Most Recalled Cars of 2006

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Most Recalled of 2006
By MATT VELLA



So much for Toyota's vaunted reputation for quality. On July 18, the Japanese auto giant announced a recall of 418,570 vehicles worldwide for faulty engine parts. This follows an even larger global recall of nearly one million cars and trucks at the end of May for faulty parts that could cause drivers to lose control of the steering wheel.


The current recall affects about 150,000 cars sold outside of Japan, mainly in the U.S. and Canada, though no accidents have been reported due to the faulty engine component that could lead to oil leakage. In the U.S. more than 34,000 cars were recalled, including 26,200 Echo and 8,500 Prius models. While Toyota is no stranger to recalls -- in May 2005 it recalled more than 750,000 pickup trucks and every single 2006 Toyota model line from the Avalon to the Tundra has experienced some form of recall -- this latest round may finally dent its Teflon image if steps aren't taken to improve quality.

The high induced by the new car smell may indeed be increasingly undercut as recalls make headlines industrywide. Auto recalls can affect components of every type, from those as seemingly insignificant as tail-light bulbs to more considerable components, like those that led to the now infamous Ford-Firestone tire scandal. And 2006 has seen its share of high-profile recalls for both foreign and domestic auto companies.


Last week, Nissan announced a recall of Altimas and Sentras affecting 96,800 vehicles that were susceptible to engine fires due to excessive oil consumption. Up to 24 fires have been reported to the company.





In May, 31,000 units of the Chevrolet Corvette were recalled by General Motors, because there was mounting evidence that some roofs could come unglued at high speeds.


Many recalls are preemptive, announced by the maker for unrealized but potentially disastrous consequences. Last month, for instance, Ford Motor's Volvo division recalled 109,000 XC90 SUVs after engineers detected loosening ball-joints in the steering mechanism that could possibly break and make steering more difficult. However, no crashes or injuries had been reported.