The Crittenden Automotive Library

NHTSA Publishes List of October 2002 Recalls

NHTSA Publishes List of October 2002 Recalls

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
November 27, 2002

NHTSA 74-02
Wednesday, November 27, 2002
Contact: Tim Hurd
Tel. No. (202) 366-9550

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released a list of auto safety recalls announced in October 2002 and urged consumers to have the problems fixed promptly.

This 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, or by accessing NHTSA on the Internet at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov. The Hotline also can be used to report safety problems.

SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGNS
October 2002

VEHICLES:

CARS, VANS, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS AND MOTORCYCLES

Buell Motorcycle Company
Models:     Buell Firebolt XB9R            Year:      2003
Number Potentially Involved:   371
Dates of Manufacture:   August - September 2002
Defect:   On certain motorcycles, the side stand legs have the potential to bend or break. This could cause the motorcycle to fall, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy:   Dealers will replace the side stand. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during November 2002. Owners should contact Buell at 1-414-342-4680.

[NHTSA Recall No.02V270/Buell Recall No. 0825]

DaimlerChrysler Corporation

Models:	Dodge Grand Caravan	Year: 2002
	Chrysler Town and Country	Year: 2002

Number Potentially Involved:   116,029
Dates of Manufacture:   September 2001 - March 2002
Defect:   On certain minivans, the fuel tank control valve weld joint could separate resulting in a possible fuel leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.
Remedy:   Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and replace it if necessary. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 28, 2002. Owners should contact DaimlerChrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

[NHTSA Recall No.02V274/DaimlerChrysler Recall No. B25]

Ford Motor Company

Models:	Ford Taurus	Years: 2000-2002
	Mercury Sable	Years: 2000-2002

Number Potentially Involved:  369,614
Dates of Manufacture: May 1999 - September 2001
Defect:  On certain passenger vehicles equipped with adjustable pedals, simultaneous application of both the brake and accelerator pedals could result in an increase in engine speed. This could result in a customer experiencing an "unintended vehicle speed increase" or a perceived "unable to stop" condition.
Remedy:   Owners will be instructed as to the proper way to set the position of the pedals and to take their vehicles to a dealer to have the spacing between the brake and accelerator pedals measured. If the spacing is found to be less than 50mm, the dealer will adjust the pedals to increase the distance between them to greater than 50 mm. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 23, 2002. Owners should contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

[NHTSA Recall No. 02V266/Ford Recall No.02S40]

General Motors Corporation

Models:	Chevrolet Kodiak	Year: 2003
	GMC Topkick	Year: 2003

Number Potentially Involved:  276
Dates of Manufacture:  August 2001 - July 2002
Defect:  Some trucks equipped with the optional Caterpillar diesel engine (LG5) were built with a misrouted battery cable that could come in contact with the exhaust pipe. The conduit and the nylon cable coating could degrade to the point where the copper wire strands of the cable are exposed. If the cable strands contacted the exhaust pipe, a short circuit could cause the battery cable coatings to ignite and possibly lead to an engine compartment fire.
Remedy:   Dealers will inspect the battery cable for proper routing and reroute the cable if necessary. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 25, 2002. Owners should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC at 1-800-462-8782

[NHTSA Recall No. 02V267/GM Recall No. 02040]

General Motors Corporation

Models:	Chevrolet Trailblazer	Year: 2002
	GMC Envoy	Year: 2002

Number Potentially Involved:  46
Dates of Manufacture:  February - September 2002
Defect:  Certain sport utility vehicles are missing welds on the rear floor plan. In a crash, missing welds could degrade performance of the third row seat and safety belt anchorage, and occupants could receive greater injuries.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle for missing welds. If missing welds are found, GM will exchange the vehicle for an equivalent vehicle or provide a refund of the purchase price. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 4, 2002. Owners should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC at 1-800-462-8782

[NHTSA Recall No. 02V273/GM Recall No. 02054]

General Motors Corporation

Models:	Hummer H2	Year: 2003
	Saturn L Series	Year: 2003

Number Potentially Involved:  1,448
Dates of Manufacture:  October 2002
Defect:  Certain passenger and sport utility vehicles exhibit a condition in which the windshield wiper motor could fail during use because of improper manufacture. If this were to occur in severe weather, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy:   Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the wiper motor assembly. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 24, 2002. Owners should contact Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, Prompt #6, or Hummer at 1-866-486-6376.

[NHTSA Recall No. 02V283/GM Recall No. 02051/Saturn Recall No. 03-C-03]

Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Models:	Harley Davidson FLTRSEI	Year: 2000
	Harley Davidson Screamin'Eagle	Year: 2000

Number Potentially Involved:  782
Dates of Manufacture:  September 1999 - May 2000
Defect:  On certain motorcycles, the braided clutch cable could contact the rear brake line and cause the brake line to abrade over time, resulting in a loss of rear brake fluid. The loss of rear brake fluid could cause the loss of rear brake function, possibly without warning, and could cause a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the braided clutch cable. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during November 2002. Owners should contact Harley-Davidson at 1-414-342-4680.

[NHTSA Recall No. 02V272/Harley-Davidson Recall No. 0106]

Isuzu Motors Limited
Models:     Isuzu TF          Years:     1994-1995
Number Potentially Involved:  9,715
Dates of Manufacture:  April - September 1994
Defect:  On certain pickup trucks made in Fujisawa, Japan, the latch plate used in the seat belt buckle was not manufactured according to design dimensions. If the seat belt tongue is inserted slowly at an angle into the buckle, there is a possibility of partial engagement. This condition can cause the seat belt tongue to come out of the buckle in the event of a collision or hard braking of the vehicle, increasing the risk of personal injury to an occupant of the seat.
Remedy:   Dealers will inspect the buckle and, if necessary, replace the buckle assembly with a new buckle. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during mid-December 2002. Owners should contact Isuzu at 1-800-643-4070.

[NHTSA Recall No. 02V281]

Subaru of America, Inc.

Models:	Subaru Legacy	Years: 2001-2003
	Subaru Outback	Years: 2001-2003
	Subaru Forester	Years: 2002-2003
	Subaru Impreza	Years: 2002-2003
	Subaru Baja	Year: 2003

Number Potentially Involved:  163,243
Dates of Manufacture:  June 2001 - September 2002
Defect:  Certain passenger and sport utility vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions were produced with an improperly manufactured transmission parking rod. When the transmission selector lever is placed in the "P" (Park) position, the transmission park mechanism, which is intended to hold the vehicle, may not engage. The vehicle could then move/roll without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:   Dealers will replace the automatic transmission parking rod assembly. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during January 2003. An interim owner notification will be sent during November 2002. Owners should contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.

[NHTSA Recall No. 02V282]

Toyota Motor Company, LTD
Models:    Toyota            Years:     2001-2002
Number Potentially Involved:  59,394
Dates of Manufacture:  October 2000 - February 2002
Defect:  On certain passenger vehicles, if the vehicle is driven under repeated start and stop operation in low ambient temperatures and in deep snow, there is a possibility that snow could accumulate in large quantities inside the rear wheel and freeze. The snow frozen inside the wheel could contact the rear brake line during wheel rotation. If this condition occurs frequently, the rear brake line could be damaged, which could result in leakage of brake fluid, causing a decrease in brake effectiveness.
Remedy:   Dealers will replace the rear brake lines.The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during November 2002. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

[NHTSA Recall No. 02V268]

Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Models:      Audi A6          Year:     2003
Number Potentially Involved:  61
Dates of Manufacture:  August 2002
Defect:  On certain passenger vehicles, it is possible that the igniter for the driver's air bag may not have been properly assembled. An improperly positioned igniter will not activate the air bag in the event of a crash.
Remedy:   Dealers will replace the air bags. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Sept. 26, 2002. Owners should contact Audi at 1-800-458-2834.

[NHTSA Recall No. 02V275/Audi Recall No. LN]

MEDIUM/HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUSES AND MOTOR HOMES

Jayco, Incorporated

Models:	Jayco Designer MH	Years: 1999-2000
	Jayco Designer TT	Years: 1999-2000
	Jayco Designer FW	Years: 1999-2000
	Jayco Eagle FW	Years: 1999-2000
	Jayco Eagle Resort	Years: 1999-2000
	Jayco Eagle MH	Years: 1999-2000
	Jayco Eagle TT	Years: 1999-2000
	Jayco Quest FW	Year: 2000
	Jayco Quest TT	Year: 2000
	Jayco Kiwi TT	Year: 2000
	Jayco Hawk TT	Year: 1999

Number Potentially Involved:  5,830
Dates of Manufacture: May 1999 - January 2000
Defect:  In certain travel trailers, motor homes, and fifth wheel campers equipped with Norcold refrigerator cooling units, model numbers N841, N821, N641, and N621, the 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, requiring immediate replacement of the cooling unit. Extended operation of a leaking cooling unit in the AC electric mode can result in a fire.
Remedy:  Norcold will inspect and replace the refrigerator cooling units. Owners should contact Norcold at 1-800-767-9101 or Jayco at 1-219-296-6000.

[NHTSA Recall No. 02V279001/Jayco Recall No. 9901039]

###