• The first recall involves about five hundred 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 trucks. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with a coolant bypass valve that could stick in the closed position. If coolant fails to flow into the heater core, the defrost system will fail and the driver could lose visibility. Chrysler dealerships will replace any suspect coolant valves along with an updated calibration.
• Approximately five thousand five hundred 2008-2012 Jeep Wrangler right hand drive vehicles are being recalled for airbag clock-spring assemblies that could experience a broke circuit. In the event of an accident, the airbag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury to the driver. Dealers will replace the clock spring and add a steering wheel dust shield to all affected vehicles.
• The last recall involves certain 2006-2010 Jeep Commander and 2006-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. A transfer case electrical failure could result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position. The vehicle could roll away unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash and personal injury.

During testing of the accessory lamps, it was determined that the bulb wattage and the mounting angle could cause the vehicle to exceed the maximum photometric test value. The problem could cause increased glare for oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of an accident.

Toyota will be contacting all 2007-2013 FJ Cruiser owners via first class mail advising them to take their vehicles in to their dealership to have the 55 watt bulbs replaced with 35 watt bulbs and the mounting brackets replaced with ones that will orient the bulbs appropriately. For more information about the lighting problem contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

The recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), states that the passengers side frontal airbag may have been equipped with front passenger air bag inflators which could have been assembled with improperly manufactured propellant wafers.. The airbag could rupture and launch metal fragments, causing serious injury to occupants. The recall includes both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicle, as well as replacement air bags installed as replacement service parts. The vehicles involved in the recall include:

• 2002-2003 BMW 325CI
• 2002-2003 BMW 325I
• 2002-2003 BMW 325IT
• 2002-2003 BMW 325XI
• 2002-2003 BMW 325XIT
• 2002-2003 BMW 330CI
• 2002-2003 BMW 330I
• 2002-2003 BMW 330XI
• 2002-2003 BMW M3

The BMW recall will add another 42,000 vehicles to the recall list which affects approximately 3.4 million Toyota, Lexus, Pontiac , Honda, Nissan, Infiniti and Mazda cars, trucks, and SUVs.

BMW owners wanting more information about the airbag problem may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.

The University of Delaware is experimenting with a fleet of electric vehicles (EV) that they say are not only good for the environment, but can be used by consumers to make money by supplying power back to the power grid.

With the help of the regional grid operator and electric company, professors at the university have developed a system that can balance power supply and demand in real time, allowing car owners to get paid for contributing electricity to the system. Electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt typically do not come with two way charging in the United states, but other countries are already using similar devices that allow the consumer to use their vehicles to power their house when the electric grid is down.

If electric cars become more popular, supporters of the technology say that a network of thousands of plug-in cars could help stabilize the grid. Willett M. Kempton, an electrical engineering and computing professor hopes that the new technology provides an incentive to make electric cars more attractive to consumers by allowing the added gadgetry to pay for itself within a few months.

Currently, there are five electric cars companies that are interested in a two-way power grid system.

• 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO
• 2012-1013 Buick LaCrosse
• 2012-1013 Buick Regal

Owners receiving a recall notice will be asked to take their vehicles to their dealership to have the GCM tested and replaced as necessary. For more information about the problem, owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300.