Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 655,000 Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT pickup trucks, because of a problem with a hose that can affect the vehicle's braking system. The recall only affects 2005 to 2006 trucks equipped with the 5.4 liter 3 valve eight cylinder engines. Ford spokesman, Wes Sherwood, said there have been eleven minor accidents tied to the issue, but no injuries have been reported. Owners of the trucks will be notified by the end of June, and the recall will begin in July. For more information, owners can contact Ford directly at 800-392-3673. Reported by Yahoo Finance
Just like the scene from Office Space when Dom Portwood asks Peter if he received the memo about his TPS reports, today I ask you Truckblog fans, did you get that memo from last week about Truckblog TV and our other huge stories? If you didn't, below is a list of our top blogs from last week for you to read this Monday morning. "So if you could just remember to do that from now on, that'd be great. All right!".
If you're furious at work right now and are not happy with the events of your Monday morning (case of the Mondays?), and have also announced to your fellow co-workers that work sucks, then just remember what Lawrence said to Peter in Office Space... "No. No, man. Shit, no, man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' something like that, man". If that's the case, don't leave your cubical, and take a moment to read last weeks blogging wrath.
Toyota has recalled 90,000 Highlander SUV's according WCVB, due to a seat belt problem in the third-row seat that could be prevented from being secured. There have been no complaints or injuries related to the seat belt issue, and Toyota has stopped all sales of the 2008 Highlander SUV and hybrid version with the third row seats equipped. The Highlander vehicles effected by the recall were built from May of 2007 to March of 2008. Owners will be notified of the seat belt recall in June.
As announced by Autoweek, Ford Motor Company is recalling 65,000 of their 2008 F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks due to a weak fuel tank mount that could cause a gasoline leak in a head on collision of 30 miles per hour or more. The gasoline tank could move forward in the event of an accident and spill fuel, creating a fire hazard. You can contact your local Ford dealer to fix the problem, free of charge.
Can you believe it's already Monday again? What happened to the weekend? Well, one thing is for sure, at least this week we get to look forward to more exciting news about our economy. Starting off with the price of oil tipping $110 per barrel, $3.29 dollar average gasoline prices (don't forget the diesel guys at well over $4.00 already!), continued market share decline for domestic automakers, Union employees not agreeing yet on contracts, and more vehicle recalls. However, on a happier note, here's a list of our top stories from last week that you may have missed in the midst of all the action last week.
Posted on Detroit Free Press, Ford Motor Company has issued a new recall, this time effecting 100,000 2008 F-250 through F-550 Super Duty trucks for problems with "the weld connecting a bracket and the drivers front seat back could crack on a small number of vehicles..."
Chrysler has issued a recall for the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander SUV's, due to a problem with the vehicle stalling while driving. The front control module may have been incorrectly manufactured. This could cause the engine to stall while driving or nor to start", stated The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Porsche has announced a recall of 19,000 Cayenne SUVs, sold between November 30, 2006 to January 18, 2008 because of a fuel line problem. The fuel line can come into contact with the engine block while driving, possibly leaving abrasions in the fuel line and causing sounds. Only five instances have occured and no injuries or accidents have been reported. If you have purchased a new Cayenne since 2006, talk to your dealer as soon as possible. As reported by Detroit News.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation against General Motors and their new 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV due to possible vehicle fires. In two reports of fires, both are believed to have occurred while the SUV's were parked in a home garage with the engine turned off.
In an effort to become profitable by 2009, Ford Motor Company are re-sizing their company once again, this time cutting 8,000 jobs via new buyout offers and early retirement packages. Ford is also plagued with a new round of recalls, 180,000 SUV's and Vans regarding faulty fuel hoses and interior door handles.
Reflecting upon last week, we at Truckblog delivered news about Ford's new Work Solutions line-up, a new recall from them regarding 225k vehicles, and posted information about a new lift kit for the 2007 and 2008 Toyota Tundra. Then, Suzuki stepped up into the truck relm with their new concepts, we talked about a crazy Honda Civic tractor, another hybrid truck was announced, new information about a unibody truck from GMC was released, and finally, a slick LED lightstrip was installed on Project Truckblog. Whew, what a week! Below is a list of last weeks top stories:
As posted by Yahoo Finance, Ford Motor Company announced this past weekend of another recall, effecting 225,000 vehicles this time that were already repaired from the previous cruise control catastrophe. Ford says "the affected vehicles represent a small portion of the about 10 million vehicles that have been recalled since 1999 related to the cruise control switch problem".
As reported by Yahoo Finance, truck maker Volvo AB announced they are recalling 125,000 trucks in North America, due to a potential fire hazard in the main switch with its lighting system. The models affected are the Volvo VN, VHD and VT's produced from 2003 to the present. "There's a problem in the main switch in the lighting system which can lead to an overheating in the component. The light can go off, or the component could short circuit and lead to a fire," said Tommy Kohle, a spokesman for the company. Volvo stated they will fix the problem free of charge.
As reported by Yahoo Finance, Toyota Motor Corporation announced a recall this morning of 15,600 four by four versions of their 2007 Tundra pickup truck, because of problems related to the propellar shaft that connects to the rear axle.
The Detroit Free Press reported that Chrysler LLC is recalling almost 600,000 2001 to 2002 Dakota pickups, Durango SUV's, Dodge Ram Vans and 2002 Dodge Ram pickup trucks, due to a concern that the vehicles could shift out of park without the key in the ignition. In some reported cases, long term wear can occur on the gearshift assembly due to corrosion. Nine accidents have been reported so far with no fatalities. Owners will be notified beginning January 2008 to fix the assembly.
The Detroit News announced this morning that Ford is recalling 1.2 million 1997 to 2003 F-Super Duty pickup trucks with the 7.3 liter diesel engine, due to a faulty engine sensor that can cause the diesel motor to suddenly stall.
The recall also includes E-series vans that are equipped with the 7.3 liter diesel engine. The announcement states that "the sensor can degrade over time and cause the vehicle engines to stop, which could lead to an accident. Ford said it had 14 reports of accidents or loss of control related to the faulty sensor." If you are effected by this recall, Ford will contact you later this month and offer a free repair.
Beginning on November 26, Nissan will be recalling 372,250 1997-2001 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4 SUVs due to a coating problem on the fuel filler tube. The recall however, primarely affects vehicles in the North East where large amounts of road salt are found on the road during the winter months. Read on to find out how.
Detroit Free Press has reported that more than 55,000 Toyota vehicles have been recalled due to complaints of "unintended acceleration caused by the mats sticking underneath the accelerator pedal"...Try telling that one to an auto insurance company. The vehicles affected are the Toyota Camry and Lexus ES 350, however complaints have also been filed with the Toyota Tacoma, RAV 4 crossover, Prius hybrid and Avalon sedans (Watch out Tom!).
Detroit Free Press reported that Chrysler LLC has recalled nearly 300,000 SUVs due to brake problems while driving up hill. "The recall involves more than 156,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Commander SUVs from the 2006-2007 model years, more than 90,000 2007 Jeep Wrangler SUVs and nearly 50,000 2007 Dodge Nitro SUVs. The automaker had received about 20 complaints of vehicles experiencing a delay in braking when drivers tried to come to a stop after coasting uphill. To fix the problem, the computer connected to the anti-lock brake system will be reprogrammed."
Owners can contact Chrysler directly at (800)853-1403 or speak with your local dealer for more information and to see if your vehicle has been recalled.
Ford Motor Company has announced another recall for cruise control switch problems, that could potentially result in engine fires, stretching across more than a dozen vehicle models ranging from 1992-2004 model years. The new recall involves more than 3.6 Million passenger cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans. Click "Full Story" for the list of affected vehicles.
MSNBC reports, "Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday it was recalling more than 500,000 Ford Escape sport utility vehicles after receiving reports of engine fires linked to corrosion on antilock brake connectors. Ford said the recall involved 444,880 Escapes from the 2001-2004 model years in the United States, and about 75,000 Escapes in Canada, Mexico and Europe. The recall does not affect hybrid versions of the SUV, the automaker said."
"Ford Motor Co. said on Wednesday it was recalling over 37,000 of its new 2008 model-year F-Series Super Duty trucks after reported tailpipe fires in the diesel version of the pickups. Ford said it had received reports of three cases where leaking fuel or oil ignited when trapped in a diesel particulate filter near the tailpipe of the new trucks," Reuters reports.
MSNBC reports, "Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it was recalling 533,000 Tundra pickup trucks and Sequoia sport utility vehicles because of potential steering problems. Toyota said the recall involved 2004-2006 Tundra trucks and 2004-2007 Sequoia full-size SUVs. The automaker said there was a possibility of excessive wear to a front suspension lower ball joint that could make it difficult to steer the vehicle and stay in the center of the lane."
MSNBC reports, "Nissan Motor Co. has begun recalling over 130,000 vehicles globally including 80,000 in North America because of an ignition key defect, a company official said Thursday. Nissan is recalling 70,000 Murano SUVs..."
"Federal safety officials have forced Toyota Motor Corp. to modify a recall of 157,000 Tundra pickups over a violation of child safety standards, after officials told the automaker that its original plan to remove manual air bag shutoff switches was insufficient. While the problem has not been linked to any injuries or consumer complaints, the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency contended it was important to uphold the law on child restraints. In a letter to Toyota Monday, NHTSA's head of vehicle safety said Toyota's new plan would satisfy the agency," Detroit Free Press reports.
The Detroit News reported today, "In a victory for Ford Motor Co., federal regulators have decided not to formally investigate claims that thousands of Ford Explorers built between 1997 and 2001 may have unsafe roofs that violate safety standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last week rejected a petition by California-based Safety Analysis & Forensic Engineering Research to retest 10 vehicles built during the period."
The New York Times unravels Ford's switches which have recently led to a massive recall of Ford trucks and SUVs: "Just two inches long, the Texas Instruments Model 9F924 speed control deactivation switch does not look like a menacing device. The $20 switch, which shuts off the cruise control when a driver taps the brakes, became the subject of one of the most exhaustive and complex investigations in the agencys history."
According to Bloomberg, "Toyota Motor Corp.'s Tundra pickup may be recalled for the second time in as many years after new complaints of suspension failures prompted U.S. auto safety officials to upgrade an ongoing investigation. The inquiry covers 219,522 Tundras from 2003 and 2004."
Just yesterday, Truckblog reported that Toyota pushed Ford into the Number 2 spot regarding overall US Sales. Today, even more bad news for FoMoCo as they announced they are recalling 1.2 million vehicles.
– MichaelS
"Chrysler Group is recalling more than 800,000 Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicles because of the potential loss of steering control, the automaker said Tuesday. DaimlerChrysler AG spokesman Max Gates said the front suspension lower ball joint could experience excessive wear and looseness, leading the ball joint to separate. The recall affects 832,000 Liberty SUVs from the 2002-2006 model years," The Washington Post reports.
"Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 367,500 Toyota and Lexus sport utility vehicles in the United States because a piece in the front console area could come loose and interfere with the gas pedal. Toyota's recall involves 2004-05 models of the Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX 330 and early 2006 models of the Highlander hybrid SUV and the RX 400h, the hybrid version of the RX 330," MSNBC reports.
"Toyota Motor Corp. will spend millions to deactivate front-seat passenger air bag cut-off switches in nearly 160,000 Tundra pickups to avoid having to install a costlier child safety seat anchoring system," The Detroit News reports.
On Monday we announced the recall of 111,000 2003-2004 model years of the Grand Cherokee due to fires in the heated seats. One day later they announced yet another recall that involves 2000 and 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokees with the 4.0L engines. Reports literally "flew" in from 163 Cherokee owners that the fan blades can become separated, break through the fan shroud and if by chance your hood was open, strike a person. Ouch! Not a great week for Jeep Grand Cherokee owners.
"DaimlerChrysler AG said Monday that it was recalling about 111,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees after receiving reports of overheating and fires in heated seats. The recall involves the 2003-2004 model years of the Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicle with heated seats," MSNBC reported today.
"General Motors Corp. is recalling about 400,000 pickup trucks due to defective brake lights. The affected vehicles are the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon from the 2004-2006 model years and the 2006 Isuzu i-280 and i-350," MSNBC reported today.
"Toyota Motor Corp.'s 2004 Tundra pickups are being investigated by U.S. safety regulators after more reports of a steering-system defect that led to a recall last year of 790,000 of the automaker's vehicles," Bloomberg.com has reported. "In the recall, failure of the ball joint, which helps keep the suspension in place, was blamed for at least two accidents without injuries."
"Nissan North American Inc. said Tuesday that it was recalling about 44,000 Frontier pickup trucks because a severe side crash could lead the fuel cap to unscrew and fuel to spill. The recall affects 2005 and 2006 models of the Frontier King Cab pickup," MSNBC reports.
MSNBC reports, "DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group is recalling 268,800 vehicles from the 2005-2006 model years to replace a faulty front windshield wiper motor, the company said Monday. The wiper motor armature shaft on the vehicles, which include the Dodge Durango..."
MSNBC reports, "General Motors Corp. said Friday it is recalling about 900,000 pickup trucks worldwide to fix problems with tailgate cables that can corrode and break when loads are placed on them. The recall involves 1999-2000 models of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks. GM said there have been 84 injuries, most of them minor scrapes and bumps, but no crashes or deaths linked to the problem."
Friday was Tundra Day, and today it's apparently recall day here at Truckblog! Hopefully your Ford, Lincoln, Dodge, or Mitsubishi truck doesn't have Cooper tires, otherwise you are in for a double recall whammy this week (see previous article). Today Cooper Tire & Rubber announced it was recalling 288,000 tires used on passenger cars and light trucks due to leaks and cracking. No injuries have been reported.
"Ford is recalling 211,432 of its 2006 Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT pickup trucks to fix a potentially faulty warning light for anti-lock brakes, U.S. safety regulators said. Separately, the NHTSA said DaimlerChrysler AG was recalling 39,274 2006 model-year Dodge Dakota, Dodge Ram and Mitsubishi Raider pickup trucks," MSNBC reports.
Ford's recall of the cruise control switch suffers another setback, as news spreads that the replacement parts will not be available until February 2006. Since many owners of the 1994-2002 trucks and SUVs won't have a fix for a few more months, we highly recommend those owners disconnect their speed control system until they are able to get the part replaced.
This is the year of recalls for the Ford Motor Company, and we hope it ends on December 31st. MSNBC reports on the latest round: "Ford Motor Co. is recalling about 235,000 pickups, vans and sport utility vehicles from the 2006 model year because of potential problems with the windshield wiper motor. The models include the E-150, E-250, E-350 and E-450 vans, the Escape, Expedition and Explorer SUVs, F-150 and Ranger pickups and Taurus sedan. It also includes the Lincoln Navigator SUV and Lincoln Mark LT pickup and Mercury Mountaineer and Mariner SUV."
GM is in the news with yet another recall with their truck and SUV line of vehicles.
This time it's not a serious as not being able to stop but it's still a recall. The cause for this recall is a faulty rear door latch that keeps the vehicles doors from being able to close properly.
Ford Motor Company has announced another recall for cruise control switch problems, that could potentially result in engine fires, stretching across more than a dozen vehicle models ranging from 1992-2004 model years. The new recall involves more than 3.6 Million passenger cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans. Click "Full Story" for the list of affected vehicles.
MSNBC reports, "Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday it was recalling more than 500,000 Ford Escape sport utility vehicles after receiving reports of engine fires linked to corrosion on antilock brake connectors. Ford said the recall involved 444,880 Escapes from the 2001-2004 model years in the United States, and about 75,000 Escapes in Canada, Mexico and Europe. The recall does not affect hybrid versions of the SUV, the automaker said."
"Ford Motor Co. said on Wednesday it was recalling over 37,000 of its new 2008 model-year F-Series Super Duty trucks after reported tailpipe fires in the diesel version of the pickups. Ford said it had received reports of three cases where leaking fuel or oil ignited when trapped in a diesel particulate filter near the tailpipe of the new trucks," Reuters reports.
MSNBC reports, "Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it was recalling 533,000 Tundra pickup trucks and Sequoia sport utility vehicles because of potential steering problems. Toyota said the recall involved 2004-2006 Tundra trucks and 2004-2007 Sequoia full-size SUVs. The automaker said there was a possibility of excessive wear to a front suspension lower ball joint that could make it difficult to steer the vehicle and stay in the center of the lane."
MSNBC reports, "Nissan Motor Co. has begun recalling over 130,000 vehicles globally including 80,000 in North America because of an ignition key defect, a company official said Thursday. Nissan is recalling 70,000 Murano SUVs..."
"Federal safety officials have forced Toyota Motor Corp. to modify a recall of 157,000 Tundra pickups over a violation of child safety standards, after officials told the automaker that its original plan to remove manual air bag shutoff switches was insufficient. While the problem has not been linked to any injuries or consumer complaints, the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency contended it was important to uphold the law on child restraints. In a letter to Toyota Monday, NHTSA's head of vehicle safety said Toyota's new plan would satisfy the agency," Detroit Free Press reports.
The Detroit News reported today, "In a victory for Ford Motor Co., federal regulators have decided not to formally investigate claims that thousands of Ford Explorers built between 1997 and 2001 may have unsafe roofs that violate safety standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last week rejected a petition by California-based Safety Analysis & Forensic Engineering Research to retest 10 vehicles built during the period."
The New York Times unravels Ford's switches which have recently led to a massive recall of Ford trucks and SUVs: "Just two inches long, the Texas Instruments Model 9F924 speed control deactivation switch does not look like a menacing device. The $20 switch, which shuts off the cruise control when a driver taps the brakes, became the subject of one of the most exhaustive and complex investigations in the agencys history."
According to Bloomberg, "Toyota Motor Corp.'s Tundra pickup may be recalled for the second time in as many years after new complaints of suspension failures prompted U.S. auto safety officials to upgrade an ongoing investigation. The inquiry covers 219,522 Tundras from 2003 and 2004."
"Chrysler Group is recalling more than 800,000 Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicles because of the potential loss of steering control, the automaker said Tuesday. DaimlerChrysler AG spokesman Max Gates said the front suspension lower ball joint could experience excessive wear and looseness, leading the ball joint to separate. The recall affects 832,000 Liberty SUVs from the 2002-2006 model years," The Washington Post reports.
"Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 367,500 Toyota and Lexus sport utility vehicles in the United States because a piece in the front console area could come loose and interfere with the gas pedal. Toyota's recall involves 2004-05 models of the Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX 330 and early 2006 models of the Highlander hybrid SUV and the RX 400h, the hybrid version of the RX 330," MSNBC reports.
"Toyota Motor Corp. will spend millions to deactivate front-seat passenger air bag cut-off switches in nearly 160,000 Tundra pickups to avoid having to install a costlier child safety seat anchoring system," The Detroit News reports.
On Monday 
"DaimlerChrysler AG said Monday that it was recalling about 111,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees after receiving reports of overheating and fires in heated seats. The recall involves the 2003-2004 model years of the Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicle with heated seats," MSNBC reported today.
"General Motors Corp. is recalling about 400,000 pickup trucks due to defective brake lights. The affected vehicles are the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon from the 2004-2006 model years and the 2006 Isuzu i-280 and i-350," MSNBC reported today.
"Toyota Motor Corp.'s 2004 Tundra pickups are being investigated by U.S. safety regulators after more reports of a steering-system defect that led to a recall last year of 790,000 of the automaker's vehicles," Bloomberg.com has reported. "In the recall, failure of the ball joint, which helps keep the suspension in place, was blamed for at least two accidents without injuries."
"Nissan North American Inc. said Tuesday that it was recalling about 44,000 Frontier pickup trucks because a severe side crash could lead the fuel cap to unscrew and fuel to spill. The recall affects 2005 and 2006 models of the Frontier King Cab pickup," MSNBC reports.
MSNBC reports, "DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group is recalling 268,800 vehicles from the 2005-2006 model years to replace a faulty front windshield wiper motor, the company said Monday. The wiper motor armature shaft on the vehicles, which include the Dodge Durango..."
MSNBC reports, "General Motors Corp. said Friday it is recalling about 900,000 pickup trucks worldwide to fix problems with tailgate cables that can corrode and break when loads are placed on them. The recall involves 1999-2000 models of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks. GM said there have been 84 injuries, most of them minor scrapes and bumps, but no crashes or deaths linked to the problem."
Friday was 
"Ford is recalling 211,432 of its 2006 Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT pickup trucks to fix a potentially faulty warning light for anti-lock brakes, U.S. safety regulators said. Separately, the NHTSA said DaimlerChrysler AG was recalling 39,274 2006 model-year Dodge Dakota, Dodge Ram and Mitsubishi Raider pickup trucks," MSNBC reports.
Ford's 
GM is in the news with yet another recall with their truck and SUV line of vehicles.