Owners of 2011 Honda Civics are encouraged to check with the dealer to see if their vehicle has been recalled and to have the car fixed before a serious car accident occurs.

Last week, Ford announced the recall of 425,000 minivans in 22 states.  The recall includes Ford Windstar minivans from model years 1999 – 2003.    The company reports that cold weather could cause parts to corrode and separate.  If that were to happen, a driver could lose control of the vehicle and end up in a serious car accident.  This is not the first time that Ford Windstars from these model years have had to be recalled for possible corrosion in cold weather.

Pennsylvania and neighboring states are part of the current recall. If you drive a 1999 – 2003 Ford Windstar that you are urged to see a dealer to have the problem fixed. 

If you have been hurt because of a defective Windstar, our Pennsylvania accident lawyers encourage you to contact us for more information.

Last Friday, Honda announced a recall of Passport SUVs in 21 states, including Pennsylvania.  The recall which effects Honda Passport Sports Utility Vehicles from model years 1998 – 2002 was issued because the brackets on the rear suspension could become lose and detach. 

To date, the government reports 33 complaints about the defect.

If you drive a Honda Passport SUV included in this recall, you are encouraged to take your car directly to an authorized dealership or to call 800-999-1009 and choose option 4.

If you have been injured in a Pennsylvania car accident, please contact a Pennsylvania injury lawyer for more information.

Last week, Nissan announced a recall of more than 2 million vehicles.  The recall was issued because of a potential electrical defect that could cause a vehicle to slow down or stall unexpectedly.  Approximately three quarters of a million of the recalled vehicles are located in the United States.

This is the third largest recall in Nissan history.

Nissan drivers are encouraged to visit the Nissan website or to contact their dealer to find out if their vehicle is included in the recall and to see their dealer for a fix to this potentially serious problem. If you have been hurt in an accident because of a defective car, please contact a Pennsylvania car accident lawyer for more information.

Chevrolet is the latest auto maker to issue a safety recall.  Chevy is recalling more than 322,000 Impalas from model years 2009 and 2010.  The automaker says that some of the seatbelts were incorrectly threaded and that in an accident the defect could cause the safety belt to disconnect from the frame of the car.

Impala drivers are urged to see their Chevrolet dealers for a free inspection and correction if a problem is detected.  If you have been injured by an Impala seatbelt, please contact a Pennsylvania car accident lawyer for more information about your rights.

Last week, Ford Motor Co. recalled more than half a million Ford Windstar minivans in the United States and Canada.  The majority of the recalled vehicles, 462,750 were recalled in the United States and an additional 112,000 were recalled in Canada.

The recall is due to concern that the rear axle may corrode and fracture.  If this were to happen while the driver was operating the vehicle, the driver could lose control of the minivan and a serious car accident could result.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been investigating this problem since May 2010 and has been informed of Ford’s recall.  At least two accidents that were caused by a corroded and fractured rear axle have been reported to the NHTSA.

The recalled models are all Ford Windstars  from model years 1998-2003 and were sold in 21 U.S. states including Pennsylvania.  If your car has been recalled then be sure to contact your dealer who will fix your car free of charge as soon as parts are available.

For much of the year, Toyota has been in the headlines because of problems with unintended acceleration in many of its vehicles.  Now, another problem has arisen that has gotten the attention of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

This time the concern is over stalling issues in approximately 1.2 million Toyota Corolla and Matrix cars manufactured between 2007 – 2010.   Reports indicate that Toyota has known about the problem since 2005 and replaced a part in 2007 to fix the issue.  Toyota claims that it has issued warnings to owners of affected vehicles and will fix the problem free of charge.  However, complaints filed with the NHTSA allege that some consumers have been asked to pay for the repairs.

If you have an affected Toyota Corolla or Matrix then you should seek a repair, free of charge, from a certified dealer and report any stalling problems to the NHTSA.  If you’ve been in a Pennsylvania accident as a result of a defective Toyota, please call a Pennsylvania Toyota recall lawyer for a free consultation.

In the past few decades, government agencies, auto industry safety organizations, and others have promoted the importance of seatbelt use.  They claim that wearing a seatbelt saves lives.

The truth is that wearing a three point seatbelt that is properly designed and properly used can save lives.  However, not all seatbelts do save lives.

Lap Belts Can Cause, Rather Than Prevent, Injuries

It is only since September 2007 that car manufacturers have been required to provide a three point seatbelt for every passenger seat.  Prior to that many cars only included lap belts for back seat passengers.  Lap belts can cause serious internal injuries and may be even more dangerous than not wearing a seatbelt at all. 

Cars with lap belts have not been recalled and there are many still on the road today that cause injuries every year.

If you’ve been hurt by a lap belt or an improperly designed seatbelt then you may be entitled to damages.  Contact a Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer with experience in seatbelt failure cases for more information about your rights and potential recovery.

On Tuesday, General Motors (GM) announced that it will be recalling almost a quarter million vehicles, mostly in the United States.  The approximately 243,000 vehicles are being recalled because of possible seat belt damage.  GM says that the safety belts may appeare to be latched in the second row seats when they are in fact not securely fastened.

The recall includes 2009 and 2010 crossover SUVs including the Chevy Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and the Saturn outlook.

Recall letters are expected to be sent later this month and owners of affected vehicles are encouraged to see their dealers for an inspection and any necessary repairs.

Seatbelt failure is a serious safety issue.  If you’ve been hurt because of a malfunctioning seat belt, please contact a Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer for a free consultation.

Every driver faces car problems from time to time.  Something fails through normal wear and tear and it is often inconvenient and expensive – but it is also expected.  Chevy Camaro drivers, however, may be facing a more frustrating – and dangerous – problem.

Recently, Camaros with low mileage and no abuse have been experiencing clutch disintegration.  The nature of the problem, and the condition of the cars in which it is found, suggest that the clutch disintegration could be caused by problem with the design or manufacturing of the vehicle. 

Is Your Car Safe?

GM has not yet issued any recalls related to clutch disintegration, though it knows of the problem.  Yet, if the clutch fails, your car could stall from a very high speed and put you at risk for a high speed accident.  It can be difficult to tell that you have a problem with your clutch until you are already at risk.  If you have any suspicion that your clutch is not working as intended, it is important to have it checked by a reliable mechanic.

If you’ve been hurt, or a loved one has been killed, by a defective clutch, please contact a clutch disintegration injury lawyer for more information about your rights.