As if the auto industry does not have enough problems, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has just announced Ford, the company that refused TARP stimulus money in 2008, will recall 310,000 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable models from the 2000-2003 model years because their throttles may stick.
310,000 Vehicles – that is a lot of cars, cars that are perhaps worth currently anywhere from $2,500 to $4,500 (according to the Kelley Blue Book) or more on the used car market depending on their condition. And if they are sitting on used car lots, whose responsibility will it be to pay attention to recall notices like this one—the used car dealer’s, the owner’s, or the buyer’s?
Meanwhile, the Taurus recall was prompted by owner complaints of unintended acceleration (3-liter/4-valve engine—not the 2-valve engine). Fortunately, there have been no accidents reported resulting from this problem.
BMW, at the same time, also announced a recall of 7,500 Series 7 sedans from their 2005-2007 model years because “their doors may unexpectedly open.” This is an interesting problem. (The New York Times, 10/26/12) These cars were already recalled in Japan (2007). BWW will pay a $3 million fine to NHTSA for not having carried out recalls in 2010.
For more information on automobile recalls, visit: http://www.nhtsa.gov
Comments for this article are closed.