The recall affects sixth generation Jetta sedan vehicles built between March of 2010 and March of 2011.

Affected owners will be notified via first class mail regarding the corrective measures and anticipated repair timeline.

Customers with questions or concerns should contact Volkswagen Customer Care at 1-800-822-8987.

Owners of the involved GS 300 and GS 350 All-Wheel Drive vehicles will receive a notification by first class mail beginning in early March 2011.

Toyota will also voluntarily recall approximately 372,000 2004 through 2006 and early 2007 RX 330, RX 350, and RX 400h vehicles, and approximately 397,000 2004 through 2006 Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles to replace the driver’s side floor carpet cover and its two retention clips. If the forward retention clip used to secure the floor carpet cover, which is located in front of the center console, is not installed properly, the cover may lean toward the accelerator pedal and interfere with the accelerator pedal arm. If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may become temporarily stuck in a partially depressed position rather than returning to the idle position.

Owners of the involved RX and Highlander vehicles will receive an interim notification by first class mail beginning in the near future, explaining how to inspect for this condition or that they may contact their local dealer to perform the inspection.
Owners will receive a second notification once the replacement covers are available.

Separately, Toyota has amended its recall from November 2009, adding three models to address the potential for unsecured or incompatible floor mat entrapment of the accelerator pedal. The models added include:

• Approximately 603,000 2003 through 2009 4Runner
• Approximately 17,000 2008 through 2011 Lexus LX 570; and
• Approximately 761,000 2006 through 2010 RAV4

Owners of the involved 4Runner, LX 570, and RAV4 vehicles will receive an interim notification by first class mail beginning in the near future, informing them of the condition. Owners will receive a second notification once the recall preparations are complete.

Toyota and Lexus dealers will implement the newly announced and amended recall remedies at no charge to the vehicle owners.

“At Nissan, we’re committed to the safety and satisfaction of our customers. We regret any inconveniences that our customers may experience as we address these issues,” said Kevin Martin, vice president of Total Customer Satisfaction for NNA.

The lower steering column joint and shaft will be replaced on approximately 303,000 Frontier and 283,000 Xterra vehicles in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and a number of other Latin American countries. The potentially affected Frontier and Xterra vehicles were manufactured at the Smyrna, Tenn., plant between July 2001 and January 2005 and at the Curitiba, Brazil plant between November 2001 and June 2008.

The positive battery cable terminal will be replaced on approximately 18,500 Sentra vehicles in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Argentina, Brazil and a number of Latin American and African countries. The potentially affected Sentra vehicles were manufactured at the Aguascalientes, Mexico plant between May 22, 2010 and July 8, 2010.

REASON FOR THE RECALL

Nissan recently discovered that in certain rare instances, the lower steering column joint on the affected Frontier and Xterra vehicles can develop corrosion that limits the movement of the joint. If the vehicle continues to be driven in this condition it may, in an extreme case, lead to cracking of the steering shaft.

This issue was discovered through three field reports from Canada, and six from Brazil. There are no field reports of this issue in the United States or other affected markets.

On some of the affected Sentra vehicles an issue with the connector on the positive battery cable terminal could lead to difficulty starting the vehicle, and in rare cases, a possibility of stalling at low speeds.

No accidents or injuries have been associated with either of these issues.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

• Model Year 2002 through 2004 Nissan Frontier vehicles manufactured from July 9, 2001 to October 20, 2004 in Smyrna, Tenn., for the North American markets
• Model Year 2002 through 2004 Nissan Xterras manufactured from July 9, 2001 to January 6, 2005 in Smyrna, Tenn., for the North American markets
• Nissan Frontier vehicles manufactured from November 30, 2001 to June 26, 2008 in Curitiba, Brazil for South and Central American markets
• Nissan Xterra vehicles manufactured from February 17, 2003 to June 13, 2008 in Curitiba, Brazil for South and Central American markets
• Nissan Sentra vehicles manufactured from May 15, 2010 to July 8, 2010 in Aguascalientes, Mexico for global markets

In the U.S. approximately 240,000 Frontier, 261,000 Xterra and 14,000 Sentra vehicles are included in this campaign. In Canada approximately 4,500 Frontier, 9,900 Xterra and 1,900 Sentra vehicles are included in the campaign.

WHAT OWNERS OF POTENTIALLY AFFECTED VEHICLES SHOULD DO

Nissan plans to begin owner notification in early December once replacement parts are available. Owners will be asked to bring their vehicles to the dealer to have the new parts installed free of charge.

Customers in the U.S. with questions may contact Nissan Consumer Affairs at 1-800-NISSAN1  (1-800-647-7261). Customers in Canada may contact Nissan Canada Consumer Affairs at 1-800-387-0122.  Customers may also contact their respective authorized Nissan dealers

The Japanese automaker was forced to recall 8 million calls worldwide this summer when the problems with uncontrolled acceleration received world wide attention. Toyota denies that it tried to secretly purchase the problematic cars.

Source: USFinancialPost

This action follows an announcement made by Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan on October 21, 2010 (Japan).

The Toyota genuine brake fluid used during vehicle assembly for vehicles sold in the United States contains polymers. The polymers act as lubricants for certain brake system components. If during vehicle maintenance, brake fluid is used that does not contain such polymers or only small amounts, a part of the internal rubber seal (brake master cylinder cup) located at the end of the brake master cylinder piston may become dry and may curl during movement of the piston. If this occurs, a small amount of the brake fluid could slowly leak from the brake master cylinder into the brake booster, resulting in illumination of the brake warning lamp.

If the brake warning lamp has illuminated and the vehicle continues to be operated without refilling the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir, the driver will begin to notice a spongy or soft brake pedal feel and braking performance may gradually decline.

Owners of the involved vehicles will be notified by first class mail beginning in early November 2010. Toyota and Lexus dealers will replace the brake master cylinder cup with a newly designed one at no charge to the vehicle owners.

Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall or www.lexus.com/recall and the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-25 LEXUS or 1-800-255-3987.

Vehicles with this condition may have an anchor that can separate in a crash, and therefore may not meet the anchor strength requirements of the U.S. and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard that covers seat belt assembly anchorages.

Dealers will inspect both front seat belts for proper installation of anchors to pretensioners and, if necessary, reinstall the anchors. GM knows of no injuries or deaths related to this condition. Customers will be notified on or around Oct. 25 by mail to bring their vehicles in free inspection. Any repairs related to this condition will be done free of charge.

If the line is damaged, power steering fluid could leak, and if the fluid sprays onto hot engine parts, an engine compartment fire could result. GM is aware of one such fire in an unattended SRX related to this condition. There have been no related crashes or injuries. The vehicles being recalled were built in December 2009. The majority of the affected vehicles (3,460) are in the United States. There were 341 exported to China. Owners will be notified by mail and the inspection and any necessary repair will be performed free of charge.

BMW has prepared an inspection and repair procedure and will distribute replacement parts throughout the North American dealer network. Letters will be sent by First Class mail to owners of affected vehicles in the coming weeks, requesting the scheduling of a service appointment with an Authorized BMW Center to check their vehicle.

Drivers who experience reduced power braking assistance should immediately schedule a service appointment with an Authorized BMW Center. Customers with further questions should contact BMW Customer Relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email customer.relations@bmwna.com.

Affected BMW models include:

• 2002-08 BMW 745i/Li, 750i/Li, and 760i/Li
• 2007-08 BMW Alpina B7
• 2004-10 BMW 645i and 650i
• 2004-10 BMW 545i and 550i

Affected Rolls-Royce Motor Cars models include:

• 2003-2010 Rolls-Royce Phantom models

(does not include Rolls-Royce Ghost)

On vehicles equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive, there is a possibility that a crack may develop at certain solder points or on the electronic component used to protect circuits against excessive voltage (varistor), on the ECM’s circuit board. In most cases, if a crack occurs at certain solder points or on certain varistors, the check engine may illuminate, harsh shifting could result, or the engine may not start. In limited instances, if cracking occurs on particular solder points or varistors, the engine could stop while the vehicle is being driven.

There are three unconfirmed accidents alleged to be related to this condition, one of which reported a minor injury.

Steve St. Angelo, Toyota chief quality officer for North America, said, “This recall is an example of our commitment to standing by our products and being responsive to our customers. Our goal is to help ensure that Toyota drivers are completely confident in the safety and reliability of their vehicles.”

As part of the recall, the ECM on involved vehicles will be replaced at no charge to the owner. Beginning in mid-September 2010, Toyota will mail an interim notification to advise owners of this recall and the fact that they will receive a future notice when parts become available to complete the repairs. Owners who have previously paid for replacement of the ECM to address this specific condition should refer to the owner letter for reimbursement consideration instructions.

Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331, Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., or Saturday 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. PDT.

This action follows an announcement made by Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan on July 29, 2010.

Because of improper casting of the steering lock bar, which is a component of the steering interlock system, there is a possibility that a minute crack may develop on the surface. Such a crack may expand over a long period of repeated lock and unlock operations, and eventually the lock bar could break. If this occurs, the interlock system may become difficult to unlock when stationary.

If the vehicle while being driven is steered to the right with sufficient lateral acceleration, a broken and loose lock bar may move toward the steering shaft. If the engagement hole in the shaft happens to line up at the specific time the broken lock bar has moved, this could cause the steering wheel lock bar to engage, locking the steering wheel, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Steve St. Angelo, Toyota chief quality officer for North America, said, “Toyota is continuing to work diligently to address safety issues wherever they arise and to strengthen our global quality assurance operations so that Toyota owners can be confident in the safety of their vehicles.”

As part of the recall, Toyota will replace the steering column bracket on involved vehicles, a procedure that takes about two hours to complete depending on the dealer’s schedule. Toyota will notify owners by first class mail beginning in late August 2010 to bring their vehicles to their local Toyota dealer for replacement of the steering column bracket at no charge to the customer.