Complete List of January 2004 NHTSA Recalls
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Consumer Complaints Database
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released a list of auto safety recalls announced in January 2004 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 at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (11-888-327-4236), 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
January 2004
VEHICLES:
CARS, VANS, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS AND MOTORCYCLES
Bayerische Motoren Werke
| Models: | BMW K Series | Years: 2001-2004 |
| BMW R Series | Years: 2001-2004 |
Dates of Manufacture: May 2000 – December 2003
Defect: On certain motorcycles, the O-ring in the fuel line quick-disconnect coupling could become damaged and lead to a fuel leak. There is also a problem involving crimp-type hose clamps, which can result in a fuel leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, adjust all crimp-type hose clamps. Also, all fuel line quick-disconnect couplings will be inspected. If a leak is detected, the quick-disconnect O-ring will be replaced. If damaged, the coupling will be replaced. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification would begin during February 2004. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Models: Dodge Durango
Year: 2004
Number Potentially Involved: 21,053
Dates of Manufacture: April 2003 – January 2004
Defect: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with
3.7L and 4.7L engines, the throttle control cable may ingest
water and freeze
during extended cold temperature. This could cause the throttle
to stick
in the open position and result in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the throttle control
cable. The
manufacturer has reported that owner notification began on
January 19, 2004.
Owners may contact DaimlerChrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
| Models: | Chrysler 300M | Year: 1999 |
| Chrysler Cirrus | Years: 1995-1999 | |
| Chrysler Concorde | Years: 1993-1999 | |
| Chrysler LHS | Years: 1993-1999 | |
| Chrysler Sebring Convertible | Years: 1996-1999 | |
| Dodge Intrepid | Years: 1993-1999 | |
| Dodge Stratus | Years: 1995-1999 | |
| Eagle Vision | Years: 1993-1997 | |
| Plymouth Breeze | Years: 1996-1999 |
Dates of Manufacture: April 1992 – July 1999
Defect: On certain passenger vehicles, the floor shifter ignition-park interlock may fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the Park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock may also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the Park position. Either circumstance may result in the vehicle rolling away without warning.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new load-limiting push rod into the floor shifter lever of the affected vehicles. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was expected to begin on March 1, 2004. Owners may contact DaimlerChryslerat 1-800-853-1403.
General Motors Corporation
Models: Saturn Ion
Years: 2003-2004
Number Potentially Involved: 127,285
Dates of Manufacture: June 2002 – September 2003
Defect: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.2L
4-cylinder (L61) engines were built with a fuel filter that
could corrode
prematurely on the exterior surface. If corrosion on the
exterior surface
of the fuel filter progresses to the point of creating a hole
in the shell,
fuel droplets could form and drop to the ground. If an ignition
source is
present, a fire could result.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel filter
assembly. The
manufacturer has reported that owner notification began on
December 30, 2003.
Owners may contact Saturn at 1-800-553-6000.
General Motors Corporation
Models: Saturn Ion
Years: 2003-2004
Number Potentially Involved: 79,204
Dates of Manufacture: June 2002 – September 2003
Noncompliance: Certain passenger vehicles fail to
comply
with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 118, "Power-operated
Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems." The power windows
and/or sunroof
may be operable after the ignition has been turned to the "Off"
position and
the front passenger door is opened. If unsupervised children
are left unattended
in the vehicle and operate the power windows or sunroof, there
is an increased
risk of injury to the child.
Remedy: Dealers will upgrade the Body Control Module
(BCM) calibration.
The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began on
Dec.ember
30, 2003. Owners may contact Saturn at 1-800-553-6000.
Jaguar Cars Ltd.
| Models: | Jaguar S-Type | Years: 2003-2004 |
| Jaguar XK | Years: 2003-2004 | |
| Jaguar XJ | Year: 2004 |
Dates of Manufacture: January 2002 – June 2003
Defect: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, with the forward drive gear selected and the vehicle stationary or in a forward motion, the gearbox could potentially select reverse gear, without indication. This failure could result in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the transmission control module. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification wais expected to begin during February 2004. Owners may contact Jaguar at 1-201-818-8500.
Kawasaki Motors Corporation, U.S.A.
| Models: | Kawasaki VN1500-E6 | Year: 2003 |
| Kawasaki VN1500-E7 | Year: 2004 | |
| Kawasaki VN800-A10 | Year: 2004 | |
| Kawasaki VN800-B8 | Year: 2003 | |
| Kawasaki VN800-B8L | Year: 2003 | |
| Kawasaki VN800-B9 | Year: 2004 |
Defect: On certain motorcycles, accelerator pump diaphragms may be damaged from excessive assembly clamping pressure, which can allow fuel to leak from the pump actuating rod area. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the accelerator pump diaphragm. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification wais expected to begin during February 2004. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-949-770-0400.
Kawasaki Motors Corporation, U.S.A.
| Models: | Kawasaki VN1500-E6 | Year: 2003 |
| Kawasaki VN1500-L4 | Year: 2003 | |
| Kawasaki VN1500-L4L | Year: 2003 | |
| Kawasaki VN1500-P2 | Year: 2003 | |
| Kawasaki VN1500-P2L | Year: 2003 | |
| Kawasaki VN1500-R3 | Year: 2003 | |
| Kawasaki VN1500-R3L | Year: 2003 | |
| Kawasaki VN1600-A1 | Year: 2003 | |
| Kawasaki VN1600-A1L | Year: 2003 | |
| Kawasaki VN1500-L5 | Year: 2004 | |
| Kawasaki VN1500-L5L | Year: 2004 |
Dates of Manufacture: June 2002 – February 2003
Defect: On certain motorcycles, high oil pressure upon a cold start-up can deform the oil filter cartridge, allowing oil to leak past the O-ring. Oil leaking past the O-ring may cause a loss of traction and a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the oil filter. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was expected to begin during February 2004. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-949-770-0400.
Land Rover
Models: Land Rover Discovery II
Years: 1999-2004
Number Potentially Involved: 99,657
Dates of Manufacture: May 1998 – December 2003
Defect: On certain sport utility vehicles, the
anti-lock
braking system (ABS) modulator valve cover retaining bolts can
crack due to
stresses transmitted by the flexing valve covers. This can
produce an unexpected
increase in stopping distance, with the potential for total
loss of service
braking function, which could result in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will strengthen the ABS modulator
assembly
valve covers and replace the retaining bolts. The manufacturer
has not yet
provided NHTSA with an owner notification schedule for this
campaign. Owners
may contact Land Rover at 1-800-637-6837.
Land Rover
Models: Land Rover Discovery II
Years: 2000-2003
Number Potentially Involved: 8,117
Dates of Manufacture: June 2000 – June 2003
Defect: On certain sport utility vehicles, the Active
Cornering Enhancement (ACE) pump banjo bolt looses torque and
allows fluid
to leak past the joint. The fluid from the pump joint can
ignite, resulting
in an underhood fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for leakage.
If
no leakage is evident, the bolt will be re-tightened. If
leakage is evident,
the bolt and washers will be replaced. The manufacturer has not
yet provided NHTSA
with an owner notification schedule for this campaign. Owners
may contact Land Rover
at 1-800-637-6837.
Maserati North America, Inc.
| Models: | Maserati Coupe | Year: 2004 |
| Maserati Spyder | Year: 2004 |
Dates of Manufacture: September 2001 – November 2003
Defect: On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel hoses may become soft and possibly disconnect from the metal fittings, which can cause a fuel leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the two existing metal and rubber fuel lines with new nylon fuel lines. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was expected to begin during February 2004. Owners may contact Maserati at 1-201-816-2651.
Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Models: Audi TT 3.2
Year: 2004
Number Potentially Involved: 145
Dates of Manufacture: July – October 2003
Defect: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a
Direct Shift Gearbox, during the production of the gearbox, a
seam at the
clutch was not welded to specifications. This could lead to
degraded performance
of the clutch inside the gearbox. The clutch could lose its
ability to provide
input torque to the transmission without prior warning, which
could allow
the vehicle to roll, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clutch. The
manufacturer has not
yet provided NHTSA with an owner notification schedule for this
campaign.
Owners may contact Audi at 1-800-822-2834.
Volvo Cars of North America, Inc.
| Models: | Volvo S60 | Year: 2004 |
| Volvo S80 | Year: 2004 | |
| Volvo V70 | Year: 2004 |
Dates of Manufacture: March - October 2003
Defect: On certain passenger vehicles, the front control arms may not have been manufactured correctly and, as a result, the stud and nut that secure the arm to the spindle may lose their initial axial tension. Under certain driving conditions, the steering may become less responsive and the driver may experience steering wheel play. This driving condition could eventually lead to separation between the front control arm and the spindle, which could result in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new type of nut. The manufacturer has not yet provided NHTSA with an owner notification schedule for this campaign. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
MEDIUM/HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUSES AND MOTOR HOMES
Dutchmen Manufacturing, Inc.
Models: Dutchmen Trailer
Years: 2001-2004
Number Potentially Involved: 6,172
Dates of Manufacture: June 2000 – November 2003
Defect: On certain travel trailers equipped with
Suburban
furnaces, the furnace exhaust vent may not be present. When the
furnace is
in use, carbon monoxide fumes could vent into the trailer,
which could result
in serious injury or death to the occupants.
Remedy: Owners and dealers will inspect for the
presence of
the exhaust vent and for hot exhaust air escaping from the
furnace exhaust.
If the vent is missing, the dealers will install a vent. The
manufacturer
has reported that owner notification was expected to begin
during February 2004.
Owners may contact Dutchmen at 1-219-534-1224.
IC Corporation
Models: AmTran FE
Years: 1992-2004
Number Potentially Involved: 7,321
Dates of Manufacture: October 1991 – November 2003
Defect: On certain school buses, a gap between the
modesty
panel and the wheel well located behind the driver’s seat can
occur if the
panel is bent out of position. Under the panel, the edges are
sharp and jagged.
Should someone reach under the panel, they could cut their
hands, fingers,
or toes on the jagged edges.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the panel. The manufacturer
has reported
that owner notification began on January 20, 2004. Owners may
contact IC at 1-800-993-7686.
International Truck & Engine Corporation
Models: International IC
Year: 2003
Number Potentially Involved: 2,546
Dates of Manufacture: March – October 2003
Defect: An incorrect brake pedal was installed on
certain
school buses, leading to misalignment. Misalignment, in
conjunction with
a force-actuated brake switch, can cause delayed brake light
activation during
light braking applications. In some light braking situations,
the vehicle
can come to a complete stop without activation of the brake
lights. If the
brake lights do not activate properly under normal driving
conditions, it
could lead to a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the incorrect brake pedal
with the
correct version. The manufacturer has reported that owner
notification was expected to
begin during February 2004. Owners may contact International at
1-800-448-7825.
Monaco Corporation
| Models: | Holiday Rambler Ambassador | Years: 2002-2004 |
| Holiday Rambler Neptune | Years: 2002-2003 | |
| Monaco Knight | Years: 2002-2004 | |
| Safari Cheetah | Years: 2003-2004 | |
| Monaco Socialite | Years: 2002 | |
| Safari Sahara | Year: 2004 | |
| Number Potentially Involved: 2,099 |
Remedy: Dealers will replace the original I-beam and weld stiffeners from the bracket to the center differential of the rear axle housing. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was expected to begin during February 2004. Owners may contact Monaco at 1-877-466-6226.