Auto News For Monday, June 29, 2015 - Finally A New Audi A4

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories, review and videos for Monday, June 29, 2015.

FUTURE
No surprises here. In keeping with Audi's handsome but conservative design ethos, the 2017 Audi A4, the first all-new A4 since the fourth-gen B8 was introduced nearly eight years ago, looks a lot like the previous car. Although its dimensions have increased marginally, the new A4 will weigh approximately 265 pounds less than the outgoing car. The wagon is gorgeous, but we're more likely to receive a slightly elevated, be-cladded Allroad version of the Avant. Audi USA sells an average of 38,000 A4s per year.

TTAC
2015 will be the seventh consecutive year that Ford's Fiesta ends a calendar year as the United Kingdom's best-selling car. The Fiesta's lead over the second-ranked Vauxhall Corsa stands at 18,883 units through just five months. The Fiesta outsold the second-ranked car, Ford's own Focus, by 46,114 units in 2014.

REVIEW
Is the iM the answer to Scion's problems? Not if the market agrees with Car & Driver. Calling it the iMeh, C/D says, "The segment is also full of cars offering better performance," and, "If Scion is going to survive, it needs a following. And at first blush, the iM doesn’t seem good enough to build one." U.S. sales at the Scion brand are down 19% so far this year.

RECALL
In a recall not yet posted to NHTSA's main recall page, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles says 65 owners of Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos must stop driving their vehicles. The Durangos and Grand Cherokees were built in early June the recall is taking place, "because they may have been inadvertently equipped with improperly heat-treated suspension components. This condition, which was not apparent during the assembly process, could lead to component breakage, rear-end instability and/or reduced braking power." You can read more about the specifics and the means of discovering if your vehicle is involved at FCA's website or by calling FCA's U.S. customer care centre at 1-800-853-1403.

WATCH
Is the new HR-V the spiritual successor to the CRX, Civic hatch, Prelude, Accord wagon, del Sol, S2000, and Element? That's the story Honda is telling in this terrific commercial.

Auto News For Friday, May 29, 2015 - Massive Recalls Underway

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories, reviews, and videos for Friday, May 29, 2015.

INSIDE THE AUTO BUSINESS
May auto sales may be the strongest they've been in a year, but they might not look that way because the auto selling month was a day shorter this year than last.

TTAC
U.S. sales of midsize cars are down 4% through the first four months of 2015. The overall new vehicle market is moving in the opposite direction.

REVIEW
Although we take offense at Automobile magazine's opening to their second paragraph, "Boring sales stats aside," this review of the new 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid is worth reading.

WATCH
Jalopnik boss Travis Okulski isn't yet supposed to tell us what it's like to drive the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. But he's allowed to drive it and show us what it's like to drive. So former Jalopnik EIC Matt Hardigree suggested this morning that you watch this video of Okulski driving the Mazda with the auto-captioning system on. Just press the little cc in the bottom right. "Did you get that mail I was a brilliant song perennial."

RECALL

Ford is recalling 361,523 Ranger pickup trucks (model year 2004-2006) because, "the affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrustion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture."

Mitsubishi is recalling 82,784 Lancers and Lancer Evolutions (2004-2006) and Lancer Sportbacks (2004) because, likewise, "the affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrustion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture."

Moving on, Ford is recalling 1,019,081 Mustangs (2005-2014) and GTs (2005-2006) because, you guessed it, "the affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture."

BMW is recalling 420,661 copies of the 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 325xi Sportswagons, 325i Sportswagons (2002-2005); 330Ci, 325Ci, M3 convertibles, 325i coupes, 330i coupes, and M3 coupes (2002-2006); M5, 540i, 525i, 530i, and 540i/525i Sportswagons (2002-2003), and X5s (3.0i and 4.4i) from model years 2003-2004 because, "the affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture." 

You get the idea. The same problem is causing a recall of 4,066,732 Dodge Ram 2500s (2005-2009), Dodge Ram 1500s and Durangos (2004-2008), Dodge Ram 3500s (2006-2009), Dodge Ram 4500s and 5500s (2008-2010), Chrysler Aspens (2007-2008), Chrysler 300s (2005-2010), Dodge Chargers and Magnums (2005-2010), Dodge Dakotas (2005-2011), and Mitsubishi Raiders (2006-2010). Another FCA US LLC recall affected 438,156 Ram 1500s, 2500s, and 3500s from model year 2003 in order to, "address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag."

Oh, Takata.

Auto News For Friday, May 22, 2015 - Mazda Says Driving Matters, Not Zoom Zoom

Here are the six must-read, must-watch auto news stories, reviews, and videos for Friday, May 22, 2015.

INSIDE THE AUTO BUSINESS
GM's poor safety record related to the company's recent ignition issues has caused the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to mandate  monthly meetings between government officials and the automaker for at least another year. Call it oversight; call it babysitting; call it what you may. The GM ignition switch failure is now tied to 104 deaths, and a NHTSA lawyer called the order to disclose and meet, a "productive and effective tool," according to The Detroit News.

INSIDE THE AUTO MARKETING BUSINESS
Remember Zoom Zoom? It didn't make you buy enough Mazdas. So on the same line of thinking, Mazda now says, "Driving matters." According to an ad for the new MX-5 Miata, "You might not need it. But can you live without it?" Should an automaker be telling me I don't need their product? Or should they be, "You can't live without it," a nice declarative, affirmative statement?

INSIDE THE MINIVAN BUSINESS
Is Stow'N'Go a no go? If Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is going to install the hideaway third and second row seats and install all-wheel-drive, the AWD system may need to use electric motors to power the rear wheels. Now that workers are back on the job at FCA's minivan factory in Windsor, Ontario, it's probably about time FCA decides what they're doing with the new vans.

RECALL
The Ford Motor Company is recalling 21,435 Lincoln MKZ sedans (model year 2015) because, "the parking lights do not reduce their light output from a DRL level when used in conjunction with the headlights."

REVIEW
In a Car & Driver comparison test between Mercedes' new 2016 AMG GT S, the Porsche 911 GTS, and the Jaguar F-Type R Coupe, the winner is.... not the Jag.

WATCH
The era of David Letterman's Late Show on CBS is over. But Letterman was more than just a comedic talk show host, he's also a car nut. Here he is with Maximum Bob Lutz looking at a then new Chevrolet Volt on the Late Show stage.

Auto News For Thursday, May 21, 2015 - Ford Recalls 8963 2015 Ford F150s

Here are the six must-read, must-watch auto news stories, reviews, and videos for Thursday, May 21, 2015.

INSIDE THE AUTO RACING BUSINESS
Lewis Hamilton will be driving for Mercedes-Benz until at least 2018 and he’ll be paid handsomely for doing so. Forbes says that with bonuses, Lewis, the two-time F1 champion, will earn $45 million per year.

INSIDE THE PERFORMANCE CAR BUSINESS
SE, EX, GLS - all the typical trim line names are so dull. How about ZHP? The 2016 BMW 435i ZHP isn’t the first ZHP BMW, but it’s the first 4-Series with the performance package. According to Car & Driver, it includes an extra 35 horsepower, a Track Handling package, an M Performance limited-slip diff, an M Performance package, and more. And it makes a better noise. 

TTAC
Hyundai USA’s SUV/CUV lineup is small and accomplishes rather not a lot. But in a slowing car market, Hyundai has maintained passenger car health and set an April sales record last month. 

RECALL
Ford Motor Company is recalling 8963 2015 Ford F150s due the possibility of the steering upper intermediate shaft being improperly riveted.

REVIEW
Acceleration times are getting crazy. Now, in evo testing, the six-cylinder Porsche Cayenne GTS accelerates to 62 mph in 5.1 seconds. 

WATCH
Chris Harris, like humans the world over, appreciates the idea of a Porsche 911 GT3 RS. This video of the latest model is evidence of that fact.

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.

CADILLAC RECALLS THE 2004 SRX FOR TRANSMISSION TROUBLE

The first model year of Cadillac's first crossover will undergo a Recall because of automatic transmission problems. As many as 17,301 Cadillac SRXs from 2004 could "have a condition in which the transmission shift lever can be moved from the 'park' position with the ignition 'on' and without the operator depressing the brake pedal or, in some cases, the shifter can be moved from the 'park' position with the ignition turned off," NHTSA says.

(Click here to see what the 2010 SRX will look like)

Accidental shifting of an the SRX, say, parked on a hill, could result in a great deal of danger. SRX owners will be notified before the end of the year to have their dealer "replace the pawl stopper and a bushing within the shifter assembly".

CHEVROLET IMPALA RECALL - JUST 79 FROM 2009

Small Recalls do happen, even if they don't capture the attention of CNN and Car&Driver. A recent incident involved fewer than 600 Mini Coopers with JCW kits. Today, Chevrolet is recalling just 79 Impalas according to NHTSA. These vehicles could have an air bag inflator on the front passenger side that could fracture during deployment. 

The location of the frature is troubling. If, during deployment, the fracture occurs at the inflator tube, pieces of that tube could strike the occupants of the vehicle. Bad news. Besides, the airbag wouldn't properly inflate.

Sometime this month General Motors will be notifying the owners and dealers will replace the airbag on that side of the car. It's not easy work, and it's very expensive. Surely GM was more than happy to discover they needed to contact just 79 owners.

2009 MINI COOPER & CLUBMAN RECALLED - JCW VERSIONS, SPECIFICALLY

John Cooper Works is only about as British as Rolls-Royce and Mini these days. The famed Mini tuner is a slave to BMW; as are the others.

For 2009, JCW kits were available to the regular and Clubman versions of the turbocharged Minis. Unfortunately, the brake discs fitted to these John Cooper Works cars were inadequate 16-inchers. Simply put, they're not up to the task of bringing Mini Coopers to a halt. Thus, NHTSA says, 560 of these cars are ready for a Recall. "Dealers will inspect the front brake discs and pads and, if necessary, replace them," NHTSA says. For more on JCW Garages, click here.

SUBARU RECALLS '09 FORESTER, '08 IMPREZA & '07-'08 LEGACY

Some recent Subarus "may have the cylinder head-side oil supply pipe and turbocharger-side pipe improperly assembled." The vibration that ensues could lead to the cracking of pipe(s), allowing oil to leak in dangerous and very hot places.

The 2009 Subaru Forester, 2008 Subaru Impreza, and 2007 and 2008 Subaru Legacy - 16,715 of them, NHTSA says - fall under this Recall. Subaru's available at 1-800-782-2783 to answer your questions about your Legacy, Impreza, and Forester. 

OLDER MERCEDES-BENZ M-CLASS RECALLED FOR POWER STEERING PROBLEM

The first-generation of Mercedes-Benz M-Class wasn't exactly renowned for its quality feel. It's no surprise to see the 1998-2003 M-Class called up to the front by NHTSA for power steering problems more than a decade after it was introduced.

102,954 Mercedes MLs could have problems with a hose clamp that's used to secure the power steering fluid cooling hose to the fluid cooler. Without sufficient clamping for this connection, there could be a loss of fluid and, over time or quite suddenly, a degrading power steering pump.

Suddenly losing power steering on a beast of this size is no joy. The fact that it could result in an ML320 or ML500 crash won't surprise you. All vehicles previously repaired for this issue on an earlier Recall should be brought in again because the first repair might not've cut it. Confusion as to whether or not your M-Class Benz is included can be cleared up with this M-B number: 1-800-367-6372. 

2008 & 2009 SATURN VUE RECALLED FOR POWER STEERING PROBLEM

Saturn's heavyweight Vue, a cute-ute of the cuter kind, has been issued a Recall by NHTSA for problems related to power steering fluid. 42,408 Vues from model years '08 and '09 should head to dealers so that "the nut securing the power steering line to the power steering pump" can be inspected. If there are no signs of a fluid leak, dealers will tighten the nut. If a fluid leak is present, (the) dealer will tighten the nut and check the fluid level."

The Good Car Guy drove the Vue at GM's proving grounds about a year ago and found it to be the perfect small SUV but for one major fault. It's a heavyweight - and driving dynamics seriously suffer. It also works a whole lot better when the power steering fluid isn't leaking.

2008 & 2009 KIA RONDO RECALLED FOR FUEL PUMP PROBLEM

Without an official count (a count you can do at GoodCarBadCar.net's Recall section), it seems as though, more often than not, NHTSA recalls affect fuel. In reality, cars aren't very dangerous without fuel. Thrust gasoline into the mix and the assorted devices that hold it, pump it, and suck it, and the safety administration gets frightened.

And they find problems. This time, the problem rests under the Kia Rondo. Rondos from model years 2008 and 2009 - 6,680 of them - that are equipped with the 2.4L four-cylinder may have a weak fuel pump. If not enough fuel gets to the engine, igniting could be difficult; stuttering could be bothersome; and more severe impairment could be dangerous.

Kia will be replacing the fuel pump sub-assembly with an "improved part". I should hope the part wouldn't be worse than the first.