1996 Product Recalls

SAAB/STEERING:COLUMN

IF MISALIGNED, AN ALUMINUM CONNECTING PIECE CAN FAIL DUE TO FATIGUE, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN ALIGNMENT TO ENSURE THAT NO MISALIGNMENT EXISTS. IF A MISALIGNMENT IS FOUND, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY AS A UNIT.

FERRARI/STEERING:GEAR:RACK

IF THE STEERING RACK FRACTURES, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT STEERING RACK MOUNTING SUPPORT WITH A NEW SUPPORT WHICH HAS BEEN PROPERLY HEAT TREATED.

BLUE BIRD/HANDRAILS

WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RELOCATE THE BRACKET AS NECESSARY. OWNERS CAN INSPECT AND RELOCATE THE BRACKET IS SO DESIRED.

January 24, 1996 Release # 96-063 Washington, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S

Internal Injury

FORD/AIR CONDITIONER:CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE

BLOWER MALFUNCTIONS LIMITING OR STOPPING OUTPUT CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEMI-AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULES WITH MODULES CONTAINING REVISED SOFTWARE.

GM/TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC:INDICATOR:LEVER

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSAXLE GEAR SELECTOR RESULTING IN A DRIVER EITHER INADVERTENTLY LEAVING A PARKED OR IDLING VEHICLE IN DRIVE, REVERSE, OR NEUTRAL RATHER THAN PARK, OR SELECTING AN INCORRECT TRANSAXLE SHIFT POSITION WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

DEALERS ARE TO INSTALL A NEW INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER TRIM PLATE/BEZEL ASSEMBLY WHICH IS NOT SUBJECT TO THIS CONDITION.

CHRYSLER/ENGINE

INADEQUATE SEALING AND RETENTION OF THE PLUG CAN RESULT IN OIL LEAKAGE WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN EXPANSION PLUG AND RETAINING BRACKET OVER THE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG.

GM/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE HOOD OR ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS OPEN, A PERSON IN THE VICINITY OF THE ENGINE COULD BE STRUCK BY A FAN SEGMENT AND INJURED.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ENGINE COOLING FAN WITH A NEWLY RELEASED FAN ASSEMBLY HAVING RIVETS WITH LARGER HEADS.

GM/STEERING:COLUMN SHAFT UPPER

THIS LOOSE ENGAGEMENT CAN PROVIDE NOTICEABLE NOISE AND ABNORMAL STEERING FEELING TO THE DRIVER AND, IF LEFT UNATTENDED, THE STEERING SHAFTS CAN SEPARATE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

DEALERS WILL TORQUE THE SUSPECT FASTENERS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATIONS.

FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL

THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCES CAN BE INCREASED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR INTAKE DUCT AND VALVE ASSEMBLY WITH REVISED UNITS.

CHRYSLER/FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY:PIPE:FILLER:NECK

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A SPARK TO OCCUR WHEN FUELING THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY IGNITE THE FUEL VAPORS.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND STRAP FOR THE FUEL FILLER TUBE.

ROSTRA/FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE CRUISE CONTROL ASSEMBLIES.

January 19, 1996 Release # 96-061 WASHINGTON, D.C.- CPSC is urgently warning con

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

January 16, 1996 Release # 96-059 WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S

January 16, 1996 Release # 96-060 WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S

STRUCTURE:FRAME:MEMBERS AND BODY

POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE TONGUE FROM THE TRAILER COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL FOUR BOLTS TO REINFORCE THE TONGUE CHANNEL WELD TO THE FRAME.

BRAKES:AIR SYSTEMS

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR COULD CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH PARTS, INSTRUCTIONS AND ASSISTANCE IN RESTORING THE BRAKE TIMING TO FMVSS 121 REQUIREMENTS.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR:GENERATOR

THIS CONDITION CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE GENERATOR CARTRIDGE FUSE FASTENERS PROPERLY.

EQUIPMENT:CHILD SEAT: INDEPENDENT

COSCO WILL PROVIDE A RETOFIT KIT TO OWNERS OF THESE SEATS WHICH WILL INCLUDE AN EASY-TO-INSTALL METAL PLATE THAT HOOKS OVER THE BASE OF THE SEAT AND IS SECURELY SNAPPED IN PLACE BY TWO PLASTIC FASTENERS.

FUEL: VEHICLE CRASH, CUT OFF SYSTEM (5-94)

FUEL LEAKAGE INCREASES THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER TUBE WITH A FILLER TUBE THAT HAS AN ADDITIONAL ROLLOVER VALVE. THE ASSOCIATED ROLLOVER VALVE VAPOR HOSES WILL BE REROUTED.