Recalls: Mazda6 for loose door latches, Infiniti M sedans for faulty throttles

Mazda is recalling 161,400 cars in the U.S. to fix doors that may not close, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2009-2013 Mazda6 sedan has metal latches on the inside of the door that can loosen or fall off. In May, the NHTSA opened an investigation on 2009 models after at least four owners said that their vehicle doors were not closing properly. One incident said a passenger door opened while the car was in motion and that "some or all three door-latch mounting screws were missing," according to the report.

Mazda said that improper screwing torque or uneven door sides at the factory could have caused the problem. Dealers will reinstall the screws and seal them with glue starting on Oct. 18. Owners can call Mazda at 1-800-222-5500 for more details.

Other automakers have had trouble with door latches. In July 2012, Honda recalled more than 320,000 cars for faulty door locks that could prevent the doors from latching properly. In October, BMW recalled 7,485 7-Series sedans for doors that could suddenly open while driving.

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Nissan is recalling 101,579 Infiniti models in the U.S. and Canada for throttle problems and another 2,451 Nissan models for poor airbag deployment.

The 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 sedans have electronic throttles that can send a faulty signal to the engine control unit, the main computer that manages the engine's performance. The pedal's sensor can trap dust and possibly send a bad signal, which would then force the engine into a "limp-home" mode, a fail-safe system that severely restricts the car's speed to prevent further damage or dangerous situations due to computer or mechanical errors. The engine could then shut down without warning if there is carbon buildup on the throttle valves, Nissan said.

In August, Nissan recalled another brand-new model, the 2014 Versa Note, to fix rear seats that may not have been bolted properly. In April, Nissan recalled 123,308 Altima sedans from 2013 to check the pressure of spare tires and replace those that degraded after leaving the factory.
The company had received owner reports of "poor acceleration" during 2011 and 2012 but did not consider it to be a widespread problem. In July and August, Nissan received additional reports of engines stopping in Japan and decided to take action. Starting in November, dealers will replace the entire throttle pedal assembly and update the car's engine control unit. Nissan can be reached at 1-800-647-7261.

Nissan also recalled certain models of the 2014 Pathfinder, but only those with "Almond" color interiors. The supplier for the dashboards did not cut the passenger airbag tear seam properly, which allows the airbag to easily punch through the dash in the event of a crash. No injuries or accidents were reported, and the supplier notified Nissan earlier in September. Dealers will replace the entire dashboard starting in mid-October. Again, only vehicles in "Almond" are affected, Nissan says.

[Source: NHTSA (Mazda/Infiniti/Internal)]


Source: MSN