Recall Alert: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

GM is recalling 4,296 2012 Chevrolet Sonics because they may be missing a brake pad, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, which were built between June 2 and Nov. 21, 2011, the front-brake inner or outer pad may be missing. (You can find the vehicle's build date on a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb.) A missing pad could reduce brake performance and increase the risk of a crash.

The recall is expected to begin around Jan. 14. Dealers will inspect the front brakes for a missing pad. If a brake pad is missing, the dealer will install new inner and outer pads, a new brake caliper and a new rotor for free. Owners can call Chevrolet at 800-630-2438 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2012 Jaguar XF

Jaguar is recalling 51 model-year 2012 XF sedans to fix an incorrect certification label, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The label lists the wrong gross vehicle weight rating. Exceeding the rating could lead to a loss of vehicle stability and increase the risk of a crash. Affected vehicles were built from Sept. 7 through Nov. 24. The vehicle's build date is on a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb.

Dealers will replace the label free of charge. Jaguar will start notifying owners on or before Jan. 23. Owners can contact Jaguar at 800-452-4827 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 14,718 2011-12 Nissan and Infiniti Vehicles

Nissan is recalling 14,718 model-year 2011 and 2012 Nissan and Infiniti vehicles due to faulty engine bolts, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced. The recall affects the 2011 Infiniti FX, 2012 Infiniti M, 2011-12 Nissan Frontier, 2011-12 Nissan Xterra, 2011-12 Nissan Pathfinder and 2012 Nissan NV.

The affected bolts connecting the engine oil cooler and the engine oil filter to the engine and may have been manufactured below specification strength. Weak bolts could break and lead to an engine oil leak. If there is a leak, the engine oil warning lamp will illuminate, and the engine may become noisy. If the driver ignores the condition, the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.

Nissan will begin notifying owners on Jan. 19. Nissan and Infiniti dealers will inspect and replace relevant parts free of charge. For more info, owners can call Nissan at 800-647-7261 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 2010-11 Cadillac SRX

General Motors is recalling 20,000 model-year 2010 and 2011 Cadillac SRX SUVs for problems with the transmission shift cable. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, cables in the affected vehicles were improperly installed and may come out of the transmission bracket.
 
In these cases, owners may not be able to shift the vehicle out of gear. The shifter may also indicate that it’s in Park when it’s in another gear. Affected vehicles were built from Oct. 26, 2008, through June 23, 2011. You can find your vehicle's manufacture date on a label affixed to the driver's side doorjamb.

Owner notification will begin in January. GM dealers will inspect and replace the affected parts free of charge. For more info, owners can call Cadillac at 866-982-2339 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 2011 Toyota Tundra

Toyota is recalling 502 Tundras from the 2011 model year because a label on the pickup trucks lists the wrong load-carrying capacity, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

An inaccurate label could lead to vehicle overloading, which could result in tire failure and increase the risk of a crash. The recall will begin in February.

Owners will be given a corrected label at no charge, or they can have a dealer apply it for free. For more info, owners can call Gulf States Toyota at 800-444-1074 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 2011 Ford F-150, 2012 Ford F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550

Ford is recalling more than 16,000 F-Series pickups from the 2011-12 model years because the transmission can be shifted out of Park without pressing the brake pedal, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects the 2011 Ford F-150 and 2012 models of the F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550. The vehicles were built between Sept. 9 and Sept. 22. You can check the vehicle’s build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb.

A defective brake shift interlock switch may allow the driver to inadvertently shift the vehicle into gear without pressing the brake pedal, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to a nearby pedestrian.

Owners will be notified next week, and dealers will inspect the brake shift interlock switch and replace the switch if necessary at no charge. Owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2010-11 Nissan Sentra

Nissan is recalling 33,803 Sentras from the 2010 and 2011 model years because the vehicle may stall while it is moving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected cars, which have MR20 engines, the zinc coating on the terminal stud may be too thick. As a result, certain cars may experience a drop in voltage that would make starting difficult. This issue could damage the engine control module and cause the engine to stall while the car is moving, and the driver may not be able to restart the engine after it is stopped.

Nissan will start notifying owners on or before Jan. 23. Dealers will replace the positive battery terminal and cover for free. Owners can call Nissan at 800-647-7261 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2011 Nissan Juke

Nissan is recalling 28,294 Jukes from the 2011 model year because of a defective weld, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, the turbocharger boost sensor bracket could separate from the air inlet tube. If the bracket comes off, the Juke could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

The recall is expected to being around Jan. 9. Nissan dealers will check the lot number on the air inlet tube and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. For more info, owners can call Nissan at 800-647-7261 or NHTSA’s safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 2012 Audi A6

Audi s recalling 317 2012 A6s due to a potential defect with the head curtain airbags, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

On the affected models, which were built between April 8 and May 26, the seam of the head curtain airbag may not have been stitched properly. As a result, the head curtain airbag may not deploy properly in an accident, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Audi's parent company Volkswagen will notify affected owners next month. Audi dealerships will replace the left and/or right curtain airbags free of charge. Owners can call Volkswagen at 800-822-8987 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2010-11 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan

Ford is recalling 128,616 2010-11 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles with 17-inch steel wheels because the wheel studs may fracture, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, multiple stud fractures could occur at the wheel location, and the driver may experience vehicle vibration or wheel separation, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalled vehicles were built between April 1 and April 30, 2009, and Dec. 1, 2009, and Nov. 13, 2010. You can see when your car was built by checking a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb.

Owners will be notified the week of Jan. 24. Dealers will inspect the rear brake disc surface and replace the discs at no charge if necessary. The lug nuts will be replaced on all four wheels as well. Owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.