-
252,000 Mercedes-Benz Cars Under Expanded Investigation Rear light problems allegedly cause fires and injury.
— Following a six-month basic evaluation of rear light problems in 218,000 model year 2008-2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has upgraded the evaluation to an engineering analysis. The expanded investigation now includes 252,867 model year 2008-2011 Mercedes Benz C-Class cars that can experience over-heating of the ground wire caused by corrosion between the connectors in the ground circuit to the tail ...
-
Investigation Closed into Alleged Dodge Viper Rear Suspension Problems Suspension knuckle failures caused by crash impacts, not defect in knuckle.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is closing its investigation into 10,000 Dodge Viper cars for rear suspension problems . The investigation was opened in April, 2013, after complaints that alleged suspension knuckle failure in model year 2005-2006 Vipers caused the cars to crash. Based on its review of physical evidence from field inspections of 6 of the 8 incident vehicles, Chrysler concluded that collision forces caused the knuckle ...
-
Hyundai Elantra Recall Might Need to be Expanded Government investigates if Hyundai Elantra has dangerous metal bracket in the headliner.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened what they call a "recall query" to find out if a previous Hyundai recall should be expanded. In March of this year, Hyundai recalled 186,000 model year 2011-2013 Elantra cars because a metal bracket attached to the headliner could dislodge during a side curtain air bag deployment. The metal bracket could cause severe lacerations to a driver at the very moment the air bag should do its job by ...
-
'Safest Car in America' Under Federal Investigation After Fires Tesla Model S investigated after reports of battery fires.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into the 2013 Tesla Model S electric car, the vehicle Tesla says is the safest car in America. Two recent car fires in the U.S. have gained the attention of NHTSA, which wants to know if there might be a problem with the undercarriage of the Model S. Both incidents involved metallic objects in the road that caused damage to the plate that covers the batteries. The ...
-
Volkswagen Tiguan Under Investigation For Lightless Lights Owners of the VW Tiguan complain exterior lights go out from melted fuse.
— Federal safety regulators have opened an investigation into why the exterior lights of the Volkswagen Tiguan can go completely out. The federal Office of Defects Investigation has received 26 complaints alleging a partial or complete loss of the vehicle's exterior lights in the 2009-2011 VW Tiguan. Owners complain that more exterior lights can go out as the vehicles get older. Most of the complaints allege the culprit is an overheated and melted fuse in the ...
-
Kia Sorento Under Federal Investigation for Exploding Sunroof Claims Kia Sorento owners claim sunroofs explode while cruising down the highway.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into exploding sunroofs on model year 2011-2013 Kia Sorento SUVs. It won't be the first time exploding sunroofs made the news. Last October, Hyundai faced an investigation into shattered sunroofs in the 2012 Hyundai Veloster . Those vehicles were recalled a short time later . Additionally, CarComplaints.com has heard from angry owners of other Kia models concerning exploding ...
-
Jeep Liberty Investigated After Reports of Door Fires Power window switch in Jeep Liberty might be cause of fires.
— What is it with Jeep vehicles and fires? There's been investigations into headliner fires , engine fires , rear-impact fires , and now an official investigation into door fires. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there have been two reports of door fires in the 2012 Jeep Liberty. The complaints allege the driver's side door caught fire near the master power window switch. One Jeep Liberty driver said she smelled a burning odor ...
-
40,000 Hyundai Cars Under Investigation For Brake Failure Owners claim brake pedals go to the floor while the car keeps going.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation of the 2009 Hyundai Genesis after receiving 23 complaints about brake failures. Owners claim their brake pedals feel loose or totally go to the floor without the car slowing down. A Florida driver told CarComplaints.com her 2009 Hyundai Genesis did finally come to a stop, with the help of the vehicle in front of her. "I pressed down on the brake and to my surprise the brake ...
-
Ford Focus Electric Cars Target of Federal Investigation Owners of Ford Focus Electric cars say their vehicles stop in the middle of the road.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to know if model year 2012-2013 Ford Focus Electric vehicles are shutting down on the roads for no apparent reason. The Office of Defects Investigation says owners allege their cars stall while driving. Half the complaints claim the cars were traveling above 30 mph when they decided to stall. None of the incidents caused a crash, but safety regulators believe a trend might be underway because all the ...
-
Possible Brake Problems Investigated in BMW 328i Cars Owners say getting their cars to stop ain't an easy job.
— U.S. safety regulators have opened an investigation into possible braking problems in the 2013 BMW 328i. Based on reports filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, owners say the brake pedal doesn't feel right and can be difficult to depress. Reports also suggest it takes longer to stop the vehicle than normal. "I purchased a new 2013 BMW 328i in late May. Within a week of ownership the brakes failed. The car was towed to a ...
-
Feds Investigate Nissan and Infiniti Vehicles For Transmission Leaks Owners say the transmission fluid would work better if it didn't leak all over the road.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into possible transmission problems in 110,000 model year 2013 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti JX vehicles. Owners complain their vehicles lose all power when the transmission fluid leaks out because the cooler line connection fails. Only five owners have complained about the problem, but NHTSA also spotted the problem in early warning reporting data submitted by ...
-
Feds Expand Investigation Into Chevy Corvette Headlight Problems Both low-beam headlights go out after driving less than 30 minutes.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has expanded an investigation into headlight problems in model year 2005-2007 Chevy Corvette sports cars. Three months ago the feds opened a preliminary investigation into complaints about low-beam headlights going out without warning . NHTSA received 30 reports about headlights that went out after driving for 5 to 30 minutes. General Motors said the problem is caused by a fractured low-beam circuit wire in ...
-
Are Roof Headliners Catching Fire in Jeep Grand Cherokees? Owners complain Jeep Grand Cherokee headliner and sun visor can catch fire.
— Recalls related to fire hazards are, unfortunately, not uncommon. Those fires are typically associated with engines, wiring in doors, or fires related to areas of the fuel system. But, fires coming from the headliner? That's exactly what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating after complaints about headliners catching fire in model year 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs. The government has received three complaints in the past four ...
-
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Under Investigation for Trunk Fire Risk Complaints allege rear lights go out and can start a trunk fire.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation to find out if 218,000 model year 2008-2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars have rear light problems. The government has received 21 reports that allege problems with the brake or turn signals. Some of the failures were reported in only one side of the car, while others report both rear lights went out. Many owners said they smelled smoke and saw burn marks in the trunks. One owner ...
-
Honda Odyssey Brake Problems Investigated by Feds Owners complain the brakes apply when they shouldn't.
— The Honda Odyssey is once again on the radar of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as the government announced an investigation into alleged braking problems. Based on owner complaints, the 2007-2008 Honda Odyssey can throw on the brakes even without the brake pedal being touched. Some complaints allege the vehicle suddenly applied the brakes by itself while the accelerator was applied, causing the speed to quickly drop by as much as 30 ...
-
Is There a Defect in the Front Axle of the Hyundai Santa Fe? U.S. government investigates reported axle failures in the Hyundai Santa Fe.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into possible problems in the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. NHTSA has received two complaints from owners who claim they experienced failures of the right-front axles. In both cases, the incidents occurred with less than 5,000 miles on the odometer. One Santa Fe owner said they heard a loud noise and the car refused to move forward or backward. The car was towed to a dealership ...
-
General Motors Recall Might Not Have Worked Fire reported in GM vehicles that were supposed to be fixed during previous recall.
— What happens when U.S. safety regulators believe an automaker didn't do a good enough job on a safety recall? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opens what they call a "recall query" to confirm the recall remedy actually worked. In early May, General Motors recalled over 38,000 model year 2012-2013 Chevy Malibu Eco, Buick LaCrosse and Regal sedans equipped with eAssist. GM said they wanted to screen the generator control module and verify the ...
-
Suzuki Vehicles Target of Investigation Into Passenger Seat Problems Over 200,000 Suzuki Grand Vitara and SX4 vehicles investigated.
— After receiving 128 complaints about the 2006-2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 Suzuki SX4, the U.S. government has opened an investigation into alleged passenger seat and air bag problems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the alleged problems are associated with the occupant classification system for the front passenger seat. About half of the complaints report air bag warning lights coming on when they shouldn't. Other complaints ...
-
Did General Motors Fail to Recall 400,000 Vehicles For Air Bag Problems? Feds want to know if 400,000 GM vehicles should have been recalled months ago.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants to know if 400,000 General Motors vehicles should have been recalled during previous recalls. The affected vehicles include the 2012 Chevy Camaro, Cruze, Sonic, and the Buick Verano. GM recalled the Verano, Cruze, and Sonic in November, 2012 , because the driver-side frontal air bag could fail to deploy in a crash. The problem was traced to a shorting bar that could contact the air bag ...
-
Are Pontiac G6 Brake Lights On the Blink? Owners say Pontiac G6 brake lights have a mind of their own.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has expanded its investigation into brake light problems in model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 cars. Safety regulators want to know if 550,000 vehicles could be at risk of brake lights that come on when they shouldn't, and don't work when they should. In addition, complaints allege problems with the gear shifter and cruise control. The feds originally opened a "recall query" in February of this year after ...
-
Honda Odyssey Air Bag Problems Under Investigation Odyssey owners allege air bags deploy when they shouldn't.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to know why 320,000 model year 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey vehicles might have air bags that deploy when they shouldn't. This is the opposite problem Honda had with the Odyssey earlier this year when that model was recalled for air bags that would not deploy in a crash . Safety regulators said Odyssey owners have complained about injuries they sustained when the air bag inflated without warning. Six owners ...
-
400,000 Ford F-150 Trucks Investigated For Engine Problems Owners allege engine can lose power in hot and humid weather.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the possibility that 400,000 Ford F-150 trucks have serious engine problems when the weather is hot and humid. According to the federal Office of Defects Investigation, 95 complaints have been filed about model year 2011-2013 Ford F-150 trucks equipped with 3.5L gasoline turbocharged direct injection engines. Hot and Humid Weather is Turning These Trucks Into Glorified Scooters F-150 owners ...
-
Ford F-250 and F-350 Trucks Investigated for Steering Problems Owners say their trucks lost all control because of the steering gear box.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into 340,000 model year 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks after complaints about a complete loss of steering. The government is looking into the possibility the steering gear box failed internally and caused drivers to lose control of their trucks. One complainant said they crashed into a parked vehicle because there was no way to control the truck. Another ...
-
Chrysler 300C, Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum Under Investigation Owners say engines stall after putting gas in the tank.
— Owners of model year 2006 Chrysler 300C, Dodge Charger and Magnum vehicles might finally get official answers as to why their engines decide to stall without warning. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into the problem, focusing on 192,000 vehicles with 5.7L or 6.1L 8-cylinder HEMI engines. According to government documents, there have been 54 complaints about stalling engines, and all those complaints said ...
-
Do Mazda6 Cars Have a Screw Loose? Federal safety investigators want to know why Mazda6 doors fly open unannounced.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into why doors are flying open on model year 2009 Mazda6 vehicles. One person said the only reason they stayed in the vehicle was the fact they were wearing a seat belt. Based on information submitted by Mazda6 owners, the mounting screws were missing from the latch. One person said they found all the screws on the latch could easily be removed because there was no adhesive to ...
-
Lights Out: Chevy Corvette Focus of Federal Investigation Corvette owners say they are left in the dark at night.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has put an investigative spotlight on why drivers of model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Corvette vehicles are complaining about being left in the dark while driving at night. The government has received 30 reports about Corvette headlights going completely out without warning, although some drivers said the low beam headlights were the only lights they lost. The lights start working again after the vehicle has ...
-
Investigation Expanded Into Ford Crown Victoria Steering Problems Steering problems in your Ford Crown Victoria? You're not the only one.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has expanded their investigation into steering problems in model year 2005-2008 Ford Crown Victoria vehicles. The investigation was opened after complaints the upper and lower shafts of the steering column separated. The mechanical connection between the steering wheel and rack and pinion steering assembly consists of the steering column and an upper and lower intermediate shaft. Any separation will ...
-
Porsche 911 Cars Under Investigation For Leaking Antifreeze Problems Porsche 911 owners claim all the antifreeze quickly leaked and covered the roadway.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into model year 2001-2007 Porsche 911 cars equipped with GT1 engines. Porsche owners claim they were driving as usual when the vehicle quickly lost all the engine coolant. Once that happened, the engine shut down. One Porsche owner said their vehicle took on a mind of its own when hot antifreeze leaked and covered the road and rear tires. The vehicle went out of control and ...
-
Dodge Viper Focus of Federal Investigation After Crash Reports Safety inspectors want to know if there is a rear suspension problem in the Dodge Viper.
— Expensive muscle cars are nice to own, but they’re not immune to problems and federal investigations. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, safety regulators are taking a close look at the 2005-2006 Dodge Viper after reports of failures of the rear suspension knuckle. Although there have been only two complaints, both incidents caused the vehicles to crash. In one report, the owner of a 2006 Viper was traveling at 30 mph when his ...
-
Hyundai Sonata Rear Suspension Control Arm Failures Investigated Hyundai Sonata owners complain rear suspension problems caused by corrosion.
— The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a federal investigation into the Hyundai Sonata after complaints about rear suspension control arm failures. The investigation is focused on model years 2006 through 2008 and could include as many as 393,000 vehicles. Three drivers complained the failures occurred while driving at highway speeds leading to a sudden lost of control. Some complaints allege the electronic stability control system was ...
-
Mercedes-Benz Vehicles Investigated After Fuel Leak Complaints Owners say their vehicle smells like gas inside and outside the car.
— Mercedes-Benz is under government scrutiny after complaints about possible fuel leaks in model year 2003-2006 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, owners complain of a strong gas odor inside and outside of their vehicle, especially after putting gas in the tank. The federal Office of Defects Investigation tracked down 350 reports related to the problem, with 116 reports specifically about the E55 ...
-
Feds Increase Investigation of 2005 Honda Pilot Federal engineering analysis opened after complaints about unexpected braking.
— What started as a preliminary investigation into alleged braking problems in the 2005 Honda Pilot has now been taken to an engineering analysis, the final step before a potential recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened the original investigation in October, 2012 , after they learned of 185 incidents of unexpected braking in the Pilot. Several drivers said their vehicles went from highway speeds to a complete stop without any ...
-
Government Investigating Ford Vehicles For "Limp Mode" Engine Problems Owners report engine stalling or surging followed by loss of power.
— Following a petition by the North Carolina Consumers Council , the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary evaluation of certain Ford vehicles for problems related to the electronic throttle body. According to government documents, owners report their vehicles experienced numerous incidents of the engine stalling or surging. Safety regulators said the problem might be related to contaminated printed circuit boards that ...
-
Pontiac G6 Under Investigation For Brake Light and Cruise Control Problems Feds want to know what is going on with model year 2005-2009 Pontiac G6 vehicles.
— The Office of Defects Investigation, a part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has opened an investigation into 2005-2009 Pontiac G6 vehicles after receiving 212 complaints about brake light and cruise control problems. Pontiac owners complain their brake lights illuminate when the brake pedal has not been depressed, or the lights don’t work when the brake pedal is depressed. In addition, the cruise control may not engage, or will disengage ...
2013 Vehicle Investigations
Full archive of all vehicle investigations news from 2013. Other years: 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2012
Search for Car Issues & News
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S