RECALLS: 180,000 Daewoo cars recalled

WASHINGTON - Now that the Daewoo brand is defunct, fixing recalled cars in the United States poses a challenge.

Owners of more than 180,000 Daewoo cars built for the 1998-2002 model years are receiving notices to have vehicle camshaft position sensors inspected and possibly replaced.

An estimated 27,000 cars are thought to have faulty sensors. They are prone to overheat and could start engine compartment fires, say documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recalled cars are 1998-2002 Lanos, Nubira and Leganza models.

Ben Rainwater, vice president of Daewoo Motor America, says about 400 former Daewoo dealers still service Daewoo vehicles. Most had multiple franchises and stayed in business even after Daewoo Motor Co. Ltd. stopped shipping cars to the United States.

In areas where no former Daewoo dealers are available, the company is directing car owners to authorized service centers, Rainwater says.

Money was set aside to cover the cost of recall repairs when General Motors acquired parts of the former Daewoo Motor Co. in South Korea in October 2002, Rainwater says.

GM created a subsidiary called GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. It makes vehicles for various countries under several brand names, including Suzuki and Chevrolet.

Daewoo Motor America reorganized after bankruptcy but continues to do business under the Daewoo name, Rainwater says.

Car owners can call 877-362-1234 and press option 6 to find out where to go for repairs, the company says.

In another recall, GM is asking owners of nearly 200,000 Buick Regal and Century cars built for the 1999 model year to return to dealerships to have their cars' low-beam headlight bulbs replaced.

GM determined that the original bulbs do not cast enough light upward for drivers to see overhead signs at night. That is a requirement of federal safety standards.

DaimlerChrysler AG is recalling nearly 700,000 minivans built for the 2002-04 model years. The upper power steering cooler hose must be replaced.

The hose may split and leak power steering fluid. That can cause a fire under the hood, NHTSA says.

The affected vehicles are the Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan and Chrysler Voyager and Town & Country. All have 3.3- or 3.8-liter V-6 engines.

The automaker gave suppliers incorrect specifications, says Deb Morrissett, Chrysler group vice president for regulatory affairs. "It was a mistake on our part," she says.

Here are other recalls reported by NHTSA:

Problem: Rear seat belts twist, become inoperable.

Fix: Install seat belt webbing guides.

Number of affected vehicles: 32,000.

Problem: Fuel control creates overly lean mixture during deceleration, causing stalling.

Fix: Reprogram electronic control module.

Number: 16,000.

Problem: Advanced airbag system may not detect presence of a person in the driver's seat, causing airbags and seat belt pretensioner not to deploy in a crash.

Fix: Reprogram occupant detection system.

Number: 3,900.

Problem: Alternator wiring shorts out on valve cover stud, creating risk of fire under the hood.

Fix: Install clip on valve cover stud to hold wiring; repair damaged wires.

Number: 2,300.

Problem: Fuel rail crossover tube retainer screws break, causing risk of fuel leak.

Fix: Replace retainer screws.

Number: 1,100.