Issues
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.
2003-04 Honda Element Windshield Cracking
A class action suit was filed August 4, 2004, in California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, alleging a design defect in 2003-2004 Honda Element windshields that leads to cracking.
Click here to view the class action complaint in .PDF
For more information, consumers may visit the following website:
www.hondaelementscrack.com
Feds Link Injuries to Weak Roofs
Danger Overhead: Crushed Roofs
Auto industry will challenge new drive to toughen regulations