Receipt of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance
Regular readers may recall that this blog doesn't do recalls, like today's re-do on 1.1m 1997 – 2003 model year Ford vehicles equipped with 7.3-liter diesel engines, including the E-Series van, Excursion, and F-450 Super Duty and F-550 Super Duty trucks. They're too damn many recalls, and we risk incurring the wrath of the bias bashers if we cover one brand's recall and neglect another's. But this little non-recall GM gem caught our editorial eye. Trading Markets reports "General Motors Corporation (GM) has determined that certain model year 2005, 2006 & 2007 Cadillac STS passenger cars equipped with sunroofs do not fully comply with paragraph S4(e) of 49 CFR 571.118, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems." That's because "for 60 seconds after the vehicles are started, if the engine is turned off and a front door is opened, the sunroof module software allows the sunroof to be closed if someone in the vehicle activates the control switch." Which is no biggie because "the following sequence of actions must occur: Driver starts engine, driver turns off engine, and driver or front passenger opens a front door. After this sequence of actions and still within the 60 second time frame, occupants must take additional actions: Push the sunroof close switch and position an occupant to create the risk of sunroof entrapment." Still, you have been warned.
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Is it any wonder that the owners' manual for a Lexus LS is now up to 1200 pages (as reported in the latest issue of Automobile)?
It's highly amusing that "safety standards" like that exist. Thanks for the laugh!
Anyone recall a Ford recall some years ago where the taillights of the Granada weren't adequately RED in color? You can't make this stuff up!
My old 1996 Mitsubishi Galant had a recall of this nature. It was one of two or three recalls issued on the seventh-generation Galant. It was exactly the same - the sunroof had "retained accessory power" and you could close it (along with the power windows) for 30 seconds after turning the car off. The difference was that Mitsubishi's RAP system is based solely on the driver's door being opened - the power wasn't cut if any of the other three doors were opened. NHTSA saw this as a danger (think about it - a passenger gets out of their door, the driver doesn't open their door, the driver starts to close the sunroof, and a passenger's limb gets in the way of the 'roof). Not exactly serious safety flaws here, people. My current car felt the changes, though. It's a 2002 Diamante, and the moonroof is the only part that doesn't operate with retained power after the key is removed from the ignition.