Wet Braking Problem Hits the Newswire
09-21-2000, 03:35 PM
#1
Wet Braking Problem Hits the Newswire
Thanks to the usually evil Ford Explorer and its tire woes, it looks like AoA may be under some pressure to fix the wet braking problem.
Thursday September 21 3:38 PM ET
Federal Agency Probes 2.2 Million Vehicles
DETROIT (Reuters) - Federal highway safety officials have upgraded or
opened investigations into more than 2.2 million vehicles made by General
Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM - news), Volkswagen AG (VOWG.F), the North
American unit of DaimlerChrysler AG (NYSE
CX - news)(DCXGn.DE)
and Volvo, owned by Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F - news).
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (news - web sites)
(NHTSA), in its latest monthly defect report, said it had opened probes, or
preliminary investigations, into cars made by Chrysler, VW and Volvo, and it
upgraded one GM and two VW investigations to the status of engineering
analyses.
After NHTSA upgrades to an engineering analysis, it can ask a carmaker to
recall all or some of the vehicles in question or drop the analysis without
making a finding.
NHTSA said it upgraded its probe of 401,472 Saturn S-Series small cars
from model years 1994 and 1995 made by GM before Jan. 31, 1994 and
after Aug. 15 1994 for possible excessive wear in the recliner gear teeth that
can cause the seatback to recline or collapse rearward inadvertently.
The probe was opened by the safety agency following a recall in March 1999
of 136,300 S-Series cars made between the 1994 dates for the same
problem, GM spokesman Greg Martin said. The agency was concerned the
vehicles may have the same problem.
``This does not mean that a defect exists or a recall may be required,'' he
said. ``We're being prudent and cautious in response to consumer
complaints.''
NHTSA said it and GM have received 328 complaints and reports of 14
accidents and 10 people injured. GM said the Saturn vehicles currently being
probed weren't recalled last year because the number of complaints was too
low.
Probes also were upgraded into about 112,000 of VW's Audi A4 sedans
from model years 1996-2000 for possible degraded braking in wet weather
and into 108,348 1996-model VW Passat and Jetta cars for possible light or
windshield wiper failure that can lead to obscured vision, the agency said.
In the Audi probe, NHTSA said it has received 71 complaints and a report
of one crash with no injuries.
In the Passat and Jetta probe, the safety agency said it and VW have
received 15 complaints and the German automaker has handled almost 4,500
claims related to ignition switch replacement or repair, not all having to do
with the problem being investigated.
NHTSA opened two preliminary evaluations into about 655,000 Chrysler
minivans.
One probe of about 630,000 1996-model Dodge Caravan and Grand
Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and Grand Voyager, and Chrysler Town &
Country minivans was for possible failure of the air bag system to deploy in
an accident because of a broken air bag wire in the clockspring assembly,
NHTSA said. There have been 55 complaints, but no reports of accidents or
injuries.
NHTSA also is probing an estimated 25,000 1999-model Town & Country
minivans equipped with front seat heaters for alleged overheating in the unit
that can cause fires.
The agency said it has received four complaints, three involving fires, but no
reports of injuries. Owners said dealers told them the problem was caused by
a faulty heater element in the seats.
NHTSA also opened a probe into an undetermined number of VW Passat,
Jetta and Cabrio cars from model years 1993-2000 for possible fuel tank
punctures. VW said 852,000 of those cars were made in the affected years.
The agency said it has received nine complaints indicating the fuel tank was
damaged as a result of a blowout of the right rear tire. There were no reports
of accidents or injuries, and VW officials said they are cooperating.
NHTSA opened an investigation into an estimated 167,000 Volvo V70 and
S70 cars from the 1998 and 1999 model years for possible turn signal failure.
The agency said it has received 14 complaints.
Thursday September 21 3:38 PM ET
Federal Agency Probes 2.2 Million Vehicles
DETROIT (Reuters) - Federal highway safety officials have upgraded or
opened investigations into more than 2.2 million vehicles made by General
Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM - news), Volkswagen AG (VOWG.F), the North
American unit of DaimlerChrysler AG (NYSE
CX - news)(DCXGn.DE)and Volvo, owned by Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F - news).
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (news - web sites)
(NHTSA), in its latest monthly defect report, said it had opened probes, or
preliminary investigations, into cars made by Chrysler, VW and Volvo, and it
upgraded one GM and two VW investigations to the status of engineering
analyses.
After NHTSA upgrades to an engineering analysis, it can ask a carmaker to
recall all or some of the vehicles in question or drop the analysis without
making a finding.
NHTSA said it upgraded its probe of 401,472 Saturn S-Series small cars
from model years 1994 and 1995 made by GM before Jan. 31, 1994 and
after Aug. 15 1994 for possible excessive wear in the recliner gear teeth that
can cause the seatback to recline or collapse rearward inadvertently.
The probe was opened by the safety agency following a recall in March 1999
of 136,300 S-Series cars made between the 1994 dates for the same
problem, GM spokesman Greg Martin said. The agency was concerned the
vehicles may have the same problem.
``This does not mean that a defect exists or a recall may be required,'' he
said. ``We're being prudent and cautious in response to consumer
complaints.''
NHTSA said it and GM have received 328 complaints and reports of 14
accidents and 10 people injured. GM said the Saturn vehicles currently being
probed weren't recalled last year because the number of complaints was too
low.
Probes also were upgraded into about 112,000 of VW's Audi A4 sedans
from model years 1996-2000 for possible degraded braking in wet weather
and into 108,348 1996-model VW Passat and Jetta cars for possible light or
windshield wiper failure that can lead to obscured vision, the agency said.
In the Audi probe, NHTSA said it has received 71 complaints and a report
of one crash with no injuries.
In the Passat and Jetta probe, the safety agency said it and VW have
received 15 complaints and the German automaker has handled almost 4,500
claims related to ignition switch replacement or repair, not all having to do
with the problem being investigated.
NHTSA opened two preliminary evaluations into about 655,000 Chrysler
minivans.
One probe of about 630,000 1996-model Dodge Caravan and Grand
Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and Grand Voyager, and Chrysler Town &
Country minivans was for possible failure of the air bag system to deploy in
an accident because of a broken air bag wire in the clockspring assembly,
NHTSA said. There have been 55 complaints, but no reports of accidents or
injuries.
NHTSA also is probing an estimated 25,000 1999-model Town & Country
minivans equipped with front seat heaters for alleged overheating in the unit
that can cause fires.
The agency said it has received four complaints, three involving fires, but no
reports of injuries. Owners said dealers told them the problem was caused by
a faulty heater element in the seats.
NHTSA also opened a probe into an undetermined number of VW Passat,
Jetta and Cabrio cars from model years 1993-2000 for possible fuel tank
punctures. VW said 852,000 of those cars were made in the affected years.
The agency said it has received nine complaints indicating the fuel tank was
damaged as a result of a blowout of the right rear tire. There were no reports
of accidents or injuries, and VW officials said they are cooperating.
NHTSA opened an investigation into an estimated 167,000 Volvo V70 and
S70 cars from the 1998 and 1999 model years for possible turn signal failure.
The agency said it has received 14 complaints.
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