Fleet Vehicle Leasing January 2012 Newsletter
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Honda Expands Recalls
Honda has expanded a previous recall of certain 2001-2003 model-year Honda and Acura vehicles, so that dealers can replace the driver’s airbag inflator originally installed in approximately 273,000 additional vehicles sold in the U.S. The driver’s airbag inflators covered in the recall run the risk of deploying with too much pressure, which can cause the inflator casing to rupture. This could result in injury or fatality. Notification will be provided to affected owners.
Navigation Problems 
A new report from J.D. Power found that factory navigation systems still cause a number of problems for users, mainly in terms of route and ease of use. On average, owners of vehicles equipped with factory-installed navigation systems experienced 351 problems per 100 systems in 2011. The most common problems reported were fairly significant.
GM’s Brake Technology
General Motors’ process for treating brake rotors, potentially doubling their lifespan, will be on 80% of the company’s vehicles by 2016. The automaker said its engineers developed the exclusive corrosion protection process called Ferritic Nitro-Carburizing (FNC), which is used to treat powertrain parts that operate in high-heat conditions, in 2008. Since then, the automaker said FNC has helped reduce warranty claims on brakes by 70%.
Short Notes
Ford announced its Michigan Assembly Plant is starting production of the new 2012 Focus Electric. The company said it expects the vehicle to achieve roughly 100 miles-per-gallon-equivalent in fuel economy performance. In terms of overall performance, the automaker said it expects the five-door hatchback to have a top speed of 84 mph.
Toyota said it doesn’t expect any further North American production slowdowns due to the flooding in Thailand. The automaker said its North American plants will continue operating on a normal production schedule, including planned overtime and Saturday production.
Keyless Ignition Standard 
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed standardizing how keyless-start ignition (“push start”) systems work on new vehicles. The proposed rules in the federal register would standardize the length of time needed to push a control to stop a vehicle.
They also add a requirement that vehicles with keyless ignition emit an audible warning to any driver who tries to exit the vehicle without turning it off, or who tries to turn it off with putting the vehicle in “park.” According to the organization, a drivers’ ability to stop a moving vehicle in a panic situation is one reason for the proposed standards.
Drivers Delay Repairs 
According to a new survey from the Consumers Reports National Research Center, 40% of consumers involved in repair decisions are postponing car maintenance or repair on their primary vehicle. This decision can impact overall road safety as cars with problematic brakes, tires, light bulbs, or mechanical parts are dangerous for all drivers.
Overall, 44% of those who deferred work in the past year admitted that they felt the value, safety, or reliability of the vehicle would suffer, with some even saying the car was becoming an embarrassment. Due to the economy, drivers are holding onto their vehicles longer, which makes the need for expensive routine maintenance and repairs more likely.
On average, owners responding in the study have 78,000 miles on their current vehicle. This means that many are quickly approaching major maintenance milestones, where replacing timing belts, brakes, and shocks becomes common and mechanical systems may begin wearing out. Drivers reported spending an average of $808 in the past year to keep their car running.
GM Recalls Captivas
General Motors is recalling 3,150 2011-2012 model-year Chevrolet Captiva vehicles because of their potential to leak power steering fluid, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported. To remedy the problem, GM will notify vehicle owners of the recall and dealers will replace the power steering fluid cooler with an improved version at no cost to owners.
Toyota Posts Vehicle Info
Toyota announced MSRP and new features for the 2012-MY RAV4 compact SUV and the 2012-MY Prius Liftback. The 2012 Prius Liftback MSRP ranges from $24,000- $29,805, reflecting a price increase ranging from 2% to 4.3%, according to Toyota.
Updates for the new Prius include a refreshed front fascia, revised tail lamps, newly styled 15-inch wheel covers, and LED Daytime Running Lights with an on-off feature. Toyota said it updated the vehicle's interior to include a standard 6.1-inch Display Audio system with USB for iPod connectivity and control, Bluetooth with phone book access for hands-free calling and music streaming, and a more advanced Multi-Information Display.
The 2012-MY RAV4 goes up in price by $100 or 0.4%, although Toyota said it’s decreasing the price on some models. The base MSRP will range from $22,650-$28,650. All 2012 RAV4 models will feature a new standard audio system that comes with hands-free phone capability, phone book access, and music streaming via Bluetooth. The Limited Grade of the RAV4 will offer an available Display Audio with Navigation and Entune.
Saab Files Bankruptcy 
Saab announced it has filed for bankruptcy with the District Court in Vanersborg, Sweden. The company said that after GM stated its position on a potential transaction with Chinese company Youngman, that company informed Saab that it could not continue to fund and complete the reorganization of Saab Automobile.