We admit it. We are having a very hard time keeping up with the latest car recalls. So today, we thought we’d write some down - kind of like a PopTort public service. (It keeps us from getting too confused.)
If you own a 2006-2009 Buick LaCrosse sedan, a 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy and Buick Rainier SUV, or 2006-2008 Saab 9-7X and Isuzu Ascender SUV, take note. General Motors is recalling 316,357 of these cars, “because the low-beam headlights can stop working." Something else to worry about!
Takata, whose airbags rupture during crashes and spray shrapnel, is reportedly “preparing to comply with a U.S. order to expand a region-specific [airbag] recall nationwide.” So far, its airbag recall “has been limited to hot and humid areas where the air bag inflators are thought to be more prone to fail the limited airbag” but “the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last week gave Takata, which supplies about a fifth of the world's air bags, until Tuesday to declare that its air bag inflators are defective and issue a national recall. If it does not, NHTSA could begin steps to fine the Japanese company up to $7,000 per vehicle, as well as force a recall.”
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is speeding its regional recall of vehicles with defective Takata airbag inflators after federal safety regulators castigated the automaker over the pace.
In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Friday, Scott Kunselman, Chrysler’s vehicle safety vice president, said the automaker will begin notifying customers of affected vehicles on Dec. 8 -- 11 days earlier than planned but a week after NHTSA demanded that the notifications start.
Kunselman also indicated that Chrysler may expand the scope of its regional recall -- currently limited to high-humidity areas Florida, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico -- based on a corporate review scheduled for Tuesday.…
NHTSA identifies the affected vehicles as:
• 2003-08 Dodge Ram pickup
• 2004-08 Dodge Durango
• 2007-08 Chrysler Aspen
• 2005-08 Chrysler 300
• 2005-08 Dodge Dakota pickups including rebadged 2006-07 Mitsubishi Raider pickups.
And a few days ago, Toyota said it was “recalling about 30,000 Sienna Minivans worldwide, saying the 2015 models' overhead assist grips can detach when an air bag deploys. The automaker says that the grips, which are mounted to the minivans' roof rails, could detach from the mounting bracket under some conditions, potentially injuring passengers." In addition,
Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas is recalling some of its Open Country Tuff Duty and Nitto Dura Grappler tires due to potential tread separation.
Toyo knows of two crashes involving the malfunction.
The free recall involves about 175,310 SUV and van tires.
Let’s see what else. Well, there’s this:
Federal safety regulators on Monday began an investigation into whether Graco Children’s Products delayed reporting a safety defect that eventually led to the nation’s largest recall of children’s car seats.
After a series of disputes with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this year, Graco recalled about 6.1 million child seats.…
At issue in the Graco seats are the buckles on restraining straps, which may be hard to unlatch, making it difficult to remove a child in an emergency. Graco resisted a recall, saying that there was no safety hazard and that any problems were caused because children spilled food or liquid on the buckles.
Right, so it’s the baby’s fault for creating such an unforeseeable problem as spilling juice. I give up.
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