From SUVs to sedans, a look at which 2006 model year cars experienced the biggest recalls

The thrill of buying a new car extends far beyond the new-car smell. There's the excitement of the first drive, the odometer creeping higher and higher, often toward just three digits, and, of course, the ceremonial, conspicuous first driveway park.

But for some unfortunate consumers, the pomp and circumstance of buying new is marred by a recall. At best, a recall can be an annoyance or an inconvenience. At worst, it is dangerous.

HIDDEN DANGERS. Auto recalls can affect components of every type, from those as seemingly insignificant as tail-light bulbs to more considerable components, like the ones 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, ranging in severity.

Last week, Nissan (NSANY ) 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, meanwhile, 31,000 units of the Chevrolet Corvette were recalled by General Motors (GM ), because there was mounting evidence that some roofs could come unglued at high speeds.

RECALL SURPRISES. Many recalls are preemptive, announced by the maker for unrealized but potentially disastrous consequences. Last month, for instance, Ford Motor's (F ) 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.

The biggest recall shocker of 2006 has come from Toyota (TM ). The company constantly receives reliability and quality awards from organizations like Consumer Reports magazine and J.D. Power — Associates. But last month, Toyota recalled an eye-popping 1 million vehicles worldwide.

About 170,000 American Priuses were the only cars affected here. Nevertheless, the size of the recall from a company that is on its way to becoming the world's largest auto manufacturer raised serious questions for many industry observers.

USE THE DATABASE. Vehicle recalls are becoming a growing problem for consumers shopping for a new car. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) manages and tracks all U.S. recalls. It maintains an extensive, detailed database of all problems, which consumers can use to find out if a vehicle they own or are considering buying has a recall associated with it. But, the system is not intended to help compare models, let alone predict problems based on past performance.

Some consumer-oriented publications also track recalls. Consumer Reports has a section devoted to recalls, but it covers consumer products beyond cars. Edmunds.com, the popular automotive online search site, just launched a safety-oriented section. But, like NHTSA's data, it is better suited to looking up information on a specific vehicle.

Organizations such as J.D. Power—which, like BusinessWeek.com, is owned by McGraw-Hill (MHP )—measure initial quality and consumer satisfaction, which does not take into consideration recall history.

BusinessWeek.com set out to examine which 2006 models have been recalled the most. Though the problems may range in severity, multiple recalls are a significant annoyance for consumers. In conjunction with Edmunds.com, we found that multiple recalls affected companies in nearly every vehicle segment and price point, from the proletarian Civic to the upscale Land Rover Range Rover Sport.

2006 Vehicles With Most RecallsYear Make Model No. of Recalls
2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 SS 4
2006 Dodge Durango 4
2006 Hyundai Sonata 4
2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport 4
2006 Chevrolet Express 3
2006 Ford Expedition 3
2006 GMC Savana 3
2006 Honda Accprd 3
2006 Honda Civic 3
2006 Land Rover LR3 3
2006 Lincoln Navigator 3
2006 Toyota Tacoma 3
Data from http://www.edmunds.com" title="http://www.edmunds.com" target="_blank"http://www.edmunds.com

RECALL VIGILANCE. The ultimate gauge of the severity of recall issues at distinct manufacturers may remain out of reach. BusinessWeek.com contacted major analysts and auto data tracking companies in an attempt to compare the number of vehicles recalled in function of the number of vehicles sold. But, because auto companies most often track sales by calendar dates and recall data is organized by model-year date (a 2006 Altima, for example, went on sale last year), direct comparison is not possible.

It is important to note that not all models in a recall may be affected. Cars are built in batches, and not all models of a recalled vehicle may suffer from the same faulty component. Moreover, as parts sharing has increased, recalls often encompass a variety of brands and vehicle types. One 292,000 unit-strong recall due to faulty headlamps from a third-party supplier, Walnut (Calif.)-based Anzo USA, for instance, affects Hondas (HMC ), Toyotas, Fords, and Chevrolets alike.

So consumers need to remain vigilant before, during, and after a purchase. Government crash surveys, as well as independent reliability and quality rankings should still serve as the main guideposts for buyers. But, no doubt about it, recalls have decidedly crept into the buying equation.

There's no mistaking the latest Stream is derived from the Civic, thanks to its angular lines and wraparound front headlamps. The new car is much more stylish than its predecessor, partly due to its lower roofline.
Engine: 2.0 4cyl, 148bhp
Torque: 190Nm
Gearbox: 5-spd manual/CVT

Think you have to wait until next week's official unveiling to see pics of the new Honda Stream interior? Think again.

2007 Honda StreamHonda has teaser images of it up on the new Stream website, but they're interactive Flash thingys that require you to move the camera to see everything. Enter carblogger Paul Tan, who has those shots posted in their full glory. The only navigation required is your heading over to PaulTan.org to check 'em out.

As for the interior, it's very nice, and the dash is reminiscent of the one in the new Euro-spec Civic Type S that we showed you at the end of June.

NEW YORK, NY - Jazz music, a draped car, and a stark turntable tell the story. Lincoln's explanation for the low-key press introduction of the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr would likely extol the virtues of simplicity in luxury, visually tying the Zephyr's clean, unadorned flanks to the lack of fanfare surrounding the debut of the car. More likely, it highlights Lincoln's cash and product starvation problem, despite recent wins in the retail sales market. Hey, why spend a ton of money to introduce a new entry-luxury sedan after making a conscious decision not to spend a ton of money to develop that entry-luxury sedan?

Darryl Hazel, president of Lincoln Mercury, promises that both of Ford's struggling upscale brands are "going to continue to refine (their) products and enter new markets." Jim Padilla, Ford executive vice president and president of the Americas, supports that statement, proclaiming that Lincoln Mercury will "deliver more products, faster."

The product offensive has already begun for Mercury with the new Monterey, Montego and Mariner. In 2006, new Lincolns start to arrive in the form of the 2006 Mark LT and the 2006 Zephyr. The latter was introduced to reporters at the 2004 New York International Auto Show.

Lincoln bases this new entry-luxury sedan on the Mazda 6 platform, which is spawning similarly sized Ford and Mercury sedans, and the upcoming 2007 Lincoln Aviator crossover SUV. A higher-output version of the familiar Duratec 30 3.0-liter V6 engine employs intake variable cam timing (VCT) to make extra power, and a six-speed automatic transmission drives the front wheels. Sometime after the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr's launch, all-wheel-drive will be available.

Additional hardware includes a fully independent suspension tuned "for Lincoln ride comfort and driving dynamics," which translates to a soft ride and confident cornering. Four-wheel-disc ABS brings the Zephyr's 19-inch wheels to a stop.

With the 2006 Zephyr, the intent is to bring a younger buyer into showrooms. Lincoln wants to siphon sales from the Acura TL, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G35, and Lexus ES 330. With the exception of the Lexus, these three listed competitors offer more compelling design than the somewhat plain Lincoln Zephyr.

Interior design is better executed, but might not connect with the younger luxury consumers that Lincoln seeks. Patterned after successful 1960s Lincolns, the Zephyr's innards are executed in soft leather upholstery, exotic Harewood trim, and satin-finish metallic accents. The Zephyr includes dual-zone climate control, a navigation system, THX audio and climate controlled seats whose design is patterned after the famous Eames lounge chair - some or all of which will be optional.

Despite its potential snooze factor, the exterior design is clean and incorporates traditional Lincoln design cues, from the chrome waterfall grille to the prominent Lincoln star emblems affixed to the C-pillars.

Of course, nobody can make judgment calls based on the cursory examination of a pre-production vehicle. The 2006 Lincoln Zephyr might just be the catalyst that restores this once proud American luxury nameplate's luster. Or, it could turn out to be a half-baked product that gets completely lost in a large, highly competitive marketplace…the way the Lincoln LS did.