Mercedes-Benz Issues Recall on Select 2011MY E-Class Sedans and Estates

Daimler AG is conducting a voluntary recall campaign on certain 2011MY Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans (chassis code W212) and Estates (chassis code S212) to inspect, and if necessary, replace a potentially defective auto part. The recall will include approximately 41 E-Class models in the States manufactured from July 8, 2010, through July 12, 2010.

The German automaker said that inadequate adhesive between the vibration damper and its inner mass damper ring could cause a sudden separation of the inner mass damper ring from the vibration damper. As a result, if someone is working in the engine compartment during engine operation, the damper ring could strike and injure the person repairing the vehicle or a even bystander.

Mercedes-Benz dealers will inspect and replace parts as necessary free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during April 2011.

This latest announcement comes only a few days after Mercedes-Benz issued a recall on some 136,000 ML SUVs over a glitch related to the cruise control system (read more here).

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Mercedes Recalling More than 136,000 M-Class SUVs Because Cruise Control May Not Disengage by Braking

A defect associated with the cruise control system has prompted a U.S. recall of 136,751 units of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class and M-Class AMG SUVs from the 2000-2004MY. In a filing to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], Mercedes-Benz said it has determined that under certain circumstances, use of the brake pedal may not automatically disengage the cruise control system.

More specifically, the German automaker stated that when the driver pumps the brakes instead of applying consistent pedal force, the level of force required to disengage the cruise control might be unusually high. The NHTSA noted that difficulty or delay in disengaging the cruise control system can increase the risk of a crash.

Mercedes-Benz said that drivers should be able to deactivate the system using the cruise control stalk on the steering wheel.

Oddly enough, the recall campaign won’t begin before September 2011. Owners of the affected vehicles may contact Mercedes-Benz for more information at 1-800-367-6372.

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Kia Recalling Spectra Models Over Fears that the Fuel Tank May…Fall Off

South Korea’s Kia Motors said Friday it will recall certain Spectra LD vehicles from the 2004-2007 model year in the United States over a corrosion issue that could cause the fuel tank to fall from the car. The recall covers 58,322 Kia Spectra models build from November 7, 2003, through March 6, 2007, and sold or currently registered in states that rely heavily on road salt to melt ice in the winter.

The states are 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.

The automaker informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] there’s a chance that due to prolonged exposure to salt, the fuel tank straps which hold the tank may rust and the tank can fall to the ground, causing a fuel leak and possibly a fire.

Kia said that its dealers will replace the fuel tank straps and attaching hardware with new zinc coated parts, with the service being performed free of charge. The automaker told the NHTSA that safety recall is expected to begin during June 2011.

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GM Issues Recall for 2011 U.S.-spec Chevrolet Cruze Models

After the initial 2,100 inspections triggered by a detached steering wheel, General Motors announced a new recall involving 154,112 units of the 2011 model year Cruze - pretty much all models built for North America since production started in summer 2010.

The reason for this action is related to a steering issue as well, with GM saying it wants to check that the steering shaft was properly installed. The company didn't say whether or not the two recalls are related, but added it will use the latest one action to check on another issue that might affect some 120,000 models with automatic transmission. In this case, GM wants to verify whether the transmission shift linkage was properly installed.

GM stressed in a statement that “very few” of the recalled models should have both problems and that it has already made quality process changes to make sure neither error occurs again. According to a GM spokesman, the steering shaft issue was discovered when a customer lost steering control in a parking lot, without being involved in any type of accident. As for the automatic transmission problem, the carmaker says it was discovered when customers brought in their cars under warranty.

The company added that no accidents or injuries related to the Cruze recall have been reported. Built in Lordstown, Ohio for the U.S. and Canadian markets, the compact sedan was GM's second best selling vehicle in April.

By Dan Mihalascu

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NHTSA Investigates 200,000 Ford Escape and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs for Shattering Tailgate Glass

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it has opened a preliminary investigation concerning 200,000 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs from the 2010 and 2011 model years, after receiving several complaints that the window glass in the tailgate allegedly shattered without warning.

The safety agency said it received 18 complaints noting that “the liftgate window glass shattered spontaneously, while opening the liftgate or while closing the liftgate. In one alleged injury incident, the complainant and her 10 year old son were cut by glass fragments."

According to the NHTSA, many of the incidents happened during cold temperatures. The organization mentioned that Ford has issued an internal technical service bulletin to its dealers on November 22 2010 referring to broken windows in 2010-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs. The bulletin said that “some 2010-2011 Escape and Mariner vehicles built on or before Oct. 15, 2010 may experience the liftgate window glass breaking, typically when colder ambient temperatures are present.”

The same document instructed dealers to “correct the condition by replacing the liftgate window glass after closely inspecting for any signs of impact or external damage that may have caused the glass breakage.” It recommended the replacement of the glass if no evidence of external damage was found.

Ford said it is aware of the investigation and will cooperate with the safety agency. The company had a similar problem in September 2004 when it recalled 955,000 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs from the 2002 and 2003 model years after a preliminary investigation from the NHTSA revealed the two models had faulty tailgate.

By Dan Mihalascu

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