Kia Recalls 146,000 Optimas and Rondos for Driver’s Air Bag Flaw

Kia Recalls 146,000 Optimas and Rondos for Driver’s Air Bag Flaw



Kia is recalling about 146,000 vehicles because the driver’s air bag may not deploy in a crash, the automaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The recall covers the 2006-8 Optima sedan and the 2007-8 Rondo wagon, according to a report from Kia posted Friday on the safety agency’s Web site.
Kia said the clock-spring contact assembly “may become damaged through usage over time,” which could prevent the air bag from deploying. The driver would be warned of the problem by an air-bag warning light.
Kia said it was not aware of any injuries related to the defect and that it learned of the problem last fall, when it was reviewing warranty claims. This was not long after Hyundai, the parent company of Kia, recalled about 205,000 vehicles for a similar issue.
Hyundai recalled its 2007-8 Veracruz and Santa Fe crossovers because the spring in the air-bag assembly could wear. At the time of the recall, the automaker said it had received nearly 8,000 warranty claims. Kia issued a separate recall the same week, related to the passenger-side air bag on its Sorento crossover. The agency began that investigation in November 2009. Kia had resisted issuing a recall for almost two years, agreeing only after the agency made clear that it would push the issue by sending an unusual, formal demand for a recall.

MINI Coopers recalled for Possible Fire Hazard

BMW Recalling 89,000 Mini Brand Cars Over Faulty Water Pumps Nearly 89,000 Mini brand cars, including the Mini Cooper line of vehicles, are being recalled in the U.S. because of faulty water pumps that can malfunction and potentially cause engine compartment fires.
The recall comes about three months after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a defects investigation, citing 12 reports of fires in the vehicles manufactured by BMW.
Five of the fires reportedly destroyed the cars, according to a NHTSA document. BMW said it is unaware of any injuries or accidents caused by pump malfunctions.
The vehicles being recalled include seven models of the Mini series, ranging in model years from 2007 to 2011. The company is recalling 235,535 worldwide, including 88,911 cars in the U.S.
"For us this is a pretty serious issue," BMW spokeswoman Nathalie Bauters said, noting that the company seldom issues full recalls.
Bauters said BMW will notify car owners by mail in February, and dealers will replace the water pumps free of charge.
The pump was designed to conduct heat away from the engine's turbocharger after the car is turned off. BMW, in a letter to NHTSA, said the pump's electronic circuit board can malfunction because of "certain design features" and in some cases overheat.
This can lead to the "smoldering of the water pump," BMW said. "It cannot be excluded that this may also lead to an engine compartment or vehicle fire."
Eric Noble, president of the CarLabs industry consulting firm in Orange, said BMW's reputation is unlikely to suffer much from the recall.
"I think this is relatively minor in terms of any impact it would have on Mini as a brand," Noble said.
"Mini buyers tend to love their Minis. This alone isn't going to change that."

Ford Recalls 525,000 Vehicles For Fire, Power Loss Problems

Ford Recalls 525,000 Vehicles For Fire, Power Loss ProblemsFord Motor Co. said it is recalling 525,000 SUVs and vans over fire risks and power loss issues.
The Dearborn automaker issued two recall campaigns that cover about 450,000 vehicles in United States - about 76,000 outside the United States.
Ford is calling back 274,368 2001-02 Ford Escapes for fire risks — and warned owners not to park the vehicles in garages until they get them repaired.
Ford said it was not certain when it would get the parts.
The recall follows a more than two-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into fires in some recalled Ford Escapes.
Ford said it was calling the vehicles back due to the possibility of corrosion in the ABS module electrical connector that can result from a brake fluid reservoir cap that can leak brake fluid onto that electrical connector and lead to a fire.
The module may overheat resulting in burning odor, smoke or a fire.
In April 2007, Ford recalled the 2001-04 Escapes to address potentially missing or misplaced seals in the wiring harness connector to the ABS module electronic control unit. Ford said some repaired vehicles may not have received a proper inspection or application of electrical grease as instructed in the FSA.
Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries attributed to this condition.
Ford has received a few reports of property damage beyond vehicle-only damage as a result of alleged vehicle fires.
Separately, Ford is recalling 251,065 2004-2005 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles in the North America for possible loss of forward and reverse power due to a torque converter malfunction.
A vehicle that loses forward and reverse power due to torque converter malfunction remains readily controllable; the vehicle will coast during which it can be safely maneuvered and parked, Ford said.
Ford is aware of two minor accident allegations (with minor injuries alleged in one, no injury in the other) over the course of eight years.

Jaime Jackson Selected as One of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania

The National Trial Lawyers has recognized Jaime Jackson, partner of AtleeHall, LLP among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania. Membership in the organization is limited to 100 lawyers in each state and is obtained by select invitation only, following a multi-phase vetting process reviewing qualifications, trial results, and leadership

According to its website The National Trial Lawyers is a national organization composed of The Top 100 Trial Lawyers from each state. Membership is obtained through special invitation and is extended only to those attorneys who exemplify superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature, and profile as civil plaintiff or criminal defense trial lawyers. It is the mission of The National Trial Lawyers to promote excellence in the legal profession.

Bicycle Helmets Recalled

Bicycle helmets imported from China by Triple Eight Distribution of Port Washington, N.Y. that were sold at bicycle and sports stores and other retailers nationwide and online from August 2006 through November 2011 for about $40 are being recalled. Little Tricky helmets are marketed for children and youth and feature a large Little Tricky logo on both sides of the helmet.

Product testing demonstrated the helmets do not comply with Consumer Product Safety Commission safety standards for impact resistance, meaning a rider could suffer head injuries in a fall.
There are currently no incidents reported. There are about 30,400 helmets in the recall.
For more information, contact Triple Eight toll free at 888-548-8518 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday or visit the company's website at http://www.triple8.com