| Vehicle sales figure for 2007 is predicted to be 16.1 | | | | a reduction in a driver's ability to shift gears while |
| million units and almost equaling this figure is the | | | | driving and result in a crash." |
| number of recalls each automaker made for several | | | | We may wonder that if every year, vehicle quality is |
| of their models together. | | | | upgraded, then why are recalls also rising? According |
| Last August, Ford announced that they will be recalling | | | | to auto experts, the incidents are due to automakers |
| their 3.6 million vehicles, mostly in the truck segment | | | | sharing platforms and parts, therefore increasing the |
| from the 1990s model years. The massive recalls | | | | chances that a defective part be used in various |
| were due to defects in the speed control deactivation | | | | models causing problems to all of it. On the other side, |
| switch. Similarly, brake light problems have resulted in | | | | Libby said that recalls could be taken as a sign that the |
| Volkswagen recalling 1,000,000 units of the | | | | automakers are exerting extra efforts to solve vehicle |
| Volkswagen Beetle from 2001 to 2007 model years | | | | problems, thereby protecting its consumers. |
| making it the most recalled vehicle model for the year. | | | | Recalls can be a stain to a vehicle's brand and model. |
| For Toyota, the 2004-2006 Tundra and the | | | | It may give the consumers the idea that they bought a |
| 2004-2007 Sequoia were recalled due to problems in | | | | "lemon" and it is known to all that recalls can be |
| the lower ball joint on the vehicle's front suspension. | | | | ammunition to product liability attorneys for lawsuits. |
| These past few years, almost all automaker have | | | | "This stuff gets amplified a great deal because there |
| issued vehicle recalls. "Now almost any time you pick | | | | are certain lawyers waiting to use this information, and |
| up a newspaper, there is a recall," said Tom Libby, | | | | they are out there actively looking for new business on |
| senior director of industry analysis at J.D. Power & | | | | a class action basis," VW spokesman Keith Price said. |
| Associates in Troy, Michigan. | | | | This year the most recalled vehicles are: Volkswagen |
| Even a Ferrari worth $168,000 is not an exception to | | | | New Beetle (with Volkswagen Beetle distributor rotor), |
| defective vehicles. In the early months of 2007, the | | | | Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, Jeep Liberty, Nissan |
| Italian luxury sports car maker recalled 216 of its 2005 | | | | Altima, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Wrangler and Dodge |
| and 2006 models of the F430 coupe and spider | | | | Nitro, Suzuki Forenza and Reno, Volkswagen Passat |
| models. The vehicles were detected to have faulty | | | | and Passat Wagon, Lexus ES 350 and Chrysler |
| clutch pumps. According to the National Highway | | | | Sebring. |
| Traffic Safety Administration, the defect "could result in | | | | |