Recalls Of The Day, February 9, 2013

Hello everyone.

Today there are zero recalls from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  We will keep you posted of any new development.

Please Help Big Brothers, Big Sisters

Special Announcement: Big Brothers, Big Sisters

 I'm doing something I haven’t done in probably 30 years.  On February 24 I’m going bowling.  This time it’s for something special and not to win a beer frame or bowl a perfect game.  That would be a miracle!  This time I’m helping Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County, Illinois on team “Master Bowlers”.  None of us are Master Bowlers but we believe helping a child makes a big impact on him or her.  Help can make a change that ripples through a family, school, and more importantly, throughout our community.  I hope you'll join me in my efforts to give a child the resources he or she needs to be successful.  Please open up your automotive hearts and put off that purchase of an upgraded stereo, racing wheels or GPS for one week.  Your donation of whatever amount you feel is right can start a child on the path to academic achievement.  Please click this link https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1044474&supId=375133209  to visit my personal donation page.  Thank you!  Any donation is greatly appreciated!         

GM Invests $600 Million in Fairfax Plant

New paint shop, other upgrades drive more efficient production, retain nearly 4,000 jobs

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – General Motors today announced a $600-million investment in the Fairfax Assembly and Stamping Plant, including the construction of a new 450,000 square-foot paint shop, the installation of a new stamping press and other upgrades.

It is one of GM’s largest plant investments ever, and builds on nearly $2 billion invested in Fairfax in the last decade. Earlier this month, GM announced it would invest $1.5 billion in North American facilities in 2013. This Fairfax investment comprises a large part of that commitment.

Construction at the 3.2-million-square-foot plant begins later this year and is expected to take about two years to complete, increasing the footprint of the plant by about 15 percent to 3.7 million-square-feet. Vehicle production schedules will be unaffected by the construction, keeping the plant’s three shifts of nearly 4,000 hourly and salaried employees on the job.

“This major investment is a vote of confidence in the employees and leadership of this plant and will allow them to continue producing beautiful, world-class vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick LaCrosse – with the same quality workmanship that has defined the Fairfax complex for nearly 70 years,” said GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson.

Copyright General Motors

The all-new paint shop includes substantial upgrades in technology, and will occupy a new building at Fairfax, with new tooling, robots and state-of-the-art environmental and efficiency enhancements. Some of the upgrades include:

• Up to 20-percent smaller footprint, up to 50-percent less energy use per vehicle and reduced Volatile Organic Compound emissions
• GM-patented Radiant Tub Ovens, designed to use 20 percent less natural gas and 40 percent less electricity
• Thin Film Technology, which reduces water use and maintenance and eliminates hazardous chemicals from the waste stream
• Hyper Throw E-COAT, which places more coating in cavities and recesses for optimal corrosion protection.

In the stamping facility, the upgraded AA3X press will replace the current middle press used to create some of the structural reinforcements for vehicle body frames. The upgraded press is expected to enhance quality and reduce waste through greater accuracy.

"The United Auto Workers have proudly built vehicles in Fairfax for decades and looks forward to being part of the upgrades that will be taking place in the plant," said UAW Vice President Joe Ashton, who directs the union's GM Department. "This commitment to the future of the plant and the workforce is a reminder to all of us that we build the world's best vehicles, with the world's best people."

GM’s Fairfax Assembly Plant has a rich and important history in Kansas City, dating to 1945. The plant has employed several hundred thousand people over nearly 70 years, built some of GM’s best vehicles, and, during World War II, was the first industrial facility to make automobiles and jet fighters in the same building. The current plant opened in 1987. Since beginning production in Kansas City in 1945, more than 12 million GM vehicles have been built at Fairfax.

The Fairfax plant currently builds the Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Malibu. The Malibu was the first 2013 midsize car to earn a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program and a 2012 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Buick LaCrosse eAssist model was named among the “Best of What’s New” technologies by Popular Science magazine.

“General Motors is one of the largest employers in Kansas and Kansas City and this announcement plays an important role in continuing to grow the economy of Kansas,” said Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback. “We build great things in Kansas and GM’s commitment means we will continue to do so for years to come.”

Fairfax by the numbers

• Year opened (current facility): 1987
• Employees: 3,877 (3,561 hourly / 316 salaried)
• Union: UAW Local 31
• Facility size: 572 acres
• Manufacturing area: 85 acres under roof
• Manufacturing floor space: 3,044,561 square feet (pre-construction)
• Vehicles produced in 2012: 283,213

Decade of Investments

• $20 million in 2011 for upgrades related to the LaCrosse eAssist,
• $136 million in 2010 for the New Generation Malibu
• $158 million in 2009 for the launch of the all-new Buick LaCrosse
• $208 million in 2007 for the launch of the all-new Chevrolet Malibu
• $651 million in 2006 for the launch of the all-new Saturn Aura
• $722 million in 2003 for the launch of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

Recalls Of The Day, February 8, 2013

Good morning everyone.  Once again the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not issued any recalls.  We will keep you posted of any new developments.

Incidentally, be sure to visit the Chicago Auto Show this weekend running through next weekend.

Ford Achieves All-Time High Hybrid Share and Toyota Slides, as Fusion Hybrid Closes in on Another Sales Record

 

• Ford hybrid market share jumped nearly 9 percentage points from December 2011 to December 2012; Toyota’s share of the hybrid vehicle segment dropped 8 points

• Ford Fusion Hybrid achieved all-time monthly sales record in December 2012 with 3,244 sales; Ford hybrids expected to deliver best January hybrid sales month ever with a projected 5,500 units sold

• More stylish and technology-laden Fusion Hybrid attracting younger buyers compared to the outgoing model and Toyota Camry Hybrid

• Nearly 70 percent of Fusion Hybrid sales are conquest sales, compared to 53 percent for Camry Hybrid

 

DEARBORN, Mich. – The 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid is off to a fast start after achieving an all-time sales record in December 2012, helping Ford to record hybrid sales and market share, as Toyota lost nearly 8 points of share in the segment.

 

Ford’s launch of the new C-MAX hybrids and Fusion Hybrid this past fall led the company to deliver record-setting hybrid sales in December, resulting in a 9 percent market share gain to 16 percent. In the same period Toyota’s share of the hybrid vehicle segment fell 8 points, from 68 percent to 60 percent.

 

Ford sold more hybrids in the fourth quarter of 2012 than in any other three-month period in the company’s entire history with 19,554 units sold, besting its own previous hybrid vehicle sales record by more than 193 percent.

 

An all-time record of 3,244 Fusion Hybrids were sold in December, compared to the previous mark of 3,010 in August 2010. The car is expected to achieve record January sales when results are announced Feb. 4. Nearly 70 percent of new Fusion Hybrid owners are new to the Ford brand, while Toyota’s conquest rate for its Camry Hybrid is only 53 percent.

 

“We’re bringing new hybrid buyers into the market, many of whom wouldn’t be considered traditional hybrid buyers,” said Amy Marentic, marketing manager, Global Small and Medium Cars. “There’s a sense hybrid buyers represent a pragmatic or green ethic. Fusion Hybrid is scoring with these audiences, but the car also puts some excitement into the segment through design; it shows hybrids can have beautiful and sophisticated styling. This, in turn, means different buyers.”

 

Not only are most buyers new to the Ford brand, early data suggest Fusion Hybrid is appealing to younger buyers outside the traditional hybrid vehicle demographic.

 

Ford reports new Fusion Hybrid buyers are five years younger than buyers of the previous Fusion Hybrid, dropping to 48 years old from an average of 53 years old. 2012 model year Toyota Camry Hybrid buyers have an average age of 54, according to J.D. Power and Associates PIN data. Moreover, 22 percent of Fusion buyers are under the age of 35; only 13 percent of Camry Hybrid buyers are.

 

Not surprisingly, Fusion Hybrid’s best-selling markets are San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., but Ford reports stronger sales in the more traditional buying areas of the Central, Southeast and Great Lakes regions – areas not known for strong hybrid sales. In these areas, retail sales more than tripled in December compared to the previous year.

 

Fusion Hybrid continues to have the fastest turnover rate (the number of days cars sit on dealer lots waiting to be sold) of any vehicle in the Ford lineup. Fusion Hybrid turns over in just 10 days on average.

 

# # #

 

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 171,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

Recalls Of The Day, February 6, 2013

Hello everyone!  Today, as of yet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not announced any recalls.  We will keep you posted of any new developments.

Have a great day!

Recalls Of The Day, February 5, 2013

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been busy gathering information.  They have issued five recalls.  Here they are..


 

Report Receipt Date: JAN 25, 2013
NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V027000
Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , SUSPENSION

Vehicle Make - Model - Model Year(s)

• KENWORTHT6802013
• PETERBILT5672013
• PETERBILT5792013

 

Manufacturer: PACCAR Incorporated

 

SUMMARY:

PACCAR is recalling certain model year 2013 Kenworth T680 vehicles, manufactured from November 29, 2012, through December 6, 2012; and model year 2013 Peterbilt 579 and 567 vehicles, manufactured from August 28, 2012, through December 31, 2012. These vehicles were equipped with the air suspension dump valve option. New software may cause the rear air suspension to re-inflate without warning when the operator turns the ignition key to the "off" position.

CONSEQUENCE:

An unexpected re-inflation of the suspension could result in personal injury to a person near the rear suspension.

REMEDY:

PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the software. The recall will begin during February 2013. Owners may contact Kenworth at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt at 1-940-591-4000.

NOTES:

Kenworth's recall campaign number is 13KWA. Peterbilt's recall campaign number is 113-A. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

 

Report Receipt Date: JAN 24, 2013
NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V026000
Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
 

Vehicle Make - Model - Model Year(s)

• DUTCHMENFREEDOM SPIRIT2010
• DUTCHMENGRAND JUNCTION2007-2011
• DUTCHMENMONTE VISTA2009
• DUTCHMENN TENSE2009-2010
• DUTCHMENVICTORY LANE2008-2009
• DUTCHMENWINNERS CIRCLE2008-2009

 

Manufacturer: Dutchmen Manufacturing, Inc.

 

SUMMARY:

Dutchmen is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Grand Junction; model year 2008-2009 Victory Lane and Winners Circle; model year 2009-2010 N'Tense; model year 2010 Freedom Spirit and model year 2009 Monte Vista recreational trailers. The affected trailers are equipped with Iota ITS-50R transfer switches. Wiring connections inside the transfer switch are not adequate and, as a result, the switch may overheat.

CONSEQUENCE:

An overheated switch could result in a fire.

REMEDY:

Dutchmen will notify owners and replace the Iota transfer switch, free of charge. The manufacturer has not provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Dutchmen at 1-574-537-0700.

NOTES:

Customers may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

 

 

Report Receipt Date: JAN 24, 2013
NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V025000
Component(s): STRUCTURE 

 Vehicle Make - Model - Model Year(s)

• STOUGHTONAHV2009-2011

 

Manufacturer: Stoughton Trailers, LLC

 

SUMMARY:

Stoughton Trailers is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 AHV grain hauler/ag hopper trailers produced December 17, 2007, through October 28, 2010. These trailers may develop fatigue cracks in the lower rail of the frame structure and/or in the front attachment of the suspension subframe channels.

CONSEQUENCE:

Structural cracks could eventually compromise the structure and lead to failure. This could result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:

Stoughton Trailers will notify owners and will replace the suspension subframe front attachments as well as the crossmember assembly forward of the front hopper, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by April 2013. Owners may contact Stoughton Trailers at 1-608-873-2555.

NOTES:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

 

Report Receipt Date: JAN 24, 2013
NHTSA Campaign Number: 13E004000
Component(s): EQUIPMENT 

 Equipment Brand Name - Part No. or Model No. - Production Dates:

• RIGID HITCHHEAVY DUTY UTILITY BAR -

 

Manufacturer: Rigid Hitch Inc.

 

SUMMARY:

Rigid Hitch Inc. is recalling certain Heavy Duty Utility Bar hitches with the part number HUB-3208. The affected 2" bars drop 8" between hole centers and are stamped 33411-04812 near the weld line. Due to an incorrect welder placement, the weld penetration may be insufficient, causing the utility bar to crack and fail.

CONSEQUENCE:

If the utility bar fails while in use, whatever is being towed may come loose increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:

Rigid Hitch will notify distributors and all known owners and replace the parts free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early February 2013. Customers may contact Rigid Hitch at 1-800-624-7630.

NOTES:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

Report Receipt Date: JAN 24, 2013
NHTSA Campaign Number: 13E003000
Component(s): WHEELS 

 VISION WHEELPRADO

 

Manufacturer: Vision Wheel, Inc.

 

SUMMARY:

Vision Wheel is recalling certain Prado model after-market wheels; style numbers 901, 902, and 903. The affected wheels may fracture during normal use.

CONSEQUENCE:

A fractured wheel may cause a loss of tire air pressure which may lead to tire failure or the loss of vehicle control. Either scenario may increase the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:

Vision Wheel will notify owners and distributors, and offer replacement, wheels free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early February 2013. Owners may contact Vision Wheel at 1-800-633-3936.

NOTES:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.