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NHTSA Publishes List of April 2003 Recalls

NHTSA Publishes List of April 2003 Recalls

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
May 15, 2003

NHTSA 20-03
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Contact: Tim Hurd
Telephone: (202) 366-9550

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released a list of auto safety recalls announced in April 2003 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, 888-327-4236, or by accessing NHTSA on the Internet at http://www.nhtsa.gov/. The Hotline also can be used to report safety problems.

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SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGNS
April 2003

VEHICLES:

CARS, VANS, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS AND MOTORCYCLES

Bayerische Motoren Werke

Models:	BMW 325i	Year:     2003
	BMW 325Ci	Year:     2003
	BMW 330i	Year:     2003
	BMW M3	Year:     2003

Number Potentially Involved:  13,100
Dates of Manufacture:  August - November 2002
Defect:  On certain passenger vehicles, the window lifting anti-pinching device might not function properly, and occupants could be pinched by a window that is being closed.
Remedy:  Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the electronic control unit for the window lifting anti-pinching device. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during May 2003. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.

Ferrari North America

Models:	Ferrari 512M	Year:     1995
	Ferrari 512TR	Years:     1991-1995
	Ferrari Testarossa	Years:     1987-1991

Number Potentially Involved:  2,008
Dates of Manufacture:  October 1986 - December 1995
Defect:  On certain passenger vehicles, the passive restraint system may not function correctly. Inconsistent electrical operation of the automatic track assembly has been experienced.   If the passive restraint system experiences an electrical or mechanical failure, the seat occupant would not be fully protected.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace all the main components of the passive seat belt System. This includes the electronic control units, the retractor mechanism, and both the right and left motor driven track assemblies. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began April 24, 2003. Owners may contact Ferrari at 1-201-816-2651.

Ford Motor Company
Models:     Lincoln LS                   Year:      2003
Number Potentially Involved:  1,736
Dates of Manufacture:  November 2002 - February 2003 
Defect:  On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 17-inch chrome wheels, the wheels were not heat-treated. These wheels may crack at the lug-nut holes, which could result in the loss of the lug-nut torque. If this condition occurs, the driver may experience noise and/or vibration while driving the vehicle. Continued operation of the vehicle could result in the wheel separating from the hub, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:  Dealers will inspect the wheels to ensure that all the wheels have been heat-treated. Any wheel that has not been heat-treated will be replaced. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began April 14, 2003. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

Ford Motor Company
Models:     Lincoln Continental                   Year:      1999-2000
Number Potentially Involved:  43,459
Dates of Manufacture:  May 1998 - February 2002 
Problem:  On certain passenger vehicles, the driver and/or passenger side air bag could deploy as a result of underbody impacts near the sensors, such as those occurring from pieces of gravel or debris thrown from the wheels while the vehicle is being operated at moderate to high speed or being accelerated.
Remedy:  Dealers will recalibrate the air bag sensors. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began March 31, 2003.   This action is deemed a safety improvement campaign and is not being conducted under the Safety Act. The company has informed NHTSA that it will provide the modifications described above free of charge. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.                                                     [NHTSA Recall No. 03V144/Ford Recall No. 03G01]

General Motors Corporation 

Models:	Chevrolet TrailBlazer	Year:     2003
	GMC Envoy	Year:     2003
	Oldsmobile Bravada	Year:     2003

Number Potentially Involved:  44,653
Dates of Manufacture:  July - September 2002 
Defect:  Certain sport utility vehicles were built with a left-front brake pipe with a circumferential score at a random location along the length of the pipe as the result of the manufacturing process. If the brake pipe partially or fully fractured, brake pedal travel would immediately increase and front brake performance would be reduced, a crash could occur.   
Remedy:  Dealers will replace the left-front brake pipe. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule for this campaign. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, GMC at 1-800-462-8782, or Oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.

General Motors Corporation 

Models:	Chevrolet Astro	Years:     1995-1997
	Chevrolet S10	Years:     1996-1997
	Chevrolet Blazer	Year:     1996
	Chevrolet Pickup (2WD)	Year:     1994
	Chevrolet Pickup (2WD)	Year:     1997
	Chevrolet Pickup (4WD)	Year:     1994
	Chevrolet Pickup (Reg. & Extended Cab)	Years:     1995-1996
	Chevrolet Pickup (Crew Cab)	Years:     1995-1997
	Chevrolet Suburban	Years:     1994-1997
	Chevrolet Tahoe	Years:     1994-1996
	Oldsmobile Bravada	Year:     1996
	GMC Safari	Years:     1995-1997
	GMC Sierra	Year:     1996
	GMC Jimmy	Year:     1996
	GMC Pickup (2WD)	Year:     1994
	GMC Pickup (2WD)	Year:     1997
	GMC Pickup (4WD)	Year:     1994
	GMC Pickup (Reg. & Extended Cab)	Years:     1995-1996
	GMC Pickup (Crew Cab)	Years:     1995-1997
	GMC Suburban	Years:     1994-1997
	GMC Yukon	Years:     1994-1996

Number Potentially Involved:  1,755,876
Dates of Manufacture:  March 1994 - September 1996 
Defect:  On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor may fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all. If this were to occur during bad weather, driver visibility would be reduced, which could result in a crash.
Remedy:   Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during late June 2003. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, GMC at 1-800-462-8782, or Oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.

Indian Motorcycle Company

Models:	Indian Scout	Years:     2002-2003
	Indian Spirit	Years:     2002-2003

Number Potentially Involved:  1,643
Dates of Manufacture:  January 2001 - February 2002
Defect:   On certain motorcycles, due to the positioning of the gas tank vent tube, the vent tube can become clogged with debris, particularly in wet weather. Vent tube clogging can cause interruption of fuel flow to the carburetor, causing the engine to stop. A clogged vent tube may also cause pressure to build up in the gas tank and push a small amount of gas out of the fuel filler cap seal. Fuel leakage in the present of an ignition source can result in a fire.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace the current vent tube with a longer tube repositioned to prevent clogging. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began April 28, 2003. Owners may contact Indian at 1-888-899-2997.

Kawasaki Motors Corporation 

Models:	Kawasaki BN 125-A4	Year:     2001
	Kawasaki BN 125-A5	Year:     2002

Number Potentially Involved:  5,102
Dates of Manufacture:  October 2000 - February 2002
Defect:  On certain motorcycles, the rear brake actuating cam can break where it is attached to the actuating arm, causing a loss of rear brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace the brake cam. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began April 24, 2003. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-949-770-0400.

Kia Motors Corporation
Models:     Kia Sedona            Year:      2002
Number Potentially Involved:  4,276
Dates of Manufacture:  May - June 2002 
Defect:  On certain passenger vehicles, some of the second and third row seat strikers installed on the vehicle floor pan have been improperly heat treated and could break in a crash, resulting in injuries to occupants of these seats.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace the seat strikers. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began April 25, 2003. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-222-5500.

Kia Motors Corporation
Models:     Kia Sedona            Year:      2003
Number Potentially Involved:  3,434
Dates of Manufacture:  November 2002 - March 2003 
Defect:  On certain passenger vehicles, there was a programming error in the anti-lock braking system (ABS) electronic control module logic. The programming error could reduce braking force at speeds below 25 mph, which could result in increased stopping distances. Such increased stopping distances could result in a crash.
Remedy:  Dealers will reprogram the control module. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule for this campaign.   Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-222-5500.

Nissan Motor Corporation
Models:     Nissan Altima            Year:      1994-1995
Number Potentially Involved:  190,000
Dates of Manufacture:  September 1993 - March 1995
Problem:  Nissan is recalling certain passenger vehicles following reports that passenger air bag deployments in these vehicles had caused a number of moderate-to-severe eye injuries. Nissan has developed a new passenger air bag that is less powerful when it inflates in a crash to reduce the risk of air bag inflation-related injuries.
Remedy:  Nissan dealers will replace the passenger air bag at no charge to the consumer. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during May 2003.  This action is deemed a safety improvement campaign and is not being conducted under the Safety Act. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Subaru of America, Inc. 

Models:	Subaru Legacy	Years:     2000-2003
	Subaru Outback	Years:     2000-2003

Dates of Manufacture:  May 1999 - April 2002
Defect:  This applies to certain passenger vehicles sold or currently registered in the States of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Certain rear suspension subframe components were produced with poor paint quality which, after continued exposure to corrosive road salts for a period of several years, could result in rust-out of the component and possible breakage of the subframe. If such breakage occurs while the vehicle is being operated, control of the vehicle could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:  Dealers will clean and rust-proof the rear suspension subframe. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during June or July 2003. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.

Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
Models:    Toyota 4 Runner            Year:      2003
Number Potentially Involved:  29,482
Dates of Manufacture:  October 2002 - March 2003
Defect:  On certain sport utility vehicles with V6 engines, the fuel pulsation damper, located on the fuel rail, may have been improperly assembled, causing a diaphragm in the pulsation damper to be damaged. If the diaphragm fails, fuel may leak. This could result in an engine compartment fire if a heat source or an ignition source is present.
Remedy:  Dealers will replace the pulsation damper. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during May 2003. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

MEDIUM/HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUSES AND MOTOR HOMES

International Truck and Engine Corporation 

Models:	International 4300	Years:      2001-2002
	International 4400	Years:      2001-2002
	International 7300	Years:      2001-2002
	International 7400	Years:      2001-2002

Number Potentially Involved:  15,354
Dates of Manufacture:  October 2000 - October 2001
Noncompliance:  Certain heavy duty trucks fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems."   Due to the design of the windshield washer pump motor circuit, the system's ability to function is impaired when it is full of frozen water and the pump motor shaft is locked or frozen (cannot rotate).  
Remedy:  Dealers will install a new 10-amp fuse in place of the 5 amp fuse and a new 10 amp label will be placed over the original 5 amp designation on the fuse panel label. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during June 2003. Owners may contact International at 1-800-448-7825.                                    

EQUIPMENT:

Honeywell International, Inc.
Models:     Honeywell Prestone Jumpit Plus, Part No. AS901
Number Potentially Involved:  13,706
Dates of Manufacture:  January - March 2003
Defect:  On certain portable power sources, three housing screws, which affix the head of the air compressor to the cylinder, were not properly installed. Inconsistent application of these screws may inhibit movement of the piston, causing the cylinder to lock up or become inoperative, drawing excessive current and overheating. This could cause the wire insulation to melt, possibly resulting in a fire.  
Remedy:  Honeywell will provide the customer with a full credit for returned products. Honeywell has notified Wal-Mart, where these power sources were sold, and will place posters concerning this recall throughout the stores. Notification to the stores began April 3, 2003. Customers should contact Honeywell at 1-479-271-7934.