Top five recalled vehicles

[g20ooh]

Dodge Ram Pickup
Number Of 2006-Model Recalls: 7
Recalls concerned:

--Faulty anti-lock brake electronic control units ( MINOR ABS Malfunction CERTAIN CONDITIONS ONLY(39,274 ))
--Defective front suspensions( Totally inaccurate description Some of the 86 ,333 recalled low on front wheel bearing grease ( 86,333 ))
--Airbags that could deploy with excessive force
--Transfer cases on four-wheel drive models that may inadvertently shift to neutral and cause
parked vehicles to roll away ( 136 )
--Seatbelts that may not be able to secure certain child seats ( 159,741 )
--Missing pieces of exterior lighting ( 279 )
-- Defective rearview mirrors ( 309 )

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
DODGE / RAM 3500 2006

Recall Number: 06V073000
Summary:
CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL REAR WHEELS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, “LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.” THE TRUCKS MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY MANUFACTURED WITHOUT THE ROOF MOUNTED CAB CLEARANCE LAMPS.
Consequence:
WITHOUT THESE LAMPS, OTHER VEHICLE OPERATORS MAY NOT DETECT THE INCREASED WIDTH OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL CAB CLEARANCE LIGHTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Notes:
DAIMLERCHRYSLER RECALL NO. F12.
( Total vehicles affected 279 Ram 3500 )

 

[Able]

Mokanic,

Your leading story for this string about the recall of cars was very informative. It was not surprising that about all of the car manufactures seemed to cloud or twist the truth about recalls with dis-information.

In this connection, Mazda has really sliped by the public recall notoriety list, for a most serious engine defect and engine replacement associated with the RX 8. Mazda has sent owners an unadvertised notice to voluntarly bring their car in for testing at their convience and others have their car tested unknowningly when they bring it in for oil service or some warranty work. Sooner or later all owners will be told they need a new engine at their inconvience and possible cost.

Mazda has not called it a recall but in effect it is. The car's engine defect is being handled rather quietly and in most cases so far will result in replacement of the RX-8's rotary engine and catalytic converter many times, before and after the warranty expires. This is a recall and will sooner or later result in the replacement of all rotory engines which is of the greatest magnitude to the owners.

The details of the story follows for those interested or will be effected. The information below can be gleaned from the many RX-8 owners forums on the internet.

Mazda RX 8's owners in the USA are required to use very thin light weight 5W-20 oil that breaks down due to the operating temperature of the oil and cannot protect the rotary engine and catalytic converter from early failure (around 15,000 miles). Maxda says the normally very hot running engine runs very, very hot especially in slow traffic and long drives in warm weather, which is causing the probblem...duh. Every city in the USA has slow traffic jams and warm weather, so the car in effect is not be used.

Every where else in the World (except in the USA) Mazda requires instead in the RX 8 Owners Manual the use of 5W-30 oil to adequately protect the very same hot running rotary engine that is also in RX 8's in the USA. The heavier oil protects the engine and oil seals from failure and prevents oil blow by from ruining the catalytic converter, for over 200,000+ miles, as documented in many forums on the web.

For example, printed on Castrol bottles of 5W-20 weight synthetic oil, says "use only in cars used for short trips" and another 5W-20 Castrol bottle of non synthetic oil says "use only if required by the car manufacture". Other wise, Castrol ,who sets the standard for excellent oil, does not recommend the use of 5W-20 oil unless directed to by the car manufacture or for short trips.

In addition, Castrol can be objective with out any conflicts of interest about which oil weight not to use to protect an engine, because it does not manufacture cars nor have any vested interests or concerns about meeting EPA miles per gallon requirements to avoid fines.

In the USA the RX 8 engines that use the very light 5W-20 weight oil last for maybe around 20,000 miles before needing to be rebuilt a number of times before and after expiration of the warranty. This is probably why Mazda now only warrants the car for 3 years or 36,000 miles instead of the prior warranty of 5 years or 50,000 miles. This is also clearly documented in many RX 8 owner web sites.

However, in the USA Mazda requires the use of inadequate light weight 5W-20 oil in order for Mazda to meet EPA miles per gallon (MPG) gas consumption requirements and to avoid associated large EPA fines. This light weight oil shortens the life of this normally very hot running rotary motor to around 20,000 miles, at the expense of the consumer who needs to keep spending lots of money and time to keep it running.

The owners must keep them running because no dealership wants to take the car in on trade or offer a fair amount on trade, due to the now widely known problems Mazda has caused to happen to the RX 8.

Mazda could still put in the USA, RX 8 owners manual, recommendations to use 5W-20 oil to satisfy EPA miles per gallon requirements, but not cancel the warranty of those who wisely choose to use non synthetic 5W-30 oil as recommended by Mazda, thorough out the rest of the World.

My Mazda dealership before purchase told me the RX 8 motor would last over 200,000+ miles because it was the nature of the rotary engines. With the first oil change though the Dealership also told me they would not put 5W-30 weight oil in my RX 8 because according to them it would damage the engine (which is a lie) and would void the warranty, according to Mazda USA. Well it is common knowledge now with the USA Mazda required use of light 5W-20 weight oil the engine will not last 200,000 miles as advertised and the first motor will only last around 20,000 miles before needing to be rebuilt again and again etc.

Every RX 8 owner in the USA had better individually or join together to fight the Mazda lies about the weight of oil to use in their RX 8 or their motor's will have a very short life with no one to blame in the long run except for your own lack of sticking up for yourself and what you know is right.

Spread the word that Mazda USA is indirectly recalling all the RX-8 under a cloud of dis-information to keep the problem out of public attention.

 

[454MAG]

The mazda rotary problem is especially good news. It means there will be a huge pool of donor cars to swap LSx chevy V8s into. The prior version was a very popular swap due to the rotary engine dying long before the car was used up and the fact that it was a good looking car and an easy swap. The 93 rx7 with a mild 400hp ls1 weighs in around 2800 lbs, runs mid 10sec 1/4 miles and dominates on road courses.

 

[Lonnie]

Hang in there Mokanic. It's okay to like Toyota's. In fact Toyota makes pretty good cars no matter what other on the forum say. I guess you have to remember when buying a Toyota or a Honda. Only buy them if you want a well built reliable car that will maintain it's resale value even with a lot of miles on it. If you don't want any of that go buy something else. Repeat after me, it's ok to like Toyota's and Honda's.

 

[dailydriver]

Quote:

---

The mazda rotary problem is especially good news. It means there will be a huge pool of donor cars to swap LSx chevy V8s into. The prior version was a very popular swap due to the rotary engine dying long before the car was used up and the fact that it was a good looking car and an easy swap. The 93 rx7 with a mild 400hp ls1 weighs in around 2800 lbs, runs mid 10sec 1/4 miles and dominates on road courses.

---

YESSIR!! I know people with that swap, and it does EXACTLY what you claim. The irony is that the LSx transplants (the alloy ones at least) only weigh a few pounds more than the turbo Wankels they replace!! So much for it being "a big heavy V-8 upsetting the balance in the nose of a sports car".