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Mitsubishi and Mazda are recalling 630,000 vehicles in the largest Takata airbag recall.
The move comes just days after Takata said it was doubling the number of cars it had recalled to 34 million, affecting 11 carmakers.
Mazda is recalling 120,000 vehicles including the Atenza sedan, the Bongo van and two models that it builds for Nissan and Mitsubishi in Japan.
Mitsubishi is recalling 512,000 cars.
About 412,000 of those vehicles are outside Japan, the carmaker said.
Last week, Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Daihatsu all recalled millions of cars because of Takata’s potentially deadly airbags.
Six deaths have been linked to Takata airbags that have all been in Honda cars. The airbags have also been connected to more than 100 injuries.
The embattled company faces multiple class action lawsuits and criminal and regulatory investigations in North America.
On May 21, Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker, also said that it would help to get to the bottom of the problems with Takata’s airbags.
Investigations have shown that Takata airbag inflators were not properly sealed and could be damaged by moisture. It is alleged that the airbags can burst under pressure, spraying shrapnel inside the car.
Toyota’s vow comes as doubts are growing over whether the Japanese carmaker has enough financial power to deal with all the defects – an issue that could take years.
Takata saw a 5 billion yen ($41 million) extraordinary loss for the fiscal fourth quarter, stemming from costs related to previously announced recalls.
A total of 6.5 million Toyota and Nissan cars are being recalled worldwide to replace potentially faulty airbag inflators produced by Takata.
Toyota said it was recalling just under 5 million cars, including the Corolla, Vitz and other models made between March 2003 and November 2007.
Nissan is recalling about 1.56 million cars over the same issue.
The Japanese carmakers said the recall was for investigative purposes and no accidents or injuries have been reported.
Photo Reuters
Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker, said the recall affected 35 of its models made around the world and that it would include 1.36 million cars in Japan.
The move is the latest in the saga of potentially exploding airbags made by Japanese car parts maker Takata that has been linked to at least six deaths – all in Honda cars.
After the recalls by Toyota and Nissan were announced, Honda – Japan’s No 3 carmaker – said it was also preparing to announce more car recalls related to the air bags.
No details were given on the number of cars Honda would recall.
In March, Honda had said it was recalling another 100,000 vehicles in the US related to the airbags.
About 25 million vehicles with Takata airbags have been recalled worldwide by 10 different carmakers since 2008.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has expanded a recall of vehicles with potentially dangerous Takata airbags to 7.8 million.
The NHTSA warned that owners should take “immediate action”.
If deployed with force, the airbags have the potential to eject deadly shrapnel at passengers.
The NHTSA has identified 10 manufacturers who used Takata as a supplier, including General Motors, Honda, and Toyota.
The agency has told those who might own affected vehicles to check the list at www.safercar.gov, and specifically warned those living in more humid climates such as Florida and Hawaii to get their vehicles inspected.
“Responding to these recalls, whether old or new, is essential to personal safety and it will help aid our ongoing investigation into Takata airbags and what appears to be a problem related to extended exposure to consistently high humidity and temperatures,” said NHTSA deputy administrator David Friedman in a statement.
The NHTSA has expanded a recall of vehicles with potentially dangerous Takata airbags to 7.8 million
Initially, the NHTSA said that only 4.7 million cars could be affected, but it has increased the number of vehicles twice in recent days.
Japanese supplier Takata warned recently that older airbags could explode with too much force, which would send plastic and metal parts towards passengers with enough force to injure them.
Takata said it estimated that around 12 million vehicles around the globe may contain the parts.
The recall notices have been ongoing for the past 18 months, but regulators and car manufacturers have warned that only a small percentage of those cars potentially affected have been returned and inspected.
The majority of the affected vehicles – more than five million – are Honda cars manufactured between 2001 and 2011, including the Accord, Civic, and Pilot models.
Honda and Nissan have added 2.8 million cars to the recall they issued last year over a defect in passenger airbags.
Honda is recalling two million vehicles and Nissan 755,000 cars globally.
The affected cars have a defective part which “could cause the airbag inflator to rupture and deploy the airbag abnormally in a crash”.
Honda is adding 2 million vehicles to the recall they issued last year over a defect in passenger airbags (photo AP)
The part was supplied by Takata Corp. Other firms, including Toyota, have also issued recalls due to the issue.
Earlier this month, Toyota added 650,000 cars – all in Japan – to its initial recall.
The latest recalls by the three Japanese car makers takes the total number of cars recalled due to the issue to nearly seven million globally.
Honda said its latest recall affects at least 13 models, including the Fit, Stream, CRV and Civic.
Meanwhile, Nissan’s recall affects 16 models globally, including the Cube, Terrano and Sylphy.
Both the firms said that there had been no reports of any accidents or injuries due to the issue.
Earlier this month, Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker, said it had received one report of a seat cover burn due to the problem.
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General Motors is recalling 1.3 million more cars for power steering loss.
The latest recall includes the 2004-2006 Pontiac G6, Chevrolet Malibu, and Malibu Maxx, 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo models) and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt.
At issue is a potential loss of power steering. GM has been involved with this particular problem since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began an investigation in December 2010, which forced GM to disclose it had received nearly 3,500 complaints from Ion owners.
Since the start of February, GM has recalled more than 6 million cars and is now facing the wrath of multiple federal investigations and lawsuits.
GM is recalling 1.3 million more cars for power steering loss
The NHTSA did not provide recall documents explaining the problem in greater detail. GM said dealers would replace one or a combination of parts, including the power steering motor, steering column and the motor control unit. Owners who paid for these repairs earlier will be reimbursed by GM. The carmaker said it would also give out lifetime warranties for the power steering motor for other non-recalled models, including the 2006-2009 Chevrolet HHR and 2003 Saturn Ion.
On Friday, GM recalled more than 490,000 pickups and SUVs, including the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, as well as the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. On those vehicles, the transmission oil cooler could leak. GM also recalled more than 170,000 Chevrolet Cruze sedans from 2013-2014 due to half-shafts on the front axle that can fail. Still on the same day, GM recalled an additional 971,000 cars for faulty ignition switches that had previously covered 1.62 million recalled cars in February. Two weeks earlier, GM recalled 1.54 million cars for faulty airbags, brake boosters and non-compliant dashboard material.
GM still has several more vehicle investigations pending within the NHTSA. One involves 1.77 million full-size SUVs and pickup trucks from 1999 to 2003 for brake line corrosion that can lead to increased stopping distances. GM and the NHTSA also received more than 1,300 complaints for brake light malfunctions on 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 models, which were not included in last year’s recall of just under 10,000 cars in the US. None of these investigations have been escalated to a recall either by the NHTSA or GM.
GM CEO Mary Barra is scheduled to testify Tuesday before the US House Energy and Commerce Committee on the ignition switch recalls.
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General Motors (GM) expects to spend nearly $300 million in Q1 2014 to repair vehicles affected by its recent recalls.
GM set aside the amount on Monday as it announced three separate recalls affecting nearly 1.5 million vehicles.
That follows the 1.6 million vehicles it called back last month over faulty ignition switches.
GM announced three separate recalls affecting nearly 1.5 million cars
GM is facing an investigation over its handling of the recall over the faulty switches which can disable airbags.
The recall announced on Monday affects the following models:
- 1.18 million vehicles, including 2008 – 2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia, 2009 – 2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008 – 2010 Saturn Outlook, over problems with deployment of side airbags.
- 303,000 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana from the 2009 – 2014 model years with gross vehicle weights of 10,000 pounds or less as they do not comply with a head impact requirement for unrestrained occupants.
- 63,900 Cadillac XTS full-size sedan from the 2013 and 2014 model years to fix a problem that could lead to overheating, melting of plastic components and a possible engine compartment fire.
GM is under pressure over its handling of a recall earlier this year that involved faulty ignition switches which could turn off the engine and disable airbags.
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General Motors has decided to recall 748,024 more cars in the US that may have faulty ignition switches that can shut the engine off while driving.
In a statement, GM said it found eight additional crashes related to the ignition switch problem for a total of 31 accidents and 13 deaths.
A total of 1.37 million General Motors cars are affected in the US and about 1.62 million worldwide
A total of 1.37 million General Motors cars are affected in the US and about 1.62 million worldwide.
Two weeks ago, GM recalled nearly 780,000 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2007 Pontiac G5 sedans and coupes, including 619,122 in the US.
The additional cars include the 2003-2007 Saturn Ion coupe, 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR compact SUV and 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky 2-seat roadsters.
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Chrysler has finally agreed to voluntarily recall 2.7 million Jeeps that could be at risk of fuel tank fires, after initially refusing a government request to do so.
Chrysler said it had resolved its differences with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The recall affects Jeep Grand Cherokees from 1993-2004 and Jeep Libertys from 2002-07.
Chrysler maintains that the vehicles are not defective, but said it regards safety as a “paramount concern”.
The company said dealers would inspect the vehicles and, if necessary, provides an upgrade to the rear structure to better manage low-speed crashes.
Chrysler has finally agreed to voluntarily recall 2.7 million Jeeps that could be at risk of fuel tank fires
Earlier this month, the NHTSA asked Chrysler to voluntarily recall the Grand Cherokees and Libertys, saying that if hit from the rear, the fuel tanks could leak fuel and cause fires.
It said the location of the tanks behind the axle and their height above the road was a design defect.
The agency said it had evidence of at least 37 rear-impact crashes and fires, causing 51 deaths.
At the time, Chrysler said it did not intend to recall the vehicles.
But in a statement on Tuesday, the company said: “Chrysler Group’s analysis of the data confirms that these vehicles are not defective and are among the safest in the peer group.
“Nonetheless, Chrysler Group recognizes that this matter has raised concerns for its customers and wants to take further steps, in co-ordination with NHTSA, to provide additional measures to supplement the safety of its vehicles.”
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Toyota has decided to recall 681,500 vehicles in the US dealing a blow to its efforts to rebuild its image after a number of safety issues in recent years.
The company is recalling 70,500 Camry and 116,000 Venza cars to fix silicon grease leaks that may cause starting problems.
Another 495,000 Tacoma vehicles need repairs to faulty steering wheels that may deactivate the driver’s air bag.
Toyota is the world’s third-largest carmaker.
“Toyota is currently obtaining the necessary replacement parts. Once the replacement parts are available, we will notify owners,” the carmaker said in a statement.
The recall comes at a time when Toyota is not just seeking to rebuild its brand image but also trying to win back its market share that it lost to competitors after last year’s earthquake and tsunami.
Its image took a beating after the carmaker, once known for its quality and safety controls, recalled almost 12 million vehicles over the past two-and-a-half years for various reasons.
Toyota has decided to recall 681,500 vehicles in the US dealing a blow to its efforts to rebuild its image after a number of safety issues in recent years
There were 14 separate recalls in 2010 alone.
Analysts said while the latest announcement will hurt the company, it will not derail its recovery process.
“It looks bad for Toyota especially after the recall problems it has had in the past,” said Hans Greimel of Automotive News.
“But it is a road bump in their path to recovery and not a major road block.”
Toyota’s sales numbers were dented after it had to curb or suspend production last year, not just at its Japanese plants but also at its North American facilities, due to a shortage of parts after the twin natural disasters.
However, Toyota has returned to normal production and seen a revival in its sales in the US, one of its biggest markets.
According to the latest data, Toyota’s sales in the US increased by 12% in February versus last year. Analysts said the upward trend was likely to continue in the coming months despite the latest recall.
“We will see a lot of new products coming out this year and next year. That will do a lot to invigorate the brand,” said Hans Greimel.
