Recall Alerts: Honda, Acura, Kia and Hyundai Vehicles
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011
online auto brochure-Recall Alert: 833,000 Honda and Acura Vehicles Honda is expanding an earlier recall for a faulty airbag inflator that could deploy with too much pressure, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This is a serious defect that has resulted in one fatality since the recall was announced in 2008; it was expanded in July 2009 and again in February 2010. The fatality prompted the company to investigate more models, and today Honda added some 2001-03 Honda and Acura models that need to be checked. Although the newly added models weren’t originally equipped with the defective airbag sensor, some of the vehicles may have inadvertently received it during collision repairs or other vehicle service repairs. Recalled models now include the 2001 and 2002 Honda Accord and Civic; 2002 Honda Odyssey; 2002 and 2003 Honda CR-V; selected 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TL; and 2003 Acura 3.2 CL vehicles. This raises the total number of recalled vehicles to about 833,000. Honda will notify owners later this month. Owners can bring their vehicles to dealers for repairs as soon as they receive the letter. Dealers will replace the airbag inflator for free. Owners may contact Honda at 800-999-1009, or Acura at 800-382-2238, or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236. Honda also has a recall website for owners and so does Acura. Recall Alert: 2010 Hyundai Tucson Hyundai is recalling 7,829 Tucson crossover SUVs from the 2010 model year because the reflectors in the rear bumper do not meet federal safety standards, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In the affected vehicles, the rear reflectors may not reflect enough light. This could make the rear of the vehicle difficult to see, increasing the risk of a crash. The vehicles in the recall were built between Feb. 27 and April 17, 2010; you can find the build date of your car by looking at a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb. The recall is expected to begin next month. Dealers will replace the rear reflector assemblies at no charge. For more info, owners can call Hyundai at 800-633-5151 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236. Recall Alert: 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai is recalling 6,169 Santa Fe crossover SUVs from the 2010 model year because the drivetrain could become damaged, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall, which is similar to the recall of the 2011 Kia Sorento (below), affects front-wheel-drive models equipped with a 2.4-liter engine and an automatic transmission. In these vehicles, the intermediate shaft may be misaligned with the right-side output gear. This could lead to a whirring or whining noise and excessive wear. Continuing to drive the vehicle in this condition could cause the loss of motive power (steering and braking systems are not affected) and increase the risk of a crash. The vehicles in the recall were built between Oct. 15, 2009 and March 5, 2010. You can check your vehicle’s build date on a sticker located on the driver-side doorjamb. Owners will be notified next month. Dealers will replace the right-side output gear and intermediate shaft for free. For more info, call Hyundai at 800-633-5151 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236. Recall Alert: 2011 Kia Sorento Kia is recalling 12,690 Sorento crossovers from the 2011 model year because the drivetrain could become damaged, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The affected vehicles are front-wheel-drive models equipped with a 2.4-liter engine and an automatic transmission. In these vehicles, the intermediate shaft may be misaligned with the right-side output gear. This could lead to a whirring or whining noise and excessive wear. Continuing to drive the vehicle in this condition could cause the loss of motive power (steering and braking systems are not affected) and increase the risk of a crash. The vehicles in the recall were built from the start of production through May 22, 2010. You can check your vehicle’s build date on a sticker located on the driver-side doorjamb. Owners will be notified this week. Dealers will replace the right-side output gear and intermediate shaft for free. For more info, call Kia at 800-333-4542 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236. Recall Alert: 2004-07 Kia Spectra Kia is recalling 58,322 Kia Spectra sedans from the 2004-07 model years because the straps that hold the fuel tank may corrode, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall affects Spectra LD vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, road salt may cause the fuel-tank straps to corrode. If one or both straps separate, the fuel tank may fall from the vehicle and hit the ground, causing a fuel leak. The recall is expected to begin in June. Dealers will replace the fuel-tank straps and attaching hardware with new zinc-coated parts at no charge. For more info, owners can call Kia at 800-333-4542 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.
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