by Bob Beranek

Recalls to Keep in Mind

2

Posted by :Bob Beranek On : December 11, 2014

Category: Uncategorized

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I received the weekly National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation report and noticed an item I thought would be of interest to those glass technicians who replace the outside rearview mirror.

In this case, the driver-side rearview mirror is convex giving the driver a confusing view of the traffic behind them. The traffic seems closer than is normal and might confuse the driver.

Make sure that any driver-side rearview mirrors replaced on the models listed are proper for FMVSS111, which should be a normal 1:1 ratio-view mirror or flat-stock mirror.

Photo courtesy of bmwblog.com.

Photo courtesy of bmwblog.com.

Photo courtesy of carblogindia.com.

Photo courtesy of carblogindia.com.

Report Receipt Date: October 16, 2014
NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V648000
Component(s): Visibility
Potential Number of Units Affected: 53

Vehicle Make, Model, Model Year(s)

·        BMW X3 2015

·        BMW X4 2015
Manufacturer: BMW of North America LLC

SUMMARY:

BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 X3 and X4 Sports Activity Vehicles manufactured July 28, 2014 to July 29, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been produced with a driver’s side exterior rearview mirror that was designed to meet non-U.S. market requirements. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 111, “Rearview Mirrors.”

CONSEQUENCE:

The driver may not notice that vehicles viewed in the mirror are closer than they appear, increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:

BMW will notify owners and dealers will replace the driver’s side exterior rearview mirror, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 1, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1/800-525-7417 or email CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

NOTES:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Now let’s move onto the next recall. It’s of lesser importance but good to know. This one involves restraint system recalls. The Acura MDX recall calls for the replacement of the seatbelt tensioners and pretensioners at the nearest dealership. It should not take long and a friendly reminder is always appreciated.

We’ll also look at a GM recall, which is a simple programing change to make the airbags work properly. Evidently the wiring for the airbags are reversed and a simple reprograming is needed.

Photo courtesy otoreviews.com.

Photo courtesy otoreviews.com.

Photo courtesy of newcarreviewsusa.com.

Photo courtesy of newcarreviewsusa.com.

Report Receipt Date: October 10, 2014
NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V639000
Component(s): Seat Belts
Potential Number of Units Affected: 43,481

Vehicle Make, Model, Model Year(s)

·        ACURA MDX 2014-2015

·        ACURA RLX 2014
Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

SUMMARY:

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to August 25, 2014, and 2014 Acura RLX vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to November 25, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and front passenger seat belt may not extend or retract in low temperatures.

CONSEQUENCE:

A seatbelt that does not function increases the risk of injury in a crash.

REMEDY:

Honda has notified owners and dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belts free of charge. The recall began in November 2014. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238. Honda’s number for this recall is JK7 for the MKX, and JK8 for the RLX.

NOTES:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Photo courtesy of autoblog.com.

Photo courtesy of autoblog.com.

Photos courtesy of gmauthority.com.

Photos courtesy of gmauthority.com.

Report Receipt Date: October 9, 2014
NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V645000
Component(s): Airbags
Potential Number of Units Affected: 2,283

Vehicle Make, Model, Model Year(s)

·        CHEVROLET COLORADO 2015

·        GMC CANYON 2015
Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

SUMMARY:

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 6, 2014, to October 1, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver airbag connections may have been wired incorrectly. This could reverse the deployment sequence and disrupt the deployment timing of the driver airbag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.”

CONSEQUENCE:

If the driver airbag does not deploy as designed, there is an increased risk of driver injury in the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment.

REMEDY:

GM will notify owners and dealers will reprogram the inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) free of charge. The recall began on October 6, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet) or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM’s number for this recall is 14690.

NOTES:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Recalls of Interest

1

Posted by :Bob Beranek On : March 27, 2014

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:, , , , , , , , , ,

In this week’s blog we’ll look at some recalls that have piqued my interest.

Manufacturer: Mack Trucks Inc.

Summary:

Mack Trucks, Inc. (Mack) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 CHU, CXU, GU and TD vehicles manufactured June 16, 2009 through July 18, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the Electronic Power Distribution Module (EPDM) may be contaminated from water leaks in and around the windshield. If exposed to water leaks, contaminants such as road salts may deposit on the EPDM.

Consequence:

Deposits of contaminants may result in the circuits being bridged, creating a high resistance short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy:

Mack will notify owners and dealers will inspect the EPDM. If contamination has occurred, dealers will replace the EPDM and address the leak, free of charge. The recall will begin in late April 2014. Owners may contact Mack Trucks at 336/393-2000. Mack’s number for this recall is SC0375.

Notes:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888/327-4236 (TTY 800/424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

This recall obviously concerns those technicians who have a Mack truck fleet to service. As a matter of fact, they probably know about this issue already. If they ran into a leaking windshield or made a mistake and had a leak in one of their installations, they probably had to deal with the replacement or repair of the EPDM module. 

The word of caution for those that do not work on these vehicles often is to pay particular care when installing this windshield and double check for leaks when the installation is completed. The ultrasonic leak detector is recommended because it is a dry test instead of a wet test that could cause damage to the module.

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Summary:

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans manufactured January 27, 2009, through March 7, 2014 with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds and less, and equipped with front passenger air bags. In the affected vehicles, during a frontal impact below the air bag deployment threshold, if an unbelted front passenger’s head hits the instrument panel above where the passenger air bag is located, the panel may not sufficiently absorb the impact. As such, these vehicles fail to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 201, “Occupant Protection in Interior Impact.”

Consequence:

In the event of a crash below the air bag deployment threshold, an unbelted front passenger seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy:

GM will notify owners. The manufacturer has not yet provided a remedy plan or notification schedule. Chevrolet owners may call 800/630-2438. GMC owners may call 866/996-9463. GM’s number for this recall is 14082.

Notes:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888/327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

This vehicle is a popular service vehicle for automotive glass companies. If your company often uses two-man installations, make sure you get your service vehicle in for the recall repair as soon as possible. You do not want to put your second man at risk of injury due to improper air bag deployment.

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Summary:

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model-year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat-mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

Consequence:

Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increases the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.

Remedy:

GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 800/521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 866/694-6546, Saturn at 800/553-6000 and GMC owners at 866/996-9463. GM’s number for this recall is 14030.

Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.

Notes:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888/327-4236 (TTY 800/424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

This recall is on airbags and seat belt pretensioners that may not deploy in the event of a side impact.  If this vehicle is involved in a side impact and it recently had a sidelite replaced on that side, there could be a question of liability.  Make sure that your customers are aware of the recall and urge them to make an appointment to have it fixed.

Recalls

2

Posted by :Bob Beranek On : December 4, 2013

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:, , , , , ,

The following notices from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Defects Investigation can reflect directly or indirectly on the installation of the windshield or other automotive glass parts. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the details, print this notice for reference and inform your customers of the recall if they have not already received notice.

•  Chevrolet Malibu 2014

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Summary:
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through November 5, 2013. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control in these vehicles may intermittently become inoperable when the vehicle is started, preventing the windshield defroster from working. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 103, “Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems.”

Consequence:
The inability to turn on the windshield defroster may decrease the driver’s visibility thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy:
GM will notify owners and dealers will update the electronic climate control module software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 6, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 800/521-7300. GM’s recall campaign number is 13380.

Notes:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888/327-4236 (TTY 800/424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

• Toyota Avalon 2013
•  Toyota Avalon Hybrid 2013
• Toyota Camry 2013-2014
•  Toyota Camry Hybrid 2013-2014
•  Toyota Corolla 2014

Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Summary:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. (Toyota) is recalling certain model-year 2013-2014 Camry and Camry HV, model-year 2013 Avalon and Avalon HV and model-year 2014 Corolla vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the windshield wiper switch assembly may short circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, No. 104, “Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems.”

Consequence:
A short circuit could cause inoperative windshield wipers, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy:
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper switch assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 800/331-4331.

Notes:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888/327-4236 (TTY 800/424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

• Porsche 911 Carrera 2014
• Porsche Boxster 2014
• Porsche Cayman 2014

Manufacturer: Porsche Cars North America Inc.

Summary:
Porsche Cars North America Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2014 Boxster, Boxster S, Cayman, Cayman S and 911 Carrera (S, Cabriolet, S Cabriolet, 4, 4S, 4 Cabriolet, 4s Cabriolet) vehicles manufactured September 2, 2013, through September 23, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the passenger seats may be equipped with defective wiring harnesses resulting in intermittent contact with the harness plug.

Consequence:
The intermittent plug may cause the passenger seat frontal and knee airbags to be deactivated. In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, this may increase the risk of injury to the front passenger.

Remedy:
Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in late November 2013. Owners may contact Porsche at 770/290-3500. Porsche’s recall number is AD04.

Notes:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888/327-4236 (TTY 800/424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.