2000 was a record year for product recalls and warnings, especially in the pharmaceutical industry. The rapidly growing threat posed by defective products in the marketplace prompted us to devote a number of this year's Newsletters to various aspects of that problem.
While various government agencies monitor consumer complaints and injuries and, when necessary, issue recalls, the dissemination of such important information to members of the general public is far from satisfactory. In fact, a recent investigative report in California disclosed dangerously defective products were still being sold at numerous discount, thrift and second-hand stores despite their having been recalled. Shockingly, recalled children's products, such as car seats, were found throughout the state being sold without any indication that they had been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Thus, the best way for you to protect yourself and your family from the hazards posed by dangerously defective products is to take advantage of every available opportunity to obtain information that may be of assistance to you. Some ways to keep well informed are as follows:
1. Read the monthly recall section in "CONSUMER REPORTS". 2. Contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at 800-638-2772 or visit http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html 3. Contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 800-424-9393. 4. Contact any new car dealer. 5. Contact the U.S. Coast Guard. 6. Contact the FDA's Office of Consumer Affairs at 888-723-3366. 7. Always return any warranty card that comes with a product you purchase. 8. Check the websites of the various news services/news networks and consumer advocate groups.
As a service to our subscribers, we have gathered together from various sources a comprehensive list of the major product recalls from November, 1999 through December, 2000. We have broken down these products into the following categories:
stop driving -- call local Honda dealer or 1-888-289-8226
Murray Outrage Go Carts
GT60102X92A
GT60304A
Amsafe Commercial Products Inc.
seatbelt can unintentionally unlatch
stop using - call 1-800-251-8007 or go to www.murrayinc.
com
Isuzu Trooper
2000 and 2001 models with front wheel drive
Isuzu Motors, Ltd.
Fuel leaks in crash tests
www.progressive.com; www.isuzu.com;
www.highway
safety.org
Polaris All-Terrain Vehicles
1999 Scrambler and Xplorer 400 ATVs and 2000 Scrambler and Xplorer 400 ATVs
Polaris Industries, Inc.
Throttles can stick preventing vehicle from slowing down
stop using - contact local Polaris dealer or call 1-800-POLARIS or go to www.polaris
industries.com/askPolaris/warranty/Recalls.
asp?
Go-Karts
serial numbers 1757022 through 1855821 and 3000010 through 3050632
Manco Products Inc.
Rider's long hair or loose clothing can become entangled in moving components
stop using - call Manco for free repair kit or free installation of same. Call 1-800-293-0795 or go to www.manco
prod.com/
recall.html
Kawasaki Off-Road Motorcycles
KX65 Model Year 2000 VIN Numbers (last 4 digits) 0001 to 6668
Kawasaki Motors Corp. of U.S.A. of Irving, CA
Frame down tube can crack below the steering head causing failure of the frame and loss of control
stop using - call local dealer or 1-866-802-9381
Honda Off-Road Motorcycles
2000 and 2001 XR50R
American Honda Motor Co. Inc. of Torrance, CA
2 bolts that attach handlebars can break causing handlebars to separate and loss of control
stop using - call local dealer or 1-888-289-8226 or go to www.honda
motorcycle.com/
press/index.
html
Yamaha Motorcycles
1998-1999 Models YFZ-R1K, YFZ-R1KC and YFZ-R1LC
YAMAHA
coolant system water hose could loosen at thermostat connection and allow steam to spurt out
have dealer install and adequately tighten two new hose clamps
Dodge & Plymouth
'00 Neon (11/98 - 1/99)
Daimler Chrysler
passenger side airbag may not inflate adequately
have dealer replace air-bag module
Ford
'00 Focus (with automatic speed control)
Ford Motor Company
possibility of water entering speed control assembly causing unexpected acceleration
have dealer inspect car and install re-designed speed control cable
Chrysler
Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger and Eagle Talon
Daimler Chrysler
ball joint could separate and cause suspension to collapse
have dealer inspect car and replace rubber-ball joint boots if necessary
Toyota & Lexus
'95-98 Camry and '94-98 ES300
Toyota
steering wheel could loosen or come off
have dealer tighten steering wheel set nut
Ford
'96-'98 Ford Contour, Mercury Mystique
Ford Motor Company
rear brakes could corrode from exposure to road salt
have dealer install re-designed PCRV in rear-brake system
Honda
'96-98 Civic
Honda
Floor mat could prevent accelerator pedal from returning to idle when foot is removed
have dealer install positive floor mat retention system
Acura
'96-99 various models
Honda
1) bolt in transmission case could fall out resulting in loss of power to wheels
2) vehicle could roll even though shifter is placed in "park"
have dealer install redesigned bolt
Mercedes
Mercedes S
Mercedes Benz
possibility of spontaneous air bag deployment
have dealer replace air bag module
Ford, Lincoln SUV
Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator
Ford/Lincoln
trailer hitch could detach causing vehicle in tow to break free
have dealer replace trailer-hitch mounting with bolts and nut plates
Infiniti
Q45 and 130
Infiniti
electrical short could occur in alternator and cause engine compartment fire
heave dealer replace alternator
BMW
M3
BMW
1) possibility of deployment of side airbags and other safety systems if car strikes curb or pothole
2) electrical system could possibly mal-function
have dealer replace RAM central computer control module that regulates performance of all occupant protection systems
Kia
Kia Sportage
Kia
engine could stall
have dealer install spring clips, to lock connectors together, and solder a splice in wiring harness
Ford/Mercury
Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique
Ford
accelerator may not return to idle from foot is removed from pedal
have dealer install redesigned accelerator cable
Kia
Sephia
Kia
engine could stall
have dealer replace connectors that channel electrical current to fuel pump and reposition those connectors
Mercedes
M Class
Mercedes Benz
front safety belt buckles could unlatch unexpectedly
have dealer inspect and replace safety belt buckles
BMW
323i and 328i
BMW
airbags could deploy inadvertently
have dealer reprogram central computer control module regulating occupant protection systems
Buick
Century and Regal
General Motors
electrical short in anti-lock brakes motor could cause brakes to overheat and melt plastic fuel line
have dealer install ground cable from electronic brake control module to engine compart-ment body rail
Hyundai
Accent, Elantra and Tiburon
Hyundai
transmission fluid could leak and prevent vehicle from accelerating as expected
have dealer replace automatic transmission pressure control solenoid valve
Chrysler, Dodge & Jeep
Chrysler Concorde, 300M, and CHS, Dodge Intrepid, Jeep Grand Cherokee
Daimler Chrysler
safety belts might not provide adequate protection in crash
have dealer replace upper ATL bolt
Mitsubishi
Galant and
Eclipse
Mitsubishi
1) heat from exhaust manifold may damage battery cable wire harness
2) headlights, directional signal and windshield wipers could malfunction
have dealer remove and discard metal manifold bracket and install heat insulator and heat-resistant wire-harness clips or new harness with integral heat protection as appropriate
Honda
CRV
Honda
wire harness under dash could abrade from contact with brake switch
have dealer replace damaged wires and install protective corrugated plastic tube over wire harness near brake stop switch
Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth
Chrysler Cirrus, Dodge Stratus and Plymouth Breeze
Daimler Chrysler
rear brake hose could abrade and leak from contact with exhaust system clamp
have dealer replace any brake hose that shows wear from contact with clamp
Saturn
SC, SL and SW
Saturn
safety belts may not work
have dealer inspect safety belts and probably tighten shoulder guide anchor bolts
Mazda
MPV Minivans
Mazda
fuel could leak and cause fire under hood
have dealer replace lower intake manifold assembly
Mazda
MPV Minivans
Mazda
door could ben opened even though child proof system is in use
have dealer repair latching assembly indoor lock mechanism
Mazda
Navajo
Mazda
in open position, lift gate could fall unexpectedly
have dealer install liftgate reinforcement bracket
Daimler Chrysler
Minivans
Daimler Chrysler
liftgate could drop suddenly and unexpectedly
have dealer inspect and if necessary install larger washers on bolts that attach liftgate supports
Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth
Minivans
Daimler Chrysler
windshield wipers could fail resulting in reduced visibility
have dealer replace left windshield wiper pivot assembly
Chevrolet, GMC
Chevy Blazer and S10; GMC Jimmy and Sonoma (w/ 4 Wheel Drive)
General Motors
in two-wheel drive mode, anti-lock brake system may not perform as expected resulting in increased stopping distances
have dealer make necessary repairs
Jeep
Cherokee and Grand Cherokee
Daimler Chrysler
extensive exposure to road salt could corrode brake components
have dealer install corrosion-coated front disc-brake rotors with stainless steel center section
Ford
Explorer
Ford Motor Company
in open position, liftgate could fall unexpectedly
have dealer install liftgate reinforcement bracket
Ford
Windstar
Ford Motor Company
fuel tank could leak causing fire
have dealer install a brace at strap bolt hole and longer strap
Minivans
Chrysler, Dodge & Plymouth
Daimler Chrysler
fuel tank could leak and cause fire
have dealer replace nut holding fuel pump module in place
Jeep
Cherokee
Daimler Chrysler
1) air bag could deploy unexpectedly
2) air bag warning light could come on for not apparent reason
heave dealer replace airbag control module
Dodge
Durango
Dodge
fuel tank strap could separate from tank and cause leaks and possibly fire
have dealer install strap with single toggle-lock design
Dodge
RAM (Pick-ups)
Dodge
hydraulic fluid could leak onto hot exhaust pipe and cause fire
