Nissan Recalls 44,000 Frontier Pickups

Nissan North American Inc. has recalled about 44,000 Frontier pickup trucks because the fuel cap could come off and allow fuel to spill if the vehicle were involved in a severe side crash. The recall affects 2005 and 2006 models of the Frontier King Cab pickup. Apparently, there have been no crashes, injuries or fires linked to the potential problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a severe side-impact crash, the fuel filler cap tether could be stretched and lead to the cap unscrewing. Without the cap, fuel could spill and potentially lead to a fire. The recall was supposed to begin in mid-April. Nissan was to notify owners and ask them to bring the vehicles to a Nissan dealer for repair. Dealers will replace the fuel cap tether and pin assembly at no cost to the owner. About 2,000 of the recalled vehicles are located in Canada and Mexico.

Ford Recalling Nearly 20,000 Mustangs

Ford Motor Co. has recalled about 20,000 Mustang Cobra sports cars. The company had received complaints that the back of the accelerator pedal could become caught in the floor carpeting and lead to a crash. Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in late January that it had received about 100 complaints and allegations of two crashes and one injury. The recall affects 19,140 Mustang Cobras from the 2003 and 2004 model years. According to Ford’s report to NHTSA, the rear surface of the pedal could interfere with the carpeting during heavy throttling and make it difficult for the pedal to return to an idle position. The problem could be found in vehicles where the floor carpeting does not fit flush with the sheet metal.

Dealers are expected to install a bracket over the cutout in the carpet behind the pedal. Owners began to be notified of the recall in late April. They won’t be charged for the repair. Last July, NHTSA opened an investigation into accelerator pedal interference in the 2003 and 2004 Mustang, and the 2003 model year of the Mustang convertible and Mustang GT. According to Ford, the automaker’s investigation only found the issue in the Cobras because the high-performance model has a different pedal configuration than the other Mustang versions.

Ford Recalling 134,365 SUVs Over Crash Pads

Ford Motor Co. is recalling 134,365 Escape and Mercury Mariner sports utility vehicles to adjust the padding on the driver’s side to prevent injuries during a collision, according to U.S. safety regulators. The vehicles affected by the recall are from the 2005 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to NHTSA, no injuries or accidents have been connected to the recall.

Ford Recalling Nearly 150,000 SUVs

Ford Motor Co. is recalling about 150,000 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner sport-utility vehicles. The government and Ford reached different conclusions in safety tests measuring the driver’s head protection in a crash. The recall affects some SUVs from the 2005 model year without side air curtains or moonroofs. Ford told the NHTSA that it did not know of any reported injuries linked to the recalled vehicles. In government testing, NHTSA found that the SUVs had a head injury score along the driver’s side roofline near the front pillar that was marginally above the maximum allowed under federal regulations.

Ford conducted its own testing and found “a significant compliance margin.” Ford says that the recall will make adjustments to reduce the stiffness of the energy-absorbing foam in the affected area. The Escape and Mariner are built on the same platforms and considered corporate twins. Nearly 132,000 of the vehicles are in the United States and more than 15,000 are located in Canada. Owners, who will be notified of the recall by mail by late May, can call Ford at 800-392-3673 or their local dealership to learn whether their vehicles are subject to the recall.

GM Recalls Vehicles

General Motors Corp. is recalling almost 13,000 Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS sedans because of faulty power steering hoses. The hoses on some of the 2006 models of those GM cars equipped with V8 engines are prone to separate and leak steering fluid, regulators said. That could cause drivers to loose steering power at low speeds or trigger engine fires. GM will replace the defective parts, the NHTSA said.

Mazda Recalls

Mazda Motor Corp. is recalling about 2,600 MX-5 Miatas from the 2006 model year because the driver-side front airbags are prone to dislodge a horn assembly from the steering wheel. NHTSA says that problem, which is prone to happen at very cold temperatures, could injure drivers. Mazda will replace the front airbags on the cars at risk for the problem.

Toyota Recalls 57,000 Lexus Cars

Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 11,000 Lexus cars in Japan and 46,000 overseas to fix a faulty seat belt part. Toyota will replace seat belts in both front seats, which can become jammed inside the holding due to a faulty part. The affected cars are Lexus GS and IS sedans. According to Toyota, no accidents have been reported due to the defect. Toyota has sold 15,000 Lexus GS and IS in Japan since it ushered in the 16-year-old Lexus brand to its home market in August 2005. At press time we didn’t have any further recall information.

I suggest that you go to the Consumer Product Safety Commission website (www.cpsc.gov) for a complete listing of all recalls of consumer products. The following are just a few of the recalls involving consumer products that should be of interest.

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