Nissan Recalls SUVs Because Of Dangerous Rust
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Nissan Motor Co. is recalling certain Nissan Pathfinder SUVs from the 1996 through 2004 model years and Infiniti QX4 SUVs from the 1997 through 2003 model years to fix a possible corrosion problem that could result in the loss of steering.
The car maker says the recall affects about 195,991 SUVs that were sold or are currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, and many other states.
In regions where a lot of road salt is used, water and salt can get into the upper strut housing through a hole and eventually cause corrosion in the SUVs. If this happened the strut housing could break away from its attachment point under the hood. Such a separation could result in grinding sounds and difficulty steering in the SUVs.
Understanding & Dealing with Recalls
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Recalls on vehicles are a serious issue that all drivers should understand, as those announcements are made to ensure safety of the drivers. The biggest recall last year surrounded several different Toyota vehicles, which began to have reportedly continuous claims that the accelerator pedal was sticking and not ceasing speed, causing many accidents and injuries for its drivers. Over 2.8 million vehicles were recalled.
Recalls of any kind should be taken seriously. While some recalls are voluntary and may not affect all vehicles of that make or model, not addressing this potential issue could cause a lot of grief and financial trouble for the ill-informed driver. Yet there are ways drivers can deal with having their vehicles recalled.
1. Stay Informed
Generally, recalls considered serious enough to injure drivers are broadcast through various news outlets, but that doesn't necessarily reach everybody. Dealers also use other methods to reach drivers of recalled vehicles to ensure that they are informed. For example, when a driver purchases a vehicle, the dealer will store their contact information in the instance that that vehicle has been recalled.
Yet sometimes contact can be delayed. This is the point in which drivers must take responsibility for themselves in case communication with the dealer falls through. There are a variety of resources to receive updates on vehicle recalls, though the most recommended is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, which contains a searchable database for recalled cars. There are also a variety of email and SMS lists to subscribe to.
2. Get the Repairs
Ignoring recalls can be costly. Without immediately addressing and getting the repair through a dealer, the vehicle is more likely to fail and potentially cause an accident, racking up repair and medical bills, plus the cost of hiring a personal injury lawyer through resources such as SeriousAccidents.com.
If the NHTSA confirms that a vehicle is recalled, most likely it will come with a free repair from the automaker or dealer if substantial and dangerous enough. While some repairs may take a few hours at most, it is much more worth the time spent in the waiting room than having to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on car repairs.
Aside from vehicle recalls, some manufacturers release Technical Service Bulletins (TSB's). TSB's, though not as immediate as other recalls, deliver information about vehicle parts that may or may not need to be repaired. If a vehicle is still under warranty at the time of the TSB's release, the repairs can still be done for free. TSB's are sometimes referred to as "secret warranties."
3. Keep Car Updated
Most vehicles come with guides on when certain parts need to be changed, cleaned, or replaced. The most vital part of owning a car is making sure it is in good running condition so, in the instance that it does get recalled, it can be fixed easily with less problems. Keeping the oil changed, tires rotated, and systems flushed will keep a car running smoothly for a long time.
Recalls happen all the time; while it is the manufacturer's responsibility to fix or replace the recalled vehicles, it is the driver's responsibility to stay informed to avoid potential threats to their health and safety.
The New Hybrid Plug-In Ram 1500 Pickup Trucks to Hit the Market Soon
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The U.S Department of Energy and Chrysler will be offering their first 10 Plug in Hybrid pickup to Yuma, Arizona, to test the hybrid Rams in the extreme climatic conditions. The hybrid Plug in Rams is developed from a $100 million joint research project funded by the Department of Energy and Chrysler.
By the end of the year almost 140 plug in hybrid Rams will be distributed across the country to demonstrate its performance and usability in real driving condition and extreme temperatures of -25 degree Celsius to 125 degree Celsius.
The hybrid pickup truck uses 345 HP, 5.7 liter Hemi V-8 engine, which comes with a two mode hybrid transmission and uses a 12.9 kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery. The plug in Ram has achieved fuel economy target of 32 mpg.