Mitsubishi Recalls 14,700 i-MiEV Electric Cars Worldwide Over Faulty Brakes

A possible brake pump failure in certain 2012 i-MiEV models manufactured from December 2, 2011, through September 7, 2012, is forcing Mitsubishi to recall a worldwide total of 14,700 examples of its electric hatchback. The recall affects 1,402 vehicles in the United States. Read more »

Toyota Recalls 907,000 Corollas and 385,000 Lexus IS Models

On Wednesday, Toyota announced two separate, voluntary recalls involving around 907,000 Corolla models for faulty air-bags and around 385,000 Lexus IS vehicles fitted with defective wipers, from a number of countries around the world.

Most of the affected cars are located in the U.S. where the recall concerns 752,000 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles from the 2003 and 2004MY, and 270,000 Lexus IS vehicles from the 2006-2012MY.

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NHTSA Says it Uses Various Forms of Social Media to Discover Defects in Vehicles

Usually agencies such as the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) find out about vehicle issues when the manufacturer or owners who have experienced trouble report to them.

Now, an agency spokeswoman acknowledged that Twitter, Facebook, other social media websites, and even fan sites, online forums and bulletin boards are searched by the NHTSA regularly in order to discover information about possible issues that may warrant an investigation.

A large-scale study published last year by the Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business about online forums showed that they are a new source of information and surveillance for defects in vehicles.

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Toyota Prius and Lexus HS 250h Class-Action Lawsuit Dismissed by California Court

If there’s one thing Toyota has in abundance in the U.S., apart from sales and models, it is lawsuits. This time, though, the Japanese automaker scored a victory as U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney in California denied a class-action lawsuit by owners of Prius and Lexus models.

More specifically, the judge denied four car owners’ request to represent other owners of 2010 Prius and Lexus HS 250h models in California over a 2010 recall for a software upgrade that fixed an issue with the cars’ ABS system.

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GM Recalls More than 69,000 SUVs and Trucks Because They May Roll Away

The second automotive recall of 2013 after Subaru comes from General Motors that says more than 69,000 full-size pickup trucks and SUVs distributed globally may be affected by a problem that could cause them to roll away after being parked.

According to safety regulators, certain 2013 model Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles including the Escalade, Sierra and Silverado, may have been built with a cracked park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.

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Subaru Sings The Lights That Don't Light Recall Jingle for More Than 633,000 Cars

The first automotive recall of the New Year goes to Subaru, which has discovered a potential problem with puddle lights that could lead to smoke or fire on 633,842 models sold in the United States.

Subaru told U.S. safety regulators that the recall concerns certain 2010 and 2011MY Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2006-2012MY Tribeca crossovers sold before January 2012, and some 2009-2012MY Forester crossovers, also sold before January 2012.

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Over 118,000 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon Trucks Recalled for Missing Hood Latches

Oops…it looks like GM may have overlooked to add a secondary hood latch on its 2010-2012MY Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon twin pickup trucks, built from November 9, 2009, through August 28, 2012. Read more »

Hyundai Recalling 2012 Veloster Because Panoramic Sunroof May Shatter and For Parking Brake Issue

For the month of December, Hyundai has issued two separate recalls for its 2012 model year Veloster sports hatch in the States.

The first recall action affects 13,500 Velosters manufactured from November 1, 2011, through April 17, 2012, and equipped with panoramic sunroofs.

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Toyota Pays NHTSA Record $17.35 Million for Delaying Lexus RX Recall on Pedal Entrapment Issue

For the fourth time since 2010, Toyota has been fined the maximum penalty for delaying recalls.

On Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it has slapped Toyota with a record $17.35 million (€13.15 million at today's exchange rates) fine for failing to report a safety defect to address floor mat pedal entrapment in the 2010 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h in a timely manner.

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2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Recalled Over Potentially Faulty Rear Wheel Hubs

Porsche Cars North America informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it is recalling certain 2010 MY 911 GT3 cars over an issue with their rear wheel hubs.

The GT3s that are recalled were manufactured between May 15, 2009 and February 11, 2010 and the potential number of affected vehicles is 455 units.

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Watch Out: Honda and Acura Recall 807,000 Vehicles Because They Might Roll Away

If you happen to see any parked 2003-2004MY Honda Odyssey minivans and Pilot SUVs and 2003-2006MY Acura MDX crossovers, you may want to...keep your distance as the Japanese carmaker discovered that a malfunction of the ignition interlock in these vehicles may allow the key to be removed even when the transmission shift lever is not in 'Park'. Read more »

Mercedes-Benz Recalling 8 Different 2011-2012 Models in the States for Fire Risk

Luxury-carmaker Mercedes-Benz said it will soon start sending letters to around 5,800 owners of eight different models in the United States to inform them of a new recall action to fix a problem that could cause a fuel leak and possibly lead to a fire. Read more »

Another Recall for 2013 Ford Fusion, Second in a Week's Time!

Several thousand owners of the 2013 Ford Fusion in the States will soon receive a second recall notice from the Blue Oval, the second one in a week.

The first came on November 30 when Ford announced that 15,833 Fusion sedans powered by 1.6-liter EcoBoost engines were prone to overheating, which could cause a fire.

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BMW Recalling Near 30,000 X5 Diesels Because They May Lose Steering Power

The latest automaker to join in on the recall dance is BMW, which fears that its 2009-2012 X5 xDrive 35d diesel-powered crossovers may suffer from a problem that could lead to a loss of power steering.

In a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), BMW said an engine belt idler pulley bolt that could loosen and break over time causes the issue at hand.

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2013 Ford Escape and Fusion Recalled Over 1.6-liter EcoBoost Engine Fire Risk

Ford has issued a voluntary recall of 73,320 2013 Escape crossovers and 15,833 Fusion sedans powered by 1.6-liter engines sold in the U.S. and Canada due to possible overheating that can cause fluids to leak, thus causing a fire.

Although the company says that there have been no reports of injuries, Ford spokesman Said Deep told The Associated Press that the company has received reports of 12 fires in Escapes and one in a Fusion. All cases involve vehicles with the 1.6-liter engine and, according to Ford, 2013 Fusion and Escape models with other engines are not affected.

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Mercedes-Benz Recalls 2012 CLS550 Because Hood May Open While Driving

A small number of 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 and CLS550 4Matic are being recalled in the United States because the engine hood could open while driving.

In a filing to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the German automaker said that the recall affects 23 examples of the aforementioned models built from December 01, 2011, through December 13, 2011.

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Toyota Issues Recall for 2001-2004MY Tacoma Pickup Trucks to Fix Spare Tire Holder

Another week, another recall for Toyota, which this time, has announced a safety recall in the U.S. involving around 150,000 Tacoma pickup trucks from the 2001-2004 model years that were originally sold or are currently registered in the 20 cold climate states (see list below) and the District of Columbia. Read more »

2012-2013MY Volkswagen Beetle Recalled in the States for AirBag Fault

Close to 2,500 owners of certain model year 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles manufactured from February 2012, through August 2012, and equipped with leather sport seats, will be receiving a recall letter from Volkswagen. Read more »

Another Recall for GM, This Time for the 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic

The second recall we've heard this week from General Motors after the announcement on the Cadillac XTS concerns certain 2012 model year Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles for airbag troubles.

In a notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, the Detroit brand said that 2,949 vehicles are potentially affected.

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2013 Cadillac XTS Sedan Experiences its First Recall

General Motors has issued the first recall for its 2013 Cadillac XTS saloon that was launched in the U.S. market in the second quarter of the year.

The Detroit automaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that on certain models, the rear seat head restraints might not lock in the upright position after being folded forward.

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