Volvo has announced two recalls affecting over 13,000 vehicles. One recall,
which involves 7,420 autos, involves the power-operated front passenger
seat, which can extend farther than it should. The NHTSA says that allowing
a passenger to sit beyond the intended maximum can increase injury risk
during a collision. To fix the safety issue, Volvo dealerships will inspect
and repair the problem for free.
The second recall involved 6,046 Volvo autos. The safety issue involves
an engine control module problem that can cause the engine to suddenly
stall. This can increase the vehicle’s car crash risk. Volvo dealers
will update the software of the vehicles.
Also recently, Toyota recalled 650,000 Prius hybrid vehicles because of
faulty coolant pumps that can cause the car to lose power and overheat.
To date there have been no reports of injuries. 378,000 of the recalled
vehicles are in the US.
Meantime, GMC, Chevrolet, and Isuzu have recalled nearly 200,000 trucks
because specific models don’t comply with the federal requirement
for child-restraint anchor systems. The affected trucks don’t have
a rear seat and come with a 60/40 split bench.
Per the recall notice, the front center seat’s top tether anchor
is not accessible. Also, the owner’s manual does not come with instructions
on how to use the tether. Both these issues can result in the improper
installation of a child restraint system, which is required for young
kids. Improper installation of the restraint can cause the system to perform
poorly during a collision, and this can increase the child’s risk
of injury or death.
Also last month, Nissan recalled over 600,000 vehicles in the US and abroad
because of concerns over steering shaft problems involving its Xterra
SUVs and Frontier trucks. Nissan recalled a number of Sentras because
of battery issues that can lead to problems when starting the car. The
auto may also stall while at low speeds. It was just a couple of months
before this recall that Nissan recalled over 2 million autos because of
problems with the vehicles’ engines.
Our auto products liability lawyers applaud any efforts by manufacturers
to remedy any safety issues that pose an injury or death risk to vehicle
occupants and pedestrians. That said, automakers are supposed to make
sure that their vehicles are free from safety issues before allowing their
cars to enter the marketplace. There are also many people have been injured
or killed because of defective vehicles whose models were never recalled
despite having dangerous auto defects. Malfunctioning auto parts and improper
auto maintenance can also contribute to causing catastrophic car crashes.
13,000 Volvos involved in two recalls, OC Register, December 7, 2010
Toyota Prius Recall Over Water Pump Issues Affects 650,000 Cars World Wide, MIBZ.com, November 30, 2010
Chevy, GMC, Isuzu recalling nearly 200,000 trucks, OC Register, November 29, 2010
Nissan To Recall More Than 600,000 Vehicles, Mostly In The U.S., The Wall Street Journal, November 12, 2010
Related Web Resource:
Safety Recalls, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Auto Defects, The Center for Auto Safety
Contact our auto products liability law firm. The Gilbert Law Group, P.C. represents clients throughout the US.
