ACURA RL RECALL

The power steering hose under the hood of Acura's RL is subject to high temperatures. Those high temps can cause cracks in the hose, potentially leaking fliud. The fluid could hit the catalytic converter. The combination of catalytic converters and power steering fluid could result in a fire. There've yet to be injuries or even fires as a result of this fault, but the recall published by NHTSA affects 43,200 RL's.

Acura is the luxury brand of Honda Motor Company. The sterling reputation held by companies such as Toyota and Honda, as well as by the tough-as-nails trucks built by American automakers, have come into question under the light of recent recalls. The Acura RL doesn't deserve to be abstained from, however, just because of a recall affecting this hose.

To learn more about the RL, read the GoodCarBadCar Lowdown. For more on recent recalls, click here.

MORE TRUCK RECALLS

15,600 Toyota Tundra's are the latest trucks to come under the shadow - deep, dark, and ugly - of the R word.

Recall. The new Tundra joins its major Ford and Dodge competition in suffering a recall in the last couple weeks. Here are Toyota's words:

"On certain 2007 model year Tundra vehicles, there is a possibility that a joint in the rear propeller shaft may have been improperly heat treated, resulting in insufficient hardness. In the worst case, a section of the rear propeller shaft may separate at the joint. There has been one case reported among all affected vehicles that may relate to this condition. The one case involved abnormal noise and did not involve an accident."

Notification will begin late this month. To read about more about recalls, click here. Dodge's and Ford's stories are present.

DODGE TRUCK RECALL

576,417 Dakota's and Ram's. Yes, that's right. It's a Dodge recall this time; not Ford. GoodCarBadCar only just brought you news of a large number of heavy-duty Ford diesel trucks/vans/utes, and now almost 600,000 Dodge trucks are under the guns.

To make matters worse; Dodge's recall comes after nine injuries. Wear and tear on the gearshift assembly could (and obviously did in some cases) affect the height of shift blocker. The lowering of that shift blocker could then result in the vehicle 'falling' out of park. Unintended acceleration? Not quite. Unintended rolling as you're dropping the kids off in the school parking lot? Possible.... and very, very bad.

The formal repair processes will begin in January, but Dodge advises all owners of 2001-2002 Dakota's and 2002 Ram's to make use of their emergency brake in the meantime.

Are America's trucks going to maintain their rep as the most solid vehicles in the land? Apparently painting the vehicle in red, white, and blue post 9/11 doesn't heighten the shift blocker.

FORD DIESEL RECALL

Excursions, E-series vans, and heavy duty F-series trucks built by Ford from 1997-2003 are facing a recall. The diesel models (7.3L) may have a faulty sensor that causes the engine to stall. You don't want to stall going downhill towards the ocean with eight fishermen and a trailer/loader hooked to the end.

Ford believes power steering and brakes are okay beneath 30mph, and the fact that no injuries or deaths have occurred as a result of this sensor problem seems to bear that out. If you're driving one of these vehicles, either contact your Ford dealer or await their upcoming communique.

CAR NEWS BITE

Fluent in German? www.Mercedes-Benz.de showcases the new look of M-B websites that'll be seen across the world. Considering the fact that 50,000,000 people utilized a Benz website last year, reconfiguring the site is a fairly important process. The result seems swell, but the language barrier is keeping me from knowing for sure.

Poor Toyota Motor Corp: the current recall touches the hundreds of thousands. Lexus GS, Lexus IS, and Toyota Crown and Mark X models in Japan may all suffer from potentially faulty fuel pipes. The recall affects 264,000 vehicles in Japan, USA, Canada, and England, and Germany.

'09 SATURN VUE RECALLED FOR BAD KNUCKLE

2,149 Saturn Vues from model year 2009 are being issued a Recall because of incorrect right and/or left front steering knuckles. This means - apparently - that "the tie rod ball stud could pull out of, or fracture, the tie rod housing. This could cause the tie rod to separate from the knuckle". Those are the Circle Y Ranch's NHTSA's words, not mine. 

Drivers might'n't notice the affect immediately because steering inputs in normal circumstances would remain relatively normal. On rougher roads or with more aggressive driving or under braking, however, one wheel could "turn out and skid". Yikes. 

The Vue was also recalled in September because of a power steering issue. 

16,667 '09 GM LAMBDA CROSSOVERS RECALLED - ENCLAVE, TRAVERSE, ACADIA, OUTLOOK

Four General Motors crossovers are being recalled, NHTSA says, for failing to measure up to requirements for safety standard #209.... the one for seat belt assemblies, don't you know? The second or third row seat belt buckle could be missing a rivet.

Model year 2009 examples of the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook - basically identical vehicles under the skin and inside the seat belt buckles, apparently - will have any deficient seat belt buckle replaced free of charge under this Recall. That could be up to 16,667 CUVs, NHTSA says. The Lambda platform could even be the foundation for the next Cadillac Escalade and/or Chevrolet Suburban if General Motors money remains..... er, tight, and if fuel economy standards make the possibility of a 20+mpg giant SUV impossible.

Lambda crossovers were also involved in a GM Recall in August relating to overheating windshield washer fluid and another recall in August for detaching windshield wiper linkage. If these General Motors vehicles are going to be in the garage continuously free of charge to customers, GM is going to want to keep the issues minor.

'07 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS RECALL FOR BAD KNUCKLE

A small number of '07 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedans, the German luxury automakers largest and most luxurious four-door, are being recalled because of a supplier problem that resulted in a radial knuckle of the front strut that isn't up to snuff. As the odometer rolls, NHTSA says, the mileage accumulation and exposure to high stress on rough roads could result in a failed knuckle; making the vehicle very difficult to steer.

Only 1,515 examples of the S-Class Benz fall under the banner of this NHTSA Recall. Before the end of the year Mercedes-Benz will start issuing notice. Dealers will look at the production date to know if the vehicle's radial knuckle could be one of the struts affected and if so, replaced accordingly.

ALTIMA/SENTRA RECALL

653,910 Nissan's, or thereabouts are under a recall relative to their sudden engine failure. Altima's and Sentra's with 2.5L four-cylinder powerplants from year's '02, '05, and '06 will need an ECU reprogramming. Nissan hopes to notify the affected by the 10th of next month.

BMW RECALLS BRAND NEW M3 WITH DOUBLE-CLUTCH GEARBOX

Fitment of BMW's first double-clutch gearbox (like Volkswagen's DSG, Nissan's GT-R tranny, and the SST in Mitsubishi's Evo X) went slightly wrong for at least 2,500 M3s, NHTSA concludes. "In a situation of rapid vehicle deceleration, the transmission software may perform a multistage downshift." Unanticipated stalling may occur; and that's dangerous.

(Check out all other recent Recalls here)

Updated software is the answer, unsurprisingly. BMW dealers will reprogram the engine and transmission control units. The M3s involved are from the 2008 and 2009 model year, and you surely know if you've not been rowing your own gears lately. Been having problems with downshifts, oh ye M3 owners? Your problem will soon be solved. 

A FEW THOUSAND OLDER HONDA ACCORDS AND CIVICS RECALLED FOR AIR BAG ISSUE

Specific models of the '01 Honda Accord and '01 Honda Civic are being recalled, NHTSA says, for a problem related to the inflator module for the driver side front air bag.

3,940 Hondas have a modulator which could produce excessive internal pressure. Were the inflator to rupture, there'd be a.... umm, shrapnel 'problem' as metal flies through the air bag cushion material. Honda dealers will replace the air bag inflator when the Recall begins sometime in late December. There were hundreds of thousands of '01 Civics and Accords, so contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009 if you think they won't contact you, the owner of an '01 Civic and Accord.

130 VOLKSWAGEN '09 PASSAT (AND DERIVATIVES) RECALLED

A handful of '09 Volkswagen Passats, Passat wagons, and Passat CCs will be recalled because they "may have an electromechanical steering gear control unit that can malfunction due to a damaged capacitor". That basically means that where you point the car and where the car goes may not be associated. Problem arisen.

Before you shout to your friends that Volkswagen has built 130 cars that steer the opposite direction of where you turn, let me remind you that this hasn't been happening over 5mph and it's only been happening immediately after the vehicle's started. Nevertheless, "the driver's steering input is not properly processed"? That is scary stuff. Early in December Volkswagen will begin this Recall by simply replacing the steering gear.

As an aside, let it be known that The Good Car Guy's previous disgust with the Passat CC rests now only on its purposelessness, not on its appearance. However, seeing the Passat trio together revealed that the regular Passat wagon is still a better looker than the Passat CC and their less expensive brother, the Passat sedan.

DODGE CHARGER AND MAGNUM COP CARS RECALLED

Upon posting the Top 5 Vehicles the Police Should be Driving, The Good Car Guy quickly discovered that regular consumers are quite interested in the choices police departments make. It's true that the Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum weren't included in that Top 5, but that's only because cops had already taken a liking to their benefits above and beyond those offered by Ford's Crown Victoria. 

More recently, Chrysler announced that Kuwaiti officials would be purchasing 150 Dodge Chargers for their police service. That's basically a drop in the puddle - Dodge is recalling 20283 Chargers and Magnums that had been outfitted with the police package and column shifter. 

These Recalled vehicles are from model years 2006-2009. Column shifters, not a feature associated with regular Chargers and Magnums, "may become disengaged from the steering column mounting bracket and cause an incorrect transmission gearshift position display". Obviously the danger revolves around inadvertent vehicle movement. 

Dealers, NHTSA says, will add a locking mechanism to the gearshift cable to "ensure proper retention and shift linkage function". Apart from added weight and the (sometimes) lack of a V8, the Dodge Charger driven by The Good Car Guy was, to say the least,a  decent value. Check out that review here.

BRAND NEW CADILLAC CTS RECALLED FOR AIR BAG PROBLEM

12,662 recently built small Cadillacs - that'd be the CTS - will be recalled "for failing to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standards #208". Since you aren't up to speed on the code, let me remind you. Safety standard #208 is the one about occupant crash protection. The passenger air bag may be disabled when it should be enabled, says NHTSA, or enabled when it should be disabled.

The Recall will not mandate any mechanical change. A software update at your Cadillac dealer should do the trick.

The '09 Cadillac CTS is just like the '08 CTS which The Good Car Guy drove on GM's proving grounds. Check out that review here.

VERY SMALL '08 HONDA CIVIC RECALL

Due to "a bracket that covers the fuel hose connector" that's supposedly secured with a bolt and nut in MY2008 and MY2009 Honda Civics but actually is only secured with a bolt, Honda has issued a Recall on 128 vehicles.

I know, the total number seems strange considering NHTSA's notification that '08 Civics are involved before stating in the text that it's '08 and '09s. Anyway, in an accident that bracket could squeak loose resulting in a damaged fuel hose connector. Obviously, dealers will be responsible for ensuring the bracket is firmly secured. For your information, Honda's available at 1-800-999-1009.

FURTHER HYUNDAI ELANTRA RECALL RELATED TO AIR BAG PROBLEMS IN 2001-2002

We've already seen how problems with cupholders in '01 Hyundai Elantras can translate into an airbag Recall seven or eight years later. This secondary Hyundai Recall is more direct.

Apparently the side impact air bag wiring harness has too much room to jiggle. This may result in electrical resistance that would apparently illuminate the air bag warning light. In the end you have issues where the side impact air bags on MY 2001 and MY 2002 Hyundai Elantras won't deploy at the appropriate time. Air bags are supposed to deploy at the appropriate time.

Read The Good Car Guy's Driven review of the latest Elantra here

Sometime before the end of the year, Hyundai will be notifying owners to have their cars fitted at Hyundai dealers with new wiring harnesses under both front seats with new connector clips. As of this moment, NHTSA wasn't sure how many cars would be affected by this Recall. If you think you're one such owner, contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

HYUNDAI RECALLS 2001 ELANTRA FOR CUPHOLDER SEEPAGE?

Some recalls come along in a fashion causing one to easily determine that a small percentage of owners will actually have the problem dealt with. NHTSA's announcement that Hyundai will be issuing a Recall of 150,954 Elantras from model year 2001 is one such Recall.

Without further adieu, here are the specifics from NHTSA: "If a liquid is spilled in the area of the cupholder on the center console, it may seep through the console opening for the parking brake lever and then drip onto the air bag control module electrical connector. The spilled liquid may contaminate the air bag control module and its electrical connector to the air bag wiring harness and cause the supplemental restraint system warning light to ulluminate."

As for the consequences of such liquid seepage: "This condition may affect the driver and passenger frontal air bags or the driver and front passenger seat mounted side impact air bags and may prevent air bag deployment during a crash where such deployment should occur. Non-deployment of the SRS air bags may increase the risk of inury to the driver and front passenger under certain crash conditions."

A protective cover will be placed over the air bag control module by dealers sometime for those who respond to this Hyundai Recall sometime before the end of the year.

HUGE NISSAN AND INFINITI RECALL OF '07 AND '08 MODELS

Sometime near the beginning of November Nissan and its luxury division Infiniti will begin a Recall that will affect somewhere around 204,631 vehicles, according to NHTSA. To simplify the nature of the problem, hear ye this: the system in the front passenger seat that tells the airbag when to deploy and when not to was manufactured improperly and may be of a one-track mind that sticks with 'do not deploy'. 

Dealers will be testing tens of thousands of Nissans and Infinitis with a 'special tool' that should enable them to discover if the Occupant Classification System is operating correctly. If it's not, the front-passenger seat cushion will have to be replaced. 

Obviously the seriousness of this Recall is undeniable; but neither is the magnitude. Owners of the vehicles listed below should be aware of this Recall and contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261 or Infiniti at 1-800-662-6200 if you believe your car is affected.

2007-2008 Infiniti EX35

2007-2008 Infiniti G35

2007-2008 Infiniti G37

2007-2008 Nissan 350Z

2007-2008 Nissan Altima

2007-2008 Nissan Murano

2007-2008 Nissan Rogue

JEEP LIBERTY AND DODGE NITRO RECALLED FOR E-BRAKE ISSUE

"The park brake lever clutch drum may distort and reduce the effectiveness of the park brake system," NHTSA says in regards to 3,663 Dodge Nitros and Jeep Libertys. Specifically, this Dodge/Jeep Recall affects '07 and '08 Nitros with manual transmissions and '08 Libertys with manual transmissions.

Dealers will be replacing the whole park brake lever assembly after this Recall begins this month.

SMALL CHRYSLER LLC RECALL AFFECTS SEBRING, AVENGER, CALIBER, JOURNEY, COMPASS AND PATRIOT

Due to a new adhesive used in the powertrain control module, the circuit board in 712 MY2009 Chrysler products may break without warning; causing the engine to stall. Stalls at the wrong time can inflict damage, as you may well be aware.

It's a simple fix. Dealers will be replacing the PCM free of charge. The Recall affects the '09 versios of the Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Caliber, Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot. 712 new owners should expect to hear from Chrysler this month, but if you're curious as to the involvement of your vehicle, contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.