Porsche is recalling some 33,206 examples of its first-generation Panamera sedan in North America because in rare cases, a potential electrical system failure could lead to a fire in the vehicle. Most all first-gen Panamera trims are affected, including the 2010 through 2016 Panamera S and 4S; the 2011 through 2016 Panamera, Panamera 4 and Turbo; the 2012 through 2016 Panamera Turbo S and S E-Hybrid; the 2013 through 2016 Panamera GTS; the 2013 Platinum Edition and 4 Platinum Edition; the 2014 to 2016 Panamera 4S Executive, Turbo Executive and Turbo S Executive; and the 2015 Panamera Diesel, Edition, 4 Edition and Turbo S Exclusive Series. The defect involves water entering the air conditioning blower control unit, possibly leading to a short-circuit over time, which in turn poses a fire risk. While drivers should be able to detect something is wrong while driving, the short circuit could also happen when the vehicle is shut off, and so Porsche is asking owners to park their Panameras outside until the vehicle has been fixed. Dealers will add a relay harness to the blower control unit in affected vehicles and reseal it to protect it from water
Origin: Porsche recalling first-gen Panameras over fire risk
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Audi recalls first electric vehicle in U.S. on battery fire risk
The 2019 Audi e-Tron, the luxury automakers first fully electric series-production model, will be in Canadian showrooms in the spring and pricing starts in the $90,000 neighbourhood.Audi Canada Volkswagens luxury brand Audi is recalling its first all-electric vehicle due to the risk of a battery fire. The company issued a voluntary recall of approximately 540 E-Tron SUV models sold in the U.S. because of a risk that moisture can seep into the battery cell through a wiring harness glitch, spokesman Mark Dahncke said. The company isn’t aware of any fires or injuries because of the flaw, which affects a total of 1,644 models, he said. The E-Tron, which went on sale in the U.S. in April, is Audi’s first fully-electric car and one in a wave of contenders from traditional automakers looking to challenge Tesla’s dominance of the segment. While electric vehicles are no more prone to accidents or fires than gasoline-powered cars – and might be less so, according the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – the lithium-ion battery technology that powers them is still evolving, and there is no consensus on safe system design. Audi said there have been five instances globally where a battery fault light turned on because of the moisture issue. It began contacting E-Tron owners in the U.S. last week, prior to a warning from federal safety regulators, and should have a repair available by August. “We are applying an abundance of caution as no such incidents have been reported globally,” the company said in a statement. Audi said it’s offering E-Tron owners loaner vehicles and an $800 cash card to cover gas or incidentals during the recall period, as well as free roadside assistance. There are still E-Trons unaffected by the recall available for sale, it
Origin: Audi recalls first electric vehicle in U.S. on battery fire risk
Even light rain increases your risk of a deadly car crash: study
In this file photo, umbrellas provide some rain protection along Lakeshore Blvd. in Etobicoke on July 9, 2010.Ernest Doroszuk / Toronto Sun Even light rain significantly increases your risk of a fatal car crash, a new study out of the U.S. finds. The wetter the roads, the deadlier they become, with rain, snow and ice increasing the risk of deadly car crashes by 34 per cent, according to a study published April in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Light rain – “We’re talking a drizzle, just at the point where you might consider taking an umbrella out,” said study lead author Scott Stevens – increased the fatal crash risk by 27 per cent. Stevens, a data analyst and meteorologist at the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies, and colleagues looked at 125,012 fatal car crashes in the Lower 48 states from 2006 to 2011, factoring in how many cars are on the road, to calculate the risk of a fatal accident. While other studies have used police reports and the nearest weather station to calculate rain and snow conditions, Stevens said his is the first study to use more precise weather radar data. It was able to distinguish how hard the rain or snow was falling to come up with results showing an increase in fatal crashes even in rain of less than one-tenth of an inch per hour. “People slow down when it starts to rain heavily, but I think they under-appreciate the risk of light rain,” Stevens said Tuesday. With moderate rain the risk of fatal car crashes is 75 per cent more than in nice weather, Stevens said, and with heavy rain it’s nearly two-and-a-half times more risky. The Northern Rockies and Upper Midwest had the highest risk of fatal crashes with rainy and snowy weather, while the risks were lowest in the Northeast and Southeast. Stevens thinks that’s because the east is more urban and people aren’t driving fast enough for fatal
Origin: Even light rain increases your risk of a deadly car crash: study
GM recalls more than 40,000 trucks in Canada for engine fire risk
2017 Chevrolet Silverado HDHandout General Motors is recalling over 368,000 pickups and other trucks worldwide, including more than 40,000 in Canada, after 19 reports of fires caused by engine block heater cords. The recall covers certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 trucks, as well as the 2017 through 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500. All have GM’s 6.6-litre diesel engines and an optional engine block heater used to keep the block warm in extremely cold temperatures. GM is asking customers not to use engine block heaters until further notice. The company said early May the electric heater cord or the terminals connecting the cord to the heater could short-circuit and fail. That can cause fires. No injuries have been reported. GM is still trying to find the cause of the problem and develop a fix. The company began investigating the problem in December and found that a fire can occur if a block-heater coolant leak develops and the coolant comes in contact with the cable terminals, or if the cable itself is damaged. About 324,000 U.S. trucks are covered by the recall, and about 40,319 in Canada. GM began notifying dealers on April 26 and told them to stop selling the trucks until repairs are made. No date has been set yet to notify
Origin: GM recalls more than 40,000 trucks in Canada for engine fire risk
FCA recalling 300K Dodge Dart sedans due to rollaway risk
FCA is calling back roughly 20,000 Darts with automatic transmissions in Canada over rollaway risks.Handout / Dodge Fiat Chrysler is recalling more than 300,000 vehicles in North America because a transmission problem could cause them to roll away unexpectedly. The recall covers Dodge Dart compact cars from 2013 through 2016 with six-speed automatic transmissions. According to Transport Canada, just over 20,000 of the affected cars are in Canada. FCA says a bushing can fail, causing the shifter cable to come loose from the transmission. That means when a driver shifts into park or another gear, the gear may not change and the car could roll away. Fiat Chrysler says it doesn’t know of any related crashes or injuries. But it advises owners to shut off the engine and set the parking brake before leaving the cars. Dealers will replace the bushing at no cost to owners. The recall is expected to start May
Origin: FCA recalling 300K Dodge Dart sedans due to rollaway risk
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