The end of June and the beginning of July have seen a number of new safety recall campaigns initiated by a fairly long list of automakers. Dodge has garnered the most attention during this period due to the company’s recall of nearly a quarter million Dodge Ram trucks. 242,780 of the full-size pickups built between 2003 and 2011 have been found to suffer from a defective tie rod ball stud on the left side of the vehicle, which can actually come apart at low speeds. Most of the trucks affects are Heavy Duty models (Ram 2500 and 3500), although 2008 Dodge 1500:ram-1500|@@ pickups are also included in the recall.
Auobytel's Recall Report: Ford TrucksFord has also run into some trouble with its trucks – specifically, the Ford Ranger compact truck, the Ford Excursion SUV and the Ford Super Duty pickups. 26,715 trucks maybe have had a defective multifunction steering column switch installed, which could lead to a situation where brake lights and turn signals might not turn on when activated. The problem also affects the vehicle’s hazard and tail lights. The part was installed at the factory in 2011 Ford Ranger models, and may have also found its way into older versions of the Excursion and the Super Duty trucks touched by the recall when they came in for servicing. Although the vast majority of the vehicles that received the bad switch are 2011 Rangers, Ford plans on initiating a formal recall next month for all affected vehicles.
Auobytel's Recall Report: Ford and MercuryA smaller Ford recall involves the gone – but not forgotten – Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego full-size sedans. After reports that certain 2007 model year examples of the two vehicles were having their check engine lights illuminated due to leaking fuel vapors, Ford determined that some cars were built with a poorly-welded fuel filler hose. In order to avoid the risk of fuel spillage and fire, Ford is replacing the entire fuel tank on 3,000 Montego and Five Hundred sedans free of charge.
Auobytel's Recall Report: Toyota and Lexus Hybrid SUVsToyota has been forced to initiate yet another hybrid-related safety campaign, this time calling back 82,000 battery-assisted SUVs due to a problem with a malfunctioning circuit board. The board is located inside the power inverter system of both the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the Lexus RX 400h, and poorly-soldered transistors put it at risk of overheating and dropping the crossovers into limp mode. In most cases, drivers won’t be stranded by the issue as they will be able to make it home on reduced power, but in worst case scenarios a blown fuse related to the overheating circuit board could shut down all engine and battery output. The problem touches on Highlanders and RX SUVs built in 2006 and 2007.
Auobytel's Recall Report: BMW SUVsBMW’s two most popular “sports activity vehicles” have also been recalled, for similar reasons. The all-new 2011 BMW X3 has hit its first snag, a problem with a power steering module that could cut out the electric power steering system in the X3 without warning. Only 50 2011 BMW X3’s built during a roughly two-month period starting at the end of April are involved in the recall. The 2012 BMW X5 has also demonstrated a steering issue, but the problem is restricted to diesel models. A belt tensioner that is part of the power steering system could crack and fail, causing a potential loss of control. 923 BMW X5 diesel models are impacted by the problem.
Auobytel's Recall Report: Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac Trucks and SUVsRounding out the list of recent recalls are two separate safety campaigns related to Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac trucks and SUVS. The most comprehensive of the pair of problems is a transmission cable problem affecting 6,768 2011 Chevrolet Colorado and 2011 GMC Canyon mid-size pickup trucks. A slipping clip could result in the vehicle’s transmission indicating that it has been shifted into park while the truck is actually still in neutral. On a smaller scale, 739 full-size SUVs and pickup trucks produced by General Motors in 2011 have been tagged in a recall related to loose steering shaft bolts that could ultimately cause the shaft itself to come apart and disconnect the steering wheel from the steering gear. The repair process is a simple tightening of the bolts in question, which can be done at the dealership.
