Daewoo recalls 40,000 Nubira cars in U.S;, VW 10,000 Passats

DETROIT, Oct 2, 2002; Reuters reports that South Korean automaker Daewoo Motor has recalled about 40,000 of its 2000 model year Nubira compact cars sold in the United States due to possible cracks and leaks from brake hoses, U.S. safety officials said on Wednesday.

A brake fluid leak could result in brake failure, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Daewoo owners are expected to be notified later this month, and they can have the brakes fixed free-of-charge at an authorized dealership, the NHTSA said.

Daewoo officials did not return telephone calls seeking comment.

In May, Daewoo Motor America filed for bankruptcy protection, more than three-and-a-half years after it began selling cars in the United States. The bankruptcy occurred after Daewoo Motor America was excluded from the list of Daewoo assets that General Motors Corp. and others invested in to form a new Korean automaker.

Despite the bankruptcy, the owners of Daewoo assets that were excluded from the GM deal have made contingency plans to honor warranties and recall costs.

Also on Wednesday, German automaker Volkswagen AG said it has recalled about 10,450 of its model year 1996 Passat sedans after reports of electrical failures with the headlights and windshield wipers, a VW spokesman said.

VW was unaware of any accidents or injuries resulting from headlight or windshield wiper failure, the spokesman said. VW dealers replace the faulty electrical wiring.