Issues
Honda SUV Fires Continue
Warning to Dealers Hasn’t Stopped Oil-Change Errors
By Greg SchneiderWashington
Post Staff WriterTuesday, September 7, 2004; Page E01
Owners
of new Honda CR-V sport-utility vehicles continue to report vehicle
fires shortly after initial oil changes, and a federal agency is
keeping an eye oÂn the problem two months after closing an
investigation.
Monitors Could Combat Oil Sludge
Issue heats up at VW, Chrysler
By Richard Truett
Automotive News / September 06, 2004
DETROIT — An inexpensive device that checks the condition of engine oil and warns the driver when it's time for an oil change could help Volkswagen of America Inc. and the Chrysler group avoid future troubles with oil sludge.
Both companies have come under pressure after reports were published of engine failures caused by sludge buildup.
General Motors says about 95 percent of its 2005 models will come with an oil life monitor.
TRW Sodium Azide Explosions
TRW to cease sodium azide production – 6/30/2003 An Explosive Mix At TRW – 12/18/1995 Man Dies from TRW Airbag Blast – 9/26/1994
Chrysler Urged to Act on Engine Complaints
8/28/04
Christopher Jensen
Plain Dealer Auto Editor
A consumer group is demanding that Chrysler Group extend the warranty on hundreds of thousands of its 2.7-liter V-6 engines and start reimbursing consumers whose engines have failed.
"The 2.7-liter engine introduced by Chrysler in 1998 is a nightmare for consumers. It doesn’t cause accident and injury, it causes severe economic damage," said Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, in a statement.
Consumer Advocacy Group Says Chrysler V-6 Has Sludge Problems
By Mary Connelly
Automotive News / August 30, 2004
Oil Sludge Woes Plague VW
Automaker to pay for engine repairs, extend warranties
By Ralph Kisiel
Automotive News / August 30, 2004
DETROIT – In the latest example of Volkswagen of America Inc.’s quality woes, the automaker is warning 426,000 VW Passat and Audi A4 owners of an engine oil sludge problem.
Affected are 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines on 1998 to 2004 Passats and 1997 to 2004 A4s. VW won’t say how many engines have been replaced or repaired, or what it is spending to fix the problem.
Total U.S. Highway Deaths Fell in 2003
Safety Groups Question Revision by Transportation Department
By Greg Schneider
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Bush administration officials said yesterday that fewer people died on U.S. roadways in 2003 than the government had previously reported and took credit for an unexpected improvement in highway safety.
Safety advocates accused the administration of sensationalizing the numbers, and questioned how the statistics could have changed so significantly from estimates earlier this year.
CAS Letter to Chrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche – 2.7L Engines (Aug. 26, 2004)
August 26, 2004
Dieter Zetsche
President & Chief Executive Officer
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
1000 Chrysler Drive
Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2766
Dear Mr. Zetsche:
CAS Requests Extended Warranty on 1998-2002 Chrysler 2.7L Engines
The Center for Auto Safety today called on DaimlerChrysler to take responsibility for oil sludge in its 2.7L engine with a full course of remedial actions including:
2005 Focus ST: A 2nd Shot at Stardom for a Star-Crossed Car
August 20, 2004
By CHERYL JENSEN
New York Times
WHEN Ford introduced a high-performance version of its compact Focus in 2002, it achieved something rarely accomplished by American automakers: a small car that was also great fun to drive.
Of course, it was too good to last.