Ford and Chrysler Among Latest Automakers to Recall Vehicles

Chrsyler Group is recalling over 144,000 Ram and Doge vehicles in three separate actions. The largest recall involves about 65,180 Dodge Journey sports-utility vehicles made between November 1, 2007 and September 7, 2008. The issue of concern involves front-door wiring harnesses that may break or wear, potentially disabling side-impact airbags. Chrysler has told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the kind of wire used, the way it is routed through the doors, and the cold weather could be contributing to the risk of wire fatigue.
Chrysler’s second recall affects 56,611 Ram 1500 pickup trucks (2011 model). The vehicles’ crash risk can go up in the event that the rear axle bearing was to seize. The automaker’s third recall impacts 22,274 Ram 5500 and 4500 pickup trucks (2008 – 2011 year models) over a steering component that might fracture or weaken, which can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Meantime, Ford Motor Co. is recalling 14,737 2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKS crossover vehicles and Ford F-Series pickup trucks. Ford says that the body-control modules in the vehicle may be at risk of an electrical short. If this happens and the vehicle overheats, a fire could break out. This recall comes in the wake of two autos catching fire at a Ford plant.
As our auto products liability law firm mentioned in a recent blog post, about 19 million autos were recalled in 2010. This number is significantly higher than the number of vehicles that were sold last year, which were approximately 11.4 million vehicles.
The NHTSA says that through December 14, 2010, it received over 64,000 complaints from drivers about their vehicles. According to theLos Angeles Times and the Dallas News, Toyota received close to 87 complaints for every 100,000 autos it sold. That is more complaints than any other auto manufacturer. Nissan ranked number two when it came to consumer complaints, with almost 62 complaints for every 100,000 autos sold. Volkswagen received 47 complaints for every 100,00 vehicles sold. Edmunds.com, an automotive research firm, says Honda Motor Co. and Ford had the lowest complaint ratios.
More U.S. drivers file official auto complaints, DallasNews, January 3, 2010
Chrysler and Ford Recall 160,000 Vehicles for Safety Defects, Daily Finance, December 30, 2010
Ford Recalls F-Series Pickups, Edge, Lincoln MKX, ABC News, December 30, 2010
More than 19 Million Autos Recalled in 2010 in About 600 Campaigns, Product Liability Blog, December 29, 2010
Related Web Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Recalls.gov

Our auto products liability lawyers want to remind you that you can hold a negligent car maker or auto parts manufacturer liable for personal injury or wrongful death.

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