Crush the tank inward, stall at the pump, crank forever after refueling. That’s how a purge valve starts to fail. Between 2013 and 2019, many Ford Escapes ran the same EVAP strategy that triggered Recall 18S32 and later 19S22 on the Focus. The valve sticks open. Manifold vacuum pulls straight on the fuel tank. The … Read more
Stabs the gas, RPMs flare, speed doesn’t follow. That’s how Altima CVTs start to quit. Since 2007, Nissan leaned hard on Jatco Xtronic units, and the failure patterns got loud enough to trigger warranty extensions, TSB procedures, and class-action settlements. Early 2007–2012 cars cook fluid and lose belt grip when temps climb. The 2013–2018 CVT8 … Read more
Crank the fan to 3, smell plastic, see light smoke curl from the vents. That’s how some Kia HVAC failures start. From 2021 to 2026, Sorento, K5, Carnival, and Niro models picked up recalls and service campaigns tied to blower wiring, fuse terminals, compressors, refrigerant charge, and hybrid heater load. SC351 / 25V649 flags an … Read more
Spool the turbo, tip into throttle, hear a sharp metallic crack. Power drops, the check-engine light flashes, and the smooth 2.0 starts to shake. That’s how many GM 2.0 turbo failures begin. Since 2003, GM has run five major 2.0L turbo Ecotec variants, LK9, LNF, LHU, LTG, and LSY. Power climbed to 275 hp from … Read more
Hear a deep knock, watch the oil light blink, feel the steering go heavy. That’s how Hyundai 2.0 failures start. Between 2004 and 2026, Hyundai ran four main 2.0L families across Elantra, Sonata, Tucson, Kona, and Veloster. Beta II iron blocks rarely headline failures. Theta II aluminum blocks did, with rod bearings that seize and … Read more
Ease off the line, it shudders, slams second, then flashes transmission hot. That’s the Wrangler story in one moment. Early YJ and TJ boxes were simple and rebuildable. JK and JL units added more gears, more weight, and far more electronics, which means more ways to fail. Across generations, heat, fluid neglect, worn valve bodies, … Read more
Slams into gear, pauses, then bangs again at the next light. That’s how early Cherokee nine-speeds start talking. When the KL hit in 2014, Jeep stuffed ZF’s 9HP into a tight transverse bay to chase fuel targets and keep Trail Rated cred. Problems showed up fast. 2014–2015 models accumulated over 7,000 transmission complaints on CarComplaints.com … Read more
Pull hard at 1,200 RPM, then watch the dash flash derate on a grade. That’s how many MP8 stories start. Since 2006, the 12.8-liter inline-six has powered Mack’s vocational and highway trucks through EPA 2007, 2010, GHG 2017, and now GHG 2021 emissions cycles. Early engines fight copper injector cup leaks and EGR soot that … Read more
Whines at highway speed, then drops into limp and crawls home. That’s how many Patriot transmissions start to fail. From 2007 to 2017, Jeep ran three very different gearboxes in this small SUV. The Jatco CVT overheats and shreds pulleys when fluid breaks down. FDII models add cooling and survive longer, but they work harder. … Read more
Revs climb, speed barely follows. Feels like the gears turned to mush. That’s how Civic transmissions start talking before they fail. From 2001 to 2025, Civic automatics moved from 4-speed hydraulics, to 5-speeds, to belt-driven CVTs, and finally to Honda’s dual-motor eCVT with a fixed reduction gear. Early 4-speeds burned up clutch packs and clogged … Read more