Stay up-to-date with You Auto Know each week on the latest safety recalls. Below are stories that have been reported on You Auto Know, but for a comprehensive search to see if your vehicle is subject to a recall, check with your dealer or NHTSA for complete details on any recall that may affect your vehicle. The NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline is 1-888-327-4236 (toll free 8:00AM to 10:00PM ET Monday-Friday) and can be accessed on-line at www.nhtsa.gov

Nissan to recall 204,361 vehicles (10/15/08)

The voluntary recall covers 2007 and 2008 Nissan Altima, Altima Coupe, 350Z, Murano and Rogue; and Infiniti G35 Sedan, G37 Coupe and EX35 built from March 12, 2007 to May 27, 2008, the company said in a notice to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

GM recalls 42,408 Saturn Vues; fluid leak possible (9/20/08)

General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is recalling about 42,408 Saturn Vue compact SUVs built from February to July due to a potential leak of power steering fluid that could cause a fire, it said on Friday. GM said there were four reports of minor fires in the engine compartment due to fluid coming in contact with the exhaust system, but no reports of accidents or injuries. The report covers a tube nut that could have loosened on a group of Saturn Vues from the 2008 and 2009 model years that are equipped with six-cylinder engines. GM said dealers would inspect and tighten the nut and check the fluid level as needed. The recall is expected to begin Sept. 26, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ford vehicles recalled for fire risk (9/15/08)

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that a defective cruise control switch can cause fire in some Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and trucks.

GM recalling 300,000 HHR SUVs to fix storage bin door (9/9/08)

General Motors Corp. is recalling about 300,000 Chevrolet HHR sport utility vehicles in the United States to fix a storage bin door that failed to remain closed during government testing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its Web site Monday that the recall involves HHR SUVs from the 2006-08 model years. During a test last spring, the glove compartment box in the top center of the instrument panel failed to remain closed in line with a federal safety standard. GM will send owners a latch reinforcement. Owners will receive instructions to install the part or have their dealer install it. GM told the government it expects to notify owners and dealers of the issue in late November because of the availability of parts.

Feds warns Ford owners about recalled vehicles (9/9/08)

The government is urging owners of 5 million recalled Ford vehicles to bring them to dealerships to repair a cruise control switch system that has been tied to engine fires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday issued a second consumer advisory to owners of certain unrepaired Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, vans and passenger cars who have not responded to previous recalls. NHTSA said about 12 million vehicles have been part of the recall and nearly 5 million still have not been fixed. A similar warning was issued in February but officials said the rate of the vehicles being repaired has declined. The recalls have affected Ford's popular F-Series pickup trucks and led to hundreds of complaints and dozens of lawsuits over engine fires. Dealers have installed a fused wiring harness into the speed control electrical system as part of the recall, and the government said replacement parts are available. Owners can take their vehicle to a dealer to have the cruise control deactivated until the parts arrive. NHTSA issued a lengthy list of older vehicles covered by the consumer advisory, including 1993-2004 Ford F150 trucks, 1994-2002 F250 through F550 Super Duty trucks with gasoline engines, and 1998-2001 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs, which were among the best-selling vehicles in the nation during those years.

General Motors recalls 944,000 vehicles (8/29/08)

General Motors Corp. said Friday it was recalling 944,000 vehicles because of a problem with a windshield wiper fluid system that could lead to a fire. More than 850,000 sport utility vehicles, trucks and passenger cars in the United States and nearly 100,000 vehicles in Canada, Mexico and the Middle East are involved in the recall, the company said. GM (GM, Fortune 500) said the recall includes the 2008 Buick Enclave; 2006-2008 Buick Lucerne; 2006-2008 Cadillac DTS; 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade; 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV; 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT; 2007-2008 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban; 2007-2008 GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL; 2006-2008 Hummer H2 and 2007-2008 Saturn Outlook. The recall involves vehicles with a heated washer fluid system. A short circuit in the system could cause electrical features to malfunction, which could lead to an odor, smoke or potentially a fire. GM spokeswoman Carolyn Markey said there have been nine reports of fires, with three of them linked to the system. There have been no accidents or injuries connected to the defect, she said. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation last February into potential engine compartment fires in 2007 Yukon and Tahoe vehicles. In June, the highway safety agency expanded its investigation into about 2.7 million 2007-2008 GM trucks and SUVs and reported allegations of 41 engine fires. Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse to fix the problem free of charge, GM said. For more information, owners may contact Buick at (866) 608-8080, Cadillac at (800) 982-2339, Chevrolet at (800) 630-2438, Saturn at (800) 972-8876, GMC at (866) 996-9436 or Hummer at (800) 732-5493.

BMW recalling 200,000 cars over passenger air bag (8/13/08)

BMW AG said Wednesday it was recalling 200,000 vehicles over concerns that the front passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash. The German automaker said the recall involves the 2006 3 Series, the 2004-2006 5 Series, and the 2004-2006 X3 compact sport utility vehicles in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a posting on its Web site that small cracks could develop in a seat detection mat and deactivate the front passenger air bags. NHTSA said the air bag warning lamp and the passenger air bag "on-off" light would remain on. The head protection system, however, would not be affected, the government said. If the seat detection mat fails to sense that a person is sitting in the passenger seat, it deactivates the air bag. Plucinsky said customers alerted the company when they noticed that the air bag light indicated a deactivated air bag even when a passenger sat in the seat. Owners can contact BMW at (800) 525-7417.

Hyundai recalling Sonata cars because of air bag issues (4/15/08)

Hyundai says it's recalling nearly 400,000 Sonata passenger cars to fix a problem with the air bag system. The recall affects 2006-2008 Sonata vehicles equipped with an advanced air bag system. The system disables the front passenger seat's front air bag when it detects the presence of a child restraint system or a small child in the seat. The idea is to prevent injuries to a child that could result from the air bag inflating during a crash. But Hyundai says it received complaints that the system can mistake a small adult for a child, preventing the passenger air bag from inflating in a crash. Hyundai says it's not aware of any injuries, but is conducting the recall to "ensure the safety" of its customers. The recall is expected to begin in late May.

GM recalls over 122,000 Pontiacs (4/10/08)

General Motors Corp. is recalling 122,593 Pontiac Vibe passenger cars in the United States to fix bolts in the power window system that can become loose and lead to the window shattering. via CNN Money

Toyota Recalls Nearly 540,000 Corolla, Matrix Cars (4/9/08)

Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 539,500 Corolla and Matrix passenger cars in the United States because the bolts in the power window system can become loose and ultimately cause a window to shatter. Toyota said Wednesday it had received reports of 143 cases in which the bolts at the bottom of the power window assembly became loose, caused the window to rattle or led to the window breaking. Toyota spokesman Joe Tetherow said there had been one minor accident and 15 injuries reported. He said he did not know how many complaints Toyota had received of windows shattering. The recall involves 2003-2004 model year Corolla and Matrix vehicles equipped with power windows. Vehicles with manual windows are not part of the recall. The automaker said if the window bolts become loose, motorists may hear an abnormal noise from the driver or front passenger door while operating the power windows. The recall affects only vehicles sold in the United States, Tetherow said. Toyota will notify owners of the recall in late April. Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger door glass bolts at no charge to owners. For more information, owners can call Toyota at (800) 331-4331.

Chrysler recalls Sebring, Avenger sedans for tire-monitor fix (4/7/08)

Chrysler LLC is recalling 181,000 Sebrings and Dodge Avengers, Bloomberg News reported today. The recall is needed to fix wiring connections in tire-pressure monitoring systems that may prevent the sedans from starting or cause them to stall. It covers some 2007 and 2008 model-year Sebrings and Avengers, Chrysler said in a letter posted on the Web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Chrysler dealers will remove any corroded connectors and add protective covering.

VW recalls 410,000 Passats in U.S. market (4/4/08)

Volkswagen AG (VOWG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) is recalling some 410,000 Passat sedans sold in the United States due to potential problems with heat shields and fuel line components, the German automaker said on Friday. Europe's largest carmaker said it would voluntarily recall all gasoline-powered Passats it had sold from the 1999 through 2005 model years for inspection and possible repair. The wide recall marks a setback for VW at a time when it has set ambitious targets for growth in the U.S. market and is considering building a new auto plant in North America. Volkswagen said some Passat vehicles with an automatic transmission have an underbody heat shield that could be subject to damage, creating a risk if it touches the exhaust system. Other vehicles will be inspected for potential damage to a fuel tank ventilation valve and a fuel line, VW said. Volkswagen said no accidents or injuries have been reported because of the defects. VW advised owners and drivers of the Passat sedans covered by the recall to go immediately to the nearest dealership or certified repair shop if they smell gasoline. VW will issue recall notices to Passat owners by the end of May, it said.

GM announces recall on car fire risk (3/14/08)

After 267 vehicle fires and six injuries, the automaker is recalling 1997-2003 Buick Regal GS and Grand Prix GTP models.

Ford recalls about 100,000 2008 F-Series trucks (3/6/08)

Ford Motor Co. is recalling about 100,000 2008 F-Series trucks because the front driver's seat does not conform with federal standards. Ford says the weld connecting a bracket and the driver's front seat back could crack on a small number of vehicles. As a result, the vehicles do not comply with federal rules for seat back strength. The recall covers F-250 through F-550 Super Duty trucks. More than 87,000 of the trucks are in the United States and 14,000 are in Canada. Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said Thursday that no injuries have been reported. Ford discovered the issue after receiving reports of the weld cracking. Owners will be notified of the recall later in March. For more information, owners can call Ford at (800) 392-3673.

Acura recalls 273,000 TLs due to fire fears (2/29/08)

Honda put out two recall notices today that affects some 273,000 2004-2008 Acura TLs. One of the recalls addresses a windshield wiper issue, where a potentially faulty circuit breaker on 129,600 '04 and '05 TLs could fail, rendering the wipers useless. The other recall is a bit more compelling. Apparently an issue with high temperatures under the hood can cause the power steering hose to degrade to the point that it could crack and leak fluid onto the catalytic converter. This could result in a fair amount of smoke, or, at worse, a fire. Neither issue has resulted in a crash or injury, but Acura dealers have been instructed to replace the power steering hose and, in the case of the windshield wiper motor, inspect the unit and replace it if necessary. Naturally, there's no charge for either recall.

4.6 million Fords recalled for fire risk in engines (2/29/08)

The government on Thursday warned owners of about 4.6 million recalled Ford vehicles to bring their cars and trucks immediately to dealerships to disconnect cruise control switch systems that have been linked to engine fires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued the consumer advisory to owners of certain unrepaired Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, vans and passenger cars who have not responded to past recalls. The recalls have vexed the Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker, affecting its popular F-Series pickup trucks, prompting hundreds of complaints and dozens of lawsuits over engine fires. Three deaths have been tied to the fires and Ford has struggled to produce enough parts to fix the problem.

Ford recalls 470,000 Mustangs (2/27/08)

Ford Motor Co. said Wednesday it is recalling 470,000 Ford Mustangs from the 2005-2008 model years to recalibrate how forcefully the air bag deploys on the front passenger side of the car. Internal testing showed the air bag could injure a small, unbelted passenger, said Ford spokesman Wesley Sherwood. The recall was posted on the Web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Sherwood said the fix would address "a very rare scenario," and there were no reports of injuries or accidents tied to the recall. Nearly 435,000 of the recalled vehicles are in the United States, with most of the remaining vehicles in Mexico and Canada. The Dearborn-based automaker will notify customers by mail in early March. Owners can take their vehicle to a dealer to have the air bag recalibrated to deploy at a lower force.

Porsche recalls 19,000 Cayenne SUVs for fuel line fix (2/18/08)

Luxury automaker Porsche AG said today that it has recalled nearly 19,000 of its Cayenne SUVs after it found instances of the fuel line coming into contact with the engine block while the car was being driven. The Stuttgart-based company said the decision affected 18,856 Cayennes sold worldwide between Nov. 30, 2006, and Jan. 18. In a statement, Porsche said there was a possibility that movement by the engine while driving the Cayenne could cause the fuel line to make contact with the engine compartment's cladding, or overlay, causing a knocking sound and leaving abrasions on the fuel line. So far, Porsche said there had been five complaints but no injuries or accidents reported. The company said the free repair takes about 40 minutes.

GM to recall 180,000+ Chevy HHRs (2/13/08)

General Motors said it will recall 181,516 Chevrolet HHR wagons Wednesday after finding that some of the vehicles don't meet government standards for protecting occupants from head injury in a crash. Chevy HHRs not equipped with optional roof rail-mounted airbags and sold between 2006 and 2008 failed GM's side-impact tests, said GM. Roof rail-mounted airbags are designed to reduce the risk of head injury in the event of a side-impact collision.

Ford Recalls Over 180,000 SUVs And Vans (2/11/08)

The larger of the two recalls involves nearly 124,000 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs from the 2007-2008 model years. The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker said the spring system in the inside door handles could break. The problem could prevent the door handles from returning to a closed position, but the latches work properly, said Ford However, in a side crash, there could be a risk of the door latch opening because of the problem, he said. Sherwood said there were no reports of injuries or accidents tied to the recall. Dealers will replace the interior handle spring on all side doors, he said. The recall involves 2007-2008 Expedition and Navigator vehicles built from March 3, 2006 through Aug. 9, 2007, Sherwood said. The second recall involves more than 57,000 2006-2007 E-150, E-250 and E-350 vans, and 2007 Expedition and Navigator SUVs with 5.4 liter engines. The automaker said the engine's fuel rail crossover hose, which connects the fuel rails, could crack and leak fuel, potentially leading to a fire. Sherwood said there have been no reports of fires, injuries or crashes. Dealers will replace the fuel rail assembly. The recalls are expected to begin later this month for the handle spring and in March for the fuel hose. For more information, owners may contact Ford at (800) 392-3673.

Volvo recalls 82,000 cars (2/4/08)

The recall concerns the car-maker's S40 and V50 models, made between 2004 and 2006, with five-cylinder petrol engines.

One million Evenflo car seats recalled (2/1/08)

Seats affected by the recall are Evenflo Discovery child safety seat models 390, 391, 534 and 552 made between April 2005 and January 29, 2008. The serial number and date of manufacture can be found on a white label on the underside of the safety seat. Tests by Evenflo and the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration indicate that the safety seats can potentially separate from that base during an accident. Each product has a separate base that connects to the vehicle's seat, allowing the safety seat to be removed from the vehicle without removing the base.

Ford re-recalling 225,000 vehicles (2/1/08)

The company will begin notifying owners of affected vehicles in early February, said Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood. They include the following models: 1992-2003 Econoline (Gasoline engines only), 1992-98 Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis, 1993 Bronco, 1995-97 F-series stripped chassis (Gasoline engines only), 1993-95 Taurus SHO 1992-95 Town Car, 1993 F series (Gasoline engines only)