seat on the left side does not completely engage the latching rod of the base that stays in the vehicle. The consumer may believe that the car seat is properly attached to the base when it is not. In the event of a vehicle crash, the car seat can detach from the base possibly causing serious injury or death to the child.
Remedy:  Peg Perego is notifying its customers and providing instructions on how to identify affected seats and perform the repair. Owner notification began during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the repair instructions within a reasonable time should contact Peg Perego at 1-877-737-3468.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01E027]

TIRES

Pirelli Tire Corporation
Models:  Pirelli Desert Dog LT247/75R16
Number Involved:  9,993
Dates of Manufacture:  December 1998 - March 2000
Defect:  Certain Desert Dog light truck tires, size LT245/75R16 E with serial number XL 11A288, due to a variability in component adhesion during production, can develop chunking and partial tread separations in use. This condition could result in a loss of air, creating a potential for a loss of vehicle control, and possibly result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace these tires. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the free replace tire within a reasonable time should contact Pirelli at 1-800-327-2442.
[NHTSA Recall No. 01T012]