Complete List Of NHTSA Recalls This Week (Since July 30,2002)

CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 11,000 LB. REAR AXLE HAVE A CONDITION WHERE THE REAR AXLE ANCHOR PLATE MAY FRACTURE. AS THE ANCHOR PLATE FRACTURES, THERE IS AN AUDIBLE "BANG." IF THIS INDICATION OF A CONDITION REQUIRING THE DRIVER'S ATTENTION WENT UNNOTICED OR WAS IGNORED, AND UNDER CERTAIN REBOUND, BRAKING, OR CORNERING MANEUVERS, THE REAR AXLE WOULD BE FREE TO MOVE FORE AND AFT AND PROVIDE UNEXPECTED STEERING INPUTS TO THE VEHICLE.

IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD RESULT.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE ANCHOR PLATE AND SPACER. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON CHEVROLET G-VAN CHASSIS, IT IS POSSIBLE, THAT ON SOME UNITS, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS NOT ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY TO THE STRUCTURAL MEMBER OF THE VEHICLE. THE SWIVEL PLATE MAY NOT BE ATTACHED TO THE BOLT HOLDING THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY.

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REINSTALL THE SWIVEL PLATE CORRECTLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HOME & PARK AT 1-888-762-3873.

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH INTERNATIONAL VT365 ENGINES AND MANUFACTURED AT INTERNATIONAL DIESEL OF ALABAMA. THE INJECTOR DRIVER MODULES (IDM) BUILT FOR THE VT365 ENGINES COULD HAVE MISSING VIBRATION DAMPING/RETENTION SHELLS AND A MISSING HOT-MELT PROCESS ON THE DC/DC BOARDS.

THE MISSING SHELLS COULD ALLOW THE LARGER ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS TO BECOME LOOSE AND POSSIBLE BREAK OFF INSIDE THE MODULE DURING ENGINE OPERATION. DEPENDING ON WHAT ELECTRICAL COMPONENT COMES OFF, THE EFFECT ON ENGINE OPERATION COULD RESULT IN ROUGH RUNNING, LOSS OF POWER, NO START, OR IN THE MOST SEVERE CASE, IMMEDIATE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IDM MODULES. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AUGUST 19, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INTERNATIONAL AT 1-800-448-7825.

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, THE FUEL LINE IS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO A TURBO CHARGER OUTLET/EXHAUST PIPE. IF AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION OCCURS BETWEEN THE FUEL HARNESS AND THE EXHAUST PIPE, THE FUEL LINE INSIDE THE REFLECTIVE HEAT WRAP COULD MELT DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT.

THE MELTING OF THE LINE COULD RESULT IN IMMEDIATE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PROPER ROUTING OF THE FUEL HARNESS. IF THE HARNESS IS ROUTED NEAR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, A NEW FUEL HARNESS WILL BE INSTALLED. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INTERNATIONAL AT 1-800-448-7825.

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH 36,000 MILES OR LESS AS OF JULY 15, 2002, AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT PROBLEM MAY HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE HAZARD SWITCH WHICH COULD RESULT IN INOPERATIVE HAZARD LIGHTS AND/OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNALS.

THE LOSS OF TURN SIGNALS OR REAR HAZARD LAMPS COULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND/OR IS STOPPED AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, S7.3, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE SEAT BELT CHIMES MAY NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED AND IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

IF THE DRIVER BUCKLES HIS SEAT BELT PRIOR TO STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHIME WILL NOT SOUND AT ALL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO ENSURE THAT THE SEAT BELT CHIME OPERATES AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-201-573-0117.

ON SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THERE IS A BREATHER HOSE THAT ATTACHES TO THE NOZZLE OF THE ON-BOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) VALVE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE TOPSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE BREATHER HOSE IS ATTACHED WITH A CLAMP, WHOSE "TABS" FACE IN THE UPWARD DIRECTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED UNDER THE NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TEST (I.E., 35 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER CRASH), THE CLAMP "TABS" CONTACTED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING THE NOZZLE TO BREAK.

IN THE WORST CASE, NOZZLE BREAKAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE VEHICLE ROLLS-OVER AFTER A HIGH SPEED FRONTAL CRASH.

DEALERS WILL ROTATE THE SPECIFIED CLAMP. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.