February 9th, 2010, 6:27 pm by Matt Degen
There’s yet another major recall in the news, and this time it’s not Toyota.
Honda today said it is expanding a recall it originally issued in 2008 involving just a few thousand 2001 Accords and Civics. That recall expanded in July to nearly half a million vehicles, including the 2002 Honda Civic and Accord, plus some 2002 Acura TLs. (Acura is Honda’s luxury division.)
Now, some 378,000 more cars are being added to the recall. Here is what AP is reporting:
Honda Motor Co. is adding more than 378,000 cars to an existing safety recall for air bag inflation problems, the company said Tuesday.
The company will replace the driver’s side air bag inflator on the cars because they can deploy with too much pressure, causing the inflator to rupture and injure or kill the driver.
The recall now affects more than 822,000 vehicles, including certain 2001 and 2002 Accord sedans, Civic compacts, Odyssey minivans, CR-V small sport utility vehicles and some 2002 Acura TL sedans.
Honda said it is aware of 12 incidents linked to the problem, with 11 injuries and one death. The company said it is not aware of any problems happening after July 2009.
“However, we have concluded that we cannot be completely certain that the driver’s air bag inflator in the vehicles being added to this recall at this time will perform as designed,” Honda said in a statement.
Company officials said the airbag produces too much pressure that can cause the inflator to rupture, sending metal fragments toward the driver.
Honda says owners should take their vehicles to dealerships as soon as they are notified by the company in writing. Notification will begin during the month of February.
Of course, this isn’t the only recall going on.Click here to see our full coverage of the unrelated Toyota recalls.
Posted in: Recalls • honda | 1 Comment »
February 9th, 2010, 5:26 pm by Matt Degen
The Prius hybrid, the latest Toyota vehicle to be recalled, is already getting a fix, said one Orange County dealer.
Unlike the last Toyota recall, in which more than 2 million vehicles were recalled for a “sticking accelerator” and required a mechanical fix with a new part, Toyota says this issue can be resolved with a simple software update.
“It is the equivalent of upgrading your Outlook Express,” said Paul Lunsford, general manager of South Coast Toyota in Costa Mesa. “It is a software update and (it takes) about a half hour when all is said and done.”
Click to read our full interview with the Toyota dealer and how the fix is made.
Posted in: Recalls • toyota • Toyota Recall | 1 Comment »
February 9th, 2010, 4:26 pm by Matt Degen
Toyota’s executives have dodged the bullet on facing angry lawmakers
for a couple of weeks because of the blanket of snow that has hit the nation’s Capitol, writes our Washington correspondent, Dena Bunis, in the Total Buzz blog.
With more snow on the way tonight, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform’s hearing entitled: “Toyota as pedals: Is the public at risk?” will now be held on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m.
Expected to testify at the hearing is Toyota’s North America Chairman Yoshi Inaba, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and two safety experts.
Read the full post on the Total Buzz blog.
Posted in: Recalls • toyota • Toyota Recall | Post a Comment »
February 9th, 2010, 12:13 pm by J. GALLEGO
Talk about bad timing.
Right in the middle of Toyota’s decision to recall its popular 2010 Prius Hybrid because of problems with the braking system, Golden West College in Huntington Beach will go ahead with it’s annual raffle for, a 2010 Prius, writes Register Staff Writer Annie Burris.
Writes Burris:
“Elmore Toyota of Westminster donated a 2010 Toyota Prius for the college’s annual raffle — the sixth car they’ve given to the college for the drawing. The college is expecting to sell 750 tickets for the fundraiser, which supports student scholarships and campus projects that benefit students.
“We are standing 100 percent behind Elmore Toyota,” said college spokeswoman Margie Bunten. “I think that particular vehicle would be 100 percent fixed.”
Click here to read the entire story or read the entire Toyota Recall on this blog:
And check our
Toyota Recall Wiki page for more, too.
Posted in: Recalls • prius • toyota • Toyota Recall | 1 Comment »
February 9th, 2010, 12:01 pm by Matt Degen
Today’s announcement that Toyota is recalling the 2010 Prius hybrid over braking issues marks the third major recall for the world’s No. 1 automaker in about six months.
Between the three recalls, more than 8 million cars are affected worldwide. Among owners and observers alike, confusion reigns as to which cars are affected by the various recalls and, more importantly, how and when the cars will be repaired.
Here we break down the data.
Recall No. 1: Pedal entrapment
Last fall, Toyota recalled about 4 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles that is says are susceptible to having their accelerator pedals get stuck in the driver’s-side floor mat, causing unintended acceleration. The recall has since expanded to some 5 million cars. The recall followed a fatal accident in which an off-duty CHP officer and his family were killed near San Diego when their dealer-loaned Lexus ES350 sped to more than 100 mph on a freeway and crashed.
To correct the problem, Toyota will reshape the accelerator pedal and, in some cases, install a brake override system. The fix is being rolled out on affected models throughout this year.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Recalls • toyota • Toyota Recall | 1 Comment »
February 9th, 2010, 10:42 am by Matt Degen
This morning, Toyota announced its third recall in a few months, this latest for the 2010 Prius and the 2010 Lexus HS250h hybrid.
Here are selected answers provided by Torrance-based Toyota Motors Sales as to why this recall is taking place:
1. What is the problem with the 2010 Prius?
The anti-lock brake system (ABS) in the 2010 model-year Prius, in normal operation, engages and disengages rapidly (many times per second) as the control system senses and reacts to tire slippage. Some owners have reported experiencing inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady application of the brakes on rough or slick road surfaces when the anti-lock brake system (ABS) is activated in an effort to maintain tire traction.
2. How is Toyota responding to this Prius issue?
Toyota has responded to owner concerns with a running production change for the 2010 Prius that was introduced last month, improving the ABS system’s response time, as well as the system’s overall sensitivity to tire slippage.
The recall will allow Toyota dealers to perform this software update in the anti-lock brake systems of 2010 Prius vehicles sold prior to this production change.
3. Why does this only impact 2010 Prius models?
First- and second-generation Prius vehicles use a different ABS system and are not involved in this campaign.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Recalls • recall • toyota • Toyota Recall | 5 Comments »
