Toyota said about 45,500 Highlander Hybrid and 36,700 Lexus RX 400h vehicles from the 2006 and 2007 model years sold in the USA are affected by the voluntary recall.
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The recall covers 11,351 vehicles and affects certain 2011 model year Dodge Journey crossovers, Jeep Wranglers, Chrysler 200s, Chrysler 200 Convertibles, Dodge Avengers, Dodge Nitros, Jeep Liberty SUVs, Dodge Calibers, Jeep Compass crossovers, Jeep Patriots, Dodge Grand Caravans and Chrysler Town & Country minivans.
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The Swedish automaker informed the safety agency that the male part of the fuel line quick connector end shape was produced with dimensions out of specification and could detach from the engine. If this were to occur, the engine could stall while the driver may also notice a fuel smell and leakage, which could result in a fire.
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“If the steering wheel is repeatedly and strongly turned to the full-lock position, there is a possibility the nuts securing the pinion shaft in the steering gear box assembly may become loose,” Toyota said in a statement. The company added that if the owner leaves the condition uncorrected, over time they will gradually notice significant increased steering effort when making a left turn.
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The reason for this malfunction is a manufacturing flaw occurring in France during the right-hand drive assembly of the C3 Picasso for the UK market. Even though the brake pedal is switched to the right, it remains connected to a mechanism on the left passenger side, BBC's Watchdog explained. It was discovered that the mechanism was covered only by a thin piece of felt, and that it could be easily activated by the passenger’s feet.
Owners of the 2009MY Honda Odyssey minivan need to pay attention as the Japanese firm is recalling 421 vehicles in the States over a problem with the braking system. According to Honda, during assembly, incorrect front brake hoses were installed on these particular cars. The brake hose may come in contact with the caliper bolt and over time a hole may develop allowing the brake fluid to leak and consequently, result in reduced brake system performance. Honda's dealers will inspect both front brake hoses and replace with the correct brake hoses free of charge.
Approximately 29,000 MY2009 Mazda6 cars are being recalled in the States due to a problem with the outer door handles that may not latch correctly allowing the door to open while the vehicle is in motion. In an official announcement, Mazda said that its U.S. dealers will inspect the 6's door handles and if necessary, repair or replace the handles free of charge. The recall is expected to begin before the end of February. Concerned owners may contact Mazda for more information directly at 1-800-222-5500. 
It's not often that we hear about recalls from exotic marques like Ferrari, not because they don't have problems, but simply due to the fact that there aren't many out there. In one of those rare 'occasions', Ferrari is getting ready to send a letter to 1,950 MY 2005-2007 F430 Spider owners in the U.S. over a problem with the hydraulic hoses for the convertible top that are located inside of the engine compartment. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) said that the engine heat could cause cracks to the hoses leading in fluid leakage.In this case, the fluids may leak into the engine compartment causing smoke and quite possibly, a fire. Ferrari's U.S. dealers will install protective heat shields over the convertible top hydraulic lines to insulate them from the heat of the engine compartment. Understandably, this service will be performed free of charge.
Approximately 134,900 Yaris vehicles are being recalled in the U.S. over a seat belt pretensioner issue. On 2006 through 2007 model year Yaris, the Japanese automaker determined that the driver's and front passenger's seat belt pretensioner deployment could affect the sound insulating foam in the center pillar, after a collision. Toyota said that it will begin informing owners of the affected models from early February. According to Toyota, the repair will take approximately one hour, depending on the dealer's workload.
A few dozens of extremely fortunate American owners of one of the world's hottest sports cars, the Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione, will have to return their Italian beauty for a quick fix after it was discovered that certain models were manufactured with incorrectly torqued front and rear suspension upper and lower ball joint nuts. The recall also affects MY 2008 Maserati Gran Turismo and Quattroporte which share the same platform with the Alfa.Overall, 7,912 Maseratis and Alfa 8c Competiziones will be recalled in the States. While the Italian automaker did not reveal specific numbers, we do know for a fact that only 84 Alfas were allocated in the U.S.
Maserati said that the incorrectly torqued ball joint nuts may loosen with consequent steering wheel vibration, a growing metallic noise and progressive loss of driving precision in the transients. According to the Italian automaker, continued use of the vehicle in these conditions may lead to damage of the suspension lever, which in the long term and depending on vehicle usage, may cause the ball joint/suspension arm to break.
The firm's dealers will inspect the torque of the front/rear upper and lower ball joint nuts and, if necessary, replace the suspension arms and hub carrier. The recall is expected to begin during February 2009. Concerned U.S. owners may contact Maserati for more information at 1-201-816-2600.
Approximately 214,500 Lexus car owners in the U.S. are to receive a recall notification in their mail box over the next few weeks. The Japanese automaker determined that on certain 2006 through 2008 model year GS300/350, IS250/350, and LS460/460L vehicles, some ethanol fuels with a low moisture content may corrode the internal surface of the fuel delivery pipes. Over time, this condition could lead to the creation of a pinhole in the fuel delivery pipes resulting in fuel leakage. As one would expect, Lexus dealers will replace the fuel delivery pipes with newly designed components at no extra cost.
Today, the National National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that Nissan is recalling 242,720 MY2005-2009 Pathfinder, Frontier and XTerra vehicles sold in certain States of the country (see details after the jump) which use heavy concentrations of road salt in the winter. A mixture of snow/water and salt can enter into the vehicle's front crash zone sensor (CZS) housing causing it to rust. If this occurs, then there could be a signal interruption resulting in the non-deployment of the driver and passenger front air bags in the event of a crash.Nissan said that the vehicles affected were originally sold in or, are currently registered in the States of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District Of Columbia.
Nissan said that dealers will replace the front CZS with a redesigned sensor free of cost while owners in the other states will receive extended warranty coverage for the sensor to 10 years. These owners will be notified of the warranty extension by mail and will receive a sticker to place in their warranty booklet explaining the extended warranty coverage.
