NHTSA PUBLISHES LIST OF OCTOBER 2000 RECALLS |
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NHTSA
January 23, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHTSA 06-01
Tuesday, January 23, 2001
Contact: NHTSA, Tim Hurd, (202) 366-9550
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released a list of auto safety recalls announced in October 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 motor vehicle 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), 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 2000
VEHICLES:
CARS, VANS, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS AND MOTORCYCLES
American Honda Motor Company
Models: Honda S2000 Year: 2000
Number Involved: 9,147
Dates of Manufacture: June 1999 - August 2000
Defect: Under certain conditions, the seat belt retractor can deform and cause complete or frequent locking of the retractor. As a result, the seat belts cannot be pulled out of the retractor and cannot be used.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt actuator assembly. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 23, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V316]
American Suzuki Motor Corporation
Models: Suzuki GSX1300R Years: 1999-2000
Number Involved: 8,511
Dates of Manufacture: January 1999 - August 2000
Defect: On certain motorcycles, the spring in the cam chain tension adjuster can break. Excessive slack will then develop in the cam chain, allowing the chain to jump to the wrong position on the cam shaft sprockets. Severe engine damage could occur, causing sudden engine failure.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cam chain tension adjuster with a new oil-damped ratchet-type cam chain tension adjuster. Dealers will also install a new tension adjuster oil supply hose and a new cam chain guide. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Nov. 3, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Suzuki at 1-714-572-1490.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V319/Suzuki Recall No. 2044]
Bayerische Motoren Werke
Models: BMW R1200C Year: 2000
Number Involved: 1,636
Dates of Manufacture: September 1999 - June 2000
Defect: On certain motorcycles, the seat backrest can be adjusted to two positions, horizontal or vertical. In the horizontal position, the backrest acts as a seat cushion for a rear passenger. In the vertical position, it is used as a backrest for the driver. It is possible for the leaf spring mounting bracket, if overloaded with the backrest in the vertical position, to crack or break. If the bracket were to break, the backrest would detach from its mount.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the backrest with one containing the original-design mounting bracket. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during December 2000/January 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V289]
Bayerische Motoren Werke
Models: BMW X5 Years: 2001
Number Involved: 1,200
Dates of Manufacture: September 2000
Defect: On certain 3.0i or 4.4i model sport utility vehicles, the nut that secures the axial joint of the left steering tie rod to the steering gear box may not have been tightened securely. This could lead to loosening of the nut and possible steering wheel play, or misalignment, as well as noise from the steering linkage. If vehicle operation continues, the tie rod could disconnect from the steering gear box. If this were to occur, loss of steering control could result.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and re-torque the nut securing the axial joint of the left steering tie rod. If the nut is found to be loose, the right nut will also be checked and corrected if necessary, and a front wheel alignment will be performed. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Nov. 14, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V341]
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Models:
Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan Years: 1993-1994
Plymouth Voyager/Grand Voyager Years: 1993-1994
Chrysler Town and Country Years: 1993-1994
Number Involved: 493,076
Dates of Manufacture: July 1992 - September 1993
Defect: On certain minivans equipped with 2 spoke luxury steering wheels or equipped with 4 spoke sport steering wheels, the steering wheel mounting can crack and separate from the center hub attachment to the steering column.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering wheel mounting for cracks and replace those steering wheels found with cracks. All other vehicles will have a reinforcement plate installed to prevent steering wheel separation in the event cracking occurs. Owner notification began Nov. 6, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact DaimlerChrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V305/DaimlerChrysler Recall No. 897]
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Models:
Dodge Stratus Year: 2001
Chrysler Sebring Years: 2001
Number Involved: 419
Dates of Manufacture: September 2000
Defect: On certain passenger vehicles, the passenger air bags were built with defective aluminum extrusion sections that may not retain the air bag door during an air bag deployment event. A separated air bag door could injure a vehicle occupant.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger air bag. Owner notification began Oct. 19, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact DaimlerChrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V306/DaimlerChrysler Recall No. 898]
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Models: Dodge Ram Year: 2001
Number Involved: 480
Dates of Manufacture: September 2000
Defect: On certain quad cab pickup trucks, the upper control arms attached with cadmium coated nuts can cause the bolts to stretch due to the application of a higher than specified clamp load. Breakage of the upper control arm fasteners could cause the axle to rotate forward under braking conditions. This rotation could twist the steering linkage and possibly separate the brake lines.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the upper control arm bolts and nuts. Owner notification began Oct. 30, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact DaimlerChrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V307/DaimlerChrysler Recall No. 955]
Ford Motor Company
Models:
Ford Contour Years: 1999-2000
Mercury Mystique Years: 1999-2000
Mercury Cougar Years: 1999-2000
Number Involved: 186,200
Dates of Manufacture: August 1998 - March 2000
Defect: Ford has expanded this recall to include later model vehicles. This recall involves passenger vehicles not equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS). A "pressure conscious reducing valve" (PCRV) in the rear brakes may be subject to corrosion and result in malfunction when operated in areas that use salt compounds on the roadway for de-icing or dust control. If both PCRV's malfunction, vehicle handling could be adversely affected during braking from rear wheel lockup, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install improved PCRV's in the rear brake system. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 23, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V075001/Ford Recall No. 00S03 #1]
Ford Motor Company
Models: Mercury Villager Years: 1999-2000
Number Involved: 67,200
Dates of Manufacture: September 1998 - March 2000
Defect: On certain minivans, one or more of the five bolts that mount the rack and pinion steering gear to the vehicle may have been incorrectly tightened. There could be a looseness in the steering, which may be accompanied by noise or vibration. Continued operation can cause the bolts to fracture or fall out, reducing steering control.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and, if the bolts are broken or missing, will replace the steering gear mounting bolts. All bolts will be tightened to the specified torque. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 30, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V292001/Ford Recall No. 00S33]
Ford Motor Company
Models: Ford Focus Year: 2000
Number Involved: 28,800
Dates of Manufacture: March 1999 - February 2000
Defect: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with speed control, the control cable could have a core wire that is long enough to catch on the sleeve at the throttle body end of the cable during wide-open throttle acceleration. A throttle that does not return to idle could result in reduced vehicle control and, potentially, a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and, if necessary, replace the speed control cable. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 23, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V302/Ford Recall No. 00S30]
Ford Motor Company
Models: Ford Focus Year: 2000
Number Involved: 203,700
Dates of Manufacture: March 1999 - May 2000
Defect: On certain passenger vehicles, the rear wheel hub retaining nuts can loosen, allowing the left rear wheel and brake drum assembly to separate from the vehicle. This could result in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear wheel bearings and install a rear wheel retention cap to prevent left rear wheel separation. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 23, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V303/Ford Recall No. 00S31]
Ford Motor Company
Models: Mercury Villager Year: 2001
Number Involved: 2,500
Dates of Manufacture: September - October 2000
Defect: On certain minivans, the plastic trim cover around the base of the front seat safety belt buckle may become trapped between the shoulder of the restraint anchorage bolt and the seat pedestal. This could eventually allow the seat belt buckle bolt to loosen and, in the event of a crash, the occupant seated in that location may not be adequately restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat belt buckle assembly attachment. Some belt buckle assemblies may require replacement. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began on Nov. 20, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V338001/Ford Recall No. 00S36]
Ford Motor Company
Models: Ford Mustang Years: 1994-2001
Number Involved: 434,000
Dates of Manufacture: October 1993 - October 2000
Defect: On certain Mustang cars equipped with manual transmissions, if the vehicle is parked with the parking brake not fully applied and not in first gear, the vehicle could roll on some grades. This could result inunintended vehicle movement and a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Dealers will modify the parking brake control and install a plate, or over-bracket, to the control to lock the self adjust mechanism in position following adjustment. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began on Nov. 27, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V349/Ford Recall No. 00S37]
Ford Motor Company
Models: Ford Contour Years: 1998-2000
Number Involved: 3,750
Dates of Manufacture: May 1997 - April 2000
Defect: Certain bi-fuel Contour cars may have a fuel tank filler pipe grommet that was damaged during the installation of the bi-fuel system. If the grommet is damaged, fuel could leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank filler pipe grommet. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began on Nov. 27, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V350/Ford Recall No. 00S38]
Ford Motor Company
Models: Ford Windstar Years: 1999-2000
Number Involved: 180,000
Dates of Manufacture: February 1999 - February 2000
Noncompliance: Certain Windstar minivans built with instrument clusters without a "message center" fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 118, "Power-operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems." If the key is placed in the "Accessory" position and remains there for more than 70 seconds, all accessories connected to the accessory relay, including the power windows, remain operable when the key is moved to the "OFF" position, even after either front door is opened. The standard requires that power-operated windows may be closed only when the key is in the "On," "Start," or "Accessory" positions, or during the interval between the time the key is turned off, and the opening of either of the vehicle's front doors.
Remedy: Dealers will reconfigure the vehicle front end electronic module. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin on Jan. 22, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V351/Ford Recall No. 00S42]
General Motors Corporation
Models:
Saturn SC/SC1/SC2 Years: 2000-2001
Saturn SL/SL1/SL2 Years: 2000-2001
Saturn SW/SW1/SW2 Years: 2000-2001
Number Involved: 6,092
Dates of Manufacture: March - July 2000
Noncompliance: Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 301, "Fuel System Integrity." These vehicles were built with an inadequate weld of the vent valve on the top portion of the fuel tank. Fuel spillage could occur during refueling or if the vehicle were involved in a rollover. If an ignition source were present, a fire could occur.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle to ensure the fuel tank vent valve is properly welded. If necessary, dealers will replace the fuel tank assembly. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 6, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Saturn at 1-800-553-6000.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V309/GM Recall No. 00081]
General Motors Corporation
Models:
Saturn SC/SC1/SC2 Years: 2000-2001
Saturn SL/SL1/SL2 Years: 2000-2001
Saturn SW/SW1/SW2 Years: 2000-2001
Number Involved: 65,000
Dates of Manufacture: January - July 2000
Noncompliance: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transaxles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 114, "Theft Protection." These vehicles were built with an improperly adjusted automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly. If improperly adjusted, it is possible to shift from the "park" position with the ignition key removed. This condition increases the risk of a crash resulting from unintended movement.
Remedy: Saturn is asking owners and retailers to perform a functional check of the automatic transaxle park lock cable assembly operation and, if necessary, to have the cable adjusted. If owners are not comfortable performing the functional check themselves, they can have their dealer perform this inspection for them. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 6, 2000. Owners who have questions about this recall should contact Saturn at 1-800-553-6000.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V310/GM Recall No. 00082]
General Motors Corporation
Models:
Chevrolet Tahoe Years: 2000-2001
Chevrolet Suburban Years: 2000-2001
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Years: 2000-2001
Number Involved: 35,659
Dates of Manufacture: March - July 2000
Defect: Certainlight duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles have loose or missing rear wheelhouse plugs. Under certain vehicle operating conditions, exhaust gases can flow forward and accumulate in the rear wheelhouse. These gases could flow into the passenger compartment if the plug is missing or loose and could cause possible illness, unconsciousness, or death.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle for loose or missing wheelhouse plugs and install new plugs if necessary. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Nov. 16, 2000. 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. 00V343/GM Recall No. 00084]
General Motors Corporation
Models:
Saturn L-Series Year: 2000
Saturn LS Year: 2000
Number Involved: 1,637
Dates of Manufacture: October 2000
Noncompliance: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transaxles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 114, "Theft Protection." These vehicles were assembled with the transaxle shift cable clip missing or improperly seated. Without the clip, the cable can slip out of its bracket and the transaxle lever would not move along with the shift lever. The driver may put the shift lever in Park, but the transaxle may be in Reverse or Neutral. Unexpected movement of the vehicle could cause a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transaxle shift cable retainer clip to verify proper installation and, if necessary, replace the clip and adjust the cable to specifications. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 27, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Saturn at 1-800-553-6000.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V344/GM Recall No. 00089]
General Motors Corporation
Models:
Chevrolet Silverado Years: 1999-2000
Chevrolet Tahoe Year: 2000
Chevrolet Suburban Year: 2000
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Year: 2000
GMC Sierra Years: 1999-2000
Number Involved: 1,383,922
Dates of Manufacture: April 1998 - June 2000
Defect: Certain light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicleshave a clearance between the front right-hand brake pipe and the body cross sill that could decrease to the point of allowing contact. If contact occurs and the brake pipe becomes damaged, there can be a loss of brake fluid and pressure. The brake warning lamp will be activated when the brake fluid lever reaches the indicator limit. During braking, the pedal will be lower than normal and stopping distances will be longer. If this occurs when stopping distance is limited, a crash could occur.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front right-hand brake pipe for wear. If there are signs of wear, this section of the brake pipe will be replaced with a new designed brake pipe section. If there are no signs of wear on the brake pipe, the dealer will install a spacer clip to ensure sufficient clearance between the brake pipe and the body cross sill. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was expected to begin during December 2000. 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. 00V345/GM Recall No. 00093]
General Motors Corporation
Models: Buick Park Avenue Years: 2000-2001
Number Involved: 35,302
Dates of Manufacture: November 1999 - August 2000
Noncompliance: Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems." These vehicles have a wiper system microprocessor that is susceptible to voltage transients, which can cause a "latch-up" condition in the system controller. If microprocessor "latch-up" occurs, the customer will not be able to operate the system in both the low-speed and high-speed modes required by the standard.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor cover which contains the microprocessor. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was expected to begin during December 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V346/GM Recall No. 00094]
Hyundai Motor America
Models: Hyundai Elantra Year: 2001
Number Involved: 972
Dates of Manufacture: August - September 2000
Defect: On certain passenger vehicles, the supplemental restraint system side air bag satellite sensors were improperly manufactured, causing the air bag warning light to illuminate and the side air bags to not deploy as intended in the event of a crash. Non-deployment of the side air bags could increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the vehicle's two satellite sensors. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 30, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V332/Hyundai Recall Nos. 043]
Isuzu Motors Limited
Models:
Isuzu Rodeo Year: 2001
Isuzu Rodeo Sport Year: 2001
Number Involved: 3,052
Dates of Manufacture: August 2000
Defect: This recall involves certain sport utility vehicles. During the manufacture of certain fuel return hoses, incorrect rubber material for the outer layer was used. The fuel return hose does not meet ozone-resistant specifications and could ultimately crack, causing fuel leakage.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle to determine if the vehicle was equipped with an incorrect hose. If it is incorrect, dealers will replace it. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 24, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Isuzu at 1-800-643-7070, ext. 343.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V298/Isuzu Recall No. 00-02-S005]
Land Rover North America, Inc.
Models: Land Rover Range Rover Year: 1999
Number Involved: 2,957
Dates of Manufacture: July 1998 - January 1999
Defect: On certain sport utility vehicles, the cast alloy throttle body is heated by coolant from the cooling system to prevent icing in extremely cold weather conditions. This coolant passes through a small attachment (plate) to the throttle body, which utilizes a cork gasket. The cork gasket can fail and allow coolant to leak from the interface between the de-icer plate and the throttle body. Should this coolant collect on high temperature regions of the engine, the coolant could ignite.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the throttle body gasket, de-icer attachment, and securing hardware. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during December 2000/January 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Land Rover at 1-301-731-9040.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V329/Land Rover Recall No. D223]
Mazda (North America), Inc.
Models: Mazda Tribute Year : 2001
Number Involved: 5,700
Dates of Manufacture: April - October 2000
Noncompliance: Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems." The owner's manuals do not indicate which seating positions are equipped with child restraint anchorages. Also, the manuals do not explain the markings in the vehicles that locate the lower anchorages.
Remedy: Inserts for the vehicle's owner manuals will be provided to owners. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Dec. 15, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free inserts within a reasonable time should contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V323]
Mercedes-Benz USA, Inc.
Models: Mercedes-Benz M Class Year: 2000
Number Involved: 16,246
Dates of Manufacture: September 1999 - January 2000
Defect: On certain sport utility vehicles, the seat belt anchor in the rear folding middle seating position was manufactured with out-of-tolerance hardware. If this is the case, the seat belt anchor may fail in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install an additional rear middle seat belt anchor plate. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during December 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V352/ Recall No.200100007]
Mitsubishi America
Models:
Mitsubishi Mirage Years: 1997-1999
Mitsubishi Montero Years: 1992-1996
Mitsubishi Montero Sport Years: 1997-1999
Number Involved: 210,000
Dates of Manufacture: March 1996 - March 1999
Defect: On certain Mirage model cars equipped with 1.5L engines and the Montero Sport and Montero sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.0L engines, the bolt securing the crankshaft pulley can become loose, and the pulley could fall off the vehicle, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
Remedy: On the Mirage vehicles, the dealers will install a new, improved crankshaft pulley bolt on the older engines. On new engines which already have the improved bolt, the dealer will tighten the crankshaft pulley bolt to the correct torque specification. On the Montero models, dealers will tighten the crankshaft pulley bolt to the correct torque specifications. If the bolt is damaged, it will be replaced. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification will be performed in five separate owner mailings, with the first mailing beginning Oct. 31, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Mitsubishi America at 1-800-222-0037.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V311/Mitsubishi America Recall No. SR-00-007]
Nissan North America, Inc.
Models:
Nissan Frontier Year: 2000
Nissan Xterra Year: 2000
Number Involved: 76,652
Dates of Manufacture: November 1999 - April 2000
Noncompliance: Certain light duty trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." These vehicles could have a shift cable lock plate that is too brittle and can break. The gear shift lever and the "PRNDL" indicator may move, but the transmission will not shift out of the "Park" position. Also, the gear indicated on the display may differ from the gear engaged in the transmission. If the driver selects "Drive" and the transmission is actually in "Reverse", a vehicle crash could occur.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission shift cable lock plate. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Nov. 6, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V288]
Nissan North America, Inc.
Models: Nissan Quest Years: 1999-2000
Number Involved: 70,000
Dates of Manufacture: September 1998 - March 2000
Defect: On certain minivans, one or more of the five bolts that mount the rack and pinion steering gear to the vehicle may have been incorrectly tightened. There could be a looseness in the steering, which may be accompanied by noise or vibration. Continued operation can cause the bolts to fracture or fall out, reducing steering control.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and, if the bolts are broken or missing, will replace the steering gear mounting bolts. All bolts will be tightened to the specified torque. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Nov. 13, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V292002]
Triumph Motorcycles
Models:
Triumph Sprint RS Years: 2000-2001
Triumph Sprint ST Years: 2000-2001
Triumph Tiger Years: 2000-2001
Number Involved: 1,929
Dates of Manufacture: November 1999 - June 2000
Defect: On certain motorcycles, a fuel leak could occur from the fuel level sender located inside the fuel tank. If this condition occurs in the presence of an ignition source, it could result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel sender. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 20, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Triumph at 1-770-631-9500.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V312]
Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Models: Audi A4 Years: 1996-1997
Number Involved: 27,900
Dates of Manufacture: October 1995 - August 1997
Defect: On certain passenger vehicles, the plastic ignition switch housing can fracture at the return spring anchor point. Fracture of the housing could cause the return spring force to be insufficient to return the ignition key to the running position after starting the engine. This condition causes electrical accessories such as windshield wipers and headlights to become inoperative.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 25, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Audi at 1-800-822-2834.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V317/Audi Recall No. LE]
MEDIUM/HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUSES AND MOTOR HOMES
Blue Bird Body Company
Models:
Blue Bird All American Years: 1992-1994
Blue Bird TC2000 Years: 1992-1994
Number Involved: 341
Defect: On certain school and transit buses equipped with compressed natural gas (CNG) engines, the original pressure relief devices may vent unexpectedly. Gas leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the pressure relief devices. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 12, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Blue Bird at 1-912-825-2021.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V321/Blue Bird Recall No. R00EH]
Ford Motor Company
Models:
Ford Louisville Year: 1998
Ford Aeromax Year: 1998
Number Involved: 8,400
Dates of Manufacture: November 1996 - December 1997
Noncompliance: Certain medium duty trucks equipped with tandem rear axles and ABS fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 121, "Air Brake Systems." The air brake system was built without complete isolation of the air reservoir tanks. Some vehicles were built with an air line from the system ECU Relay Valve Module tee fitting incorrectly connected to the system supply tank, rather than the system auxiliary primary tank. A leakage or failure can cause a pressure loss in the secondary tank, resulting in also draining of the primary tank, and thus a complete loss of vehicle system air pressure. This could lead to brake failure and a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle has the incorrectly routed air line. Those with the condition will be correctly plumbed and the air brake system tested to verify proper reservoir isolation. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Dec. 4, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V335/Ford Recall No. 00S34]
MasterCraft Boat Company
Models:
MasterCraft Pro Star 190 Year: 2000
MasterCraft Pro Star 195 Year: 2000
MasterCraft Pro Star 205 Year: 2000
MasterCraft Pro Star 205 VRS Year: 2000
MasterCraft Sports Star 19 Year: 2000
MasterCraft Maristar 210 VRS Year: 2000
MasterCraft Maristar 230 VRS Year: 2000
Number Involved: 1,200
Defect: This recall involves certain boat trailers equipped with 14" and 15" Unique Pro Wheels. Due to paint on the wheel hub, the lug nuts were not tightened properly. The wheels could loosen during travel, resulting in the wheel stud breaking. The wheel could separate from the trailer, causing a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will remove all paint from the wheel hub, re-install the wheel, and re-torque the lug nuts. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Nov. 20, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact MasterCraft at 1-800-443-8774, ext. 197.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V322
Monaco Coach Corporation
Models:
Monaco Windsor Years: 1999-2000
Holiday Rambler Endeavor Years: 1999-2000
Number Involved: 3,121
Dates of Manufacture: June 1998 - July 2000
Noncompliance: Certain Windsor Class A motor coaches produced on Roadmaster chassis and Endeavor diesel Class A motor coaches produced on Freightliner chassis fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 120, "Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other than Passenger Cars." The federal certification label contains the incorrect tire pressure inflation information. Under or over-inflated tires can cause or contribute to premature tire failure, possibly resulting in a sudden blowout or other failure which could result in a loss of control of the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the certification label with a new label, which contains the correct recommended tire inflation data. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 12, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Monaco at 1-800-685-6545.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V331/Monaco Recall No. R000001]
Newmar Corporation
Models:
Newmar Mountain Aire Years: 2000-2001
Newmar Dutch Star Years: 2000-2001
Newmar Kountry Star Years: 2000-2001
Newmar London Aire Years: 2000-2001
Newmar Kountry Aire Year: 2001
Number Involved: 1,263
Dates of Manufacture: January - August 2000
Noncompliance: This recall involves certain front and rear engine motor homes and Kountry Aire rear engine motor homes built on Ford, Spartan and Workhorse chassis. All covered front engine Class A motor homes built on Ford and Workhorse chassis were manufactured from Jan. 1, through Aug. 31, 2000. All covered rear engine motor homes built on Spartan chassis were built from Feb. 23 through Aug. 31, 2000. These vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 301, "Fuel System Integrity." An incorrect vent hose was installed on the fill nozzle to the fuel tank. The hose can prematurely deteriorate, allowing fuel leakage. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel vent hose. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Oct. 23, 2000. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Newmar at 1-800-731-8300.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00V315]
EQUIPMENT:
Clarcor, Inc.
Models: Baldwin and Hastings Fuel Filters
Number Involved: 58,261
Dates of Manufacture: August 1999 - September 2000
Defect: This recall involves certain aftermarket diesel fuel filters used as replacement equipment on medium duty diesel trucks, Part Numbers PF7688 (Baldwin) and FF1094 (Hastings). These filters were designed with a plastic lid attached to the filter element which can be displaced because of a build-up of pressure in the fuel system. Displacement of the lid can result in a fuel leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could lead to a fire.
Remedy: Baldwin and Hastings will implement a program to retrieve the diesel fuel filters. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was expected to begin during December 2000. Owners should contact Baldwin at 1-800-822-5394 or Hastings at 1-800-887-8836, concerning the fuel filter replacement program.
[NHTSA Recall No. 00E062]
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