Some recalls take longer to enact than others.

For drivers of Falcon sedans, wagons and utilities kitted out with the factory-fitted LPG system, called E-Gas, the letter is in the mail now.

But owners of previous-generation (Z50) Murano sports utes and (J31) Maxima sedans can chill out for now.

While those models are subject to a global quick fix announced by Japan a fortnight ago, the parts for NZ-market vehicles won't be available until September. "We'll start notifying owners then," said a Nissan NZ spokesman.

So back to the blue corner. Ford's had to recall its LPG vehicles - 20,864 in total - due to a potential brake fault. The action involves all BF Series II and III and the new FG Falcon. The cars affected were built from January 16, 2007 to August 22, 2008.

The defect involves the brake booster check valve, which may develop a vacuum leak, leading to reduced power assistance for the brakes.

Details of the latest recall surfaced in Australia a fortnight ago, and Ford New Zealand was starting to send a mail advice from last week.

In recent months Ford has been hit with a range of glitches that are damaging its hard-fought reputation.

In March it was forced to recall 83,000 SX and SY Territorys to replace front brake hoses after widespread consumer reports of brake failures.

Nissan's rectification programme relates to engine air intake ducts. It is thought to affect several thousand Maxima sedans and around 1000 Muranos in New Zealand, though no instances of the fault have been reported here.

The recall specifically affects Maxima V6s produced between August 2003 and January 2008 and Muranos manufactured between April 2005 and November 2007.

It's a precautionary measure to deal with an extreme heat issue that has never been identified in New Zealand.

Nissan says engine heat and vibration could cause the air intake to dislodge, resulting in rough idling and stalling as air bypasses a temperature sensor.

"The engine air intake duct may become disconnected due to thermal loading combined with normal engine vibration. If this happens, the engine will exhibit rough idling and in a worst case scenario, the engine may stall," the company said.

Nissan New Zealand will contact the owners of all affected vehicles by writing to arrange inspection and rectification, the spokesman told Yahoo!Xtra.

"There's no need to worry. We have no seen this issue here - it's more an extreme climate condition."

The low probability of any issues arising from faults such as these might make you wonder why the recall is necessary, but car brands simply prefer to take the hit rather than run even a one-in-a-million risk.

Sometimes, though, the reactions to 'faults' do seem a little over the top. A report just out, for instance, in regard to China does seem farcical.

The country whose own car industry has proven to have more than a few issues in this regard, has placed a ban on some Renault models, claiming they don't meet national safety standards.

It has noted "serious potential safety risks" associated with the Laguna, Scenic and Megane models - all maximum score earners in latest European NCAP safety testing. The faults relate to 160 older-generation vehicles manufactured in 2007 and stored since then.

For its part, Renault, whose products are widely accepted as among the safest passenger cars on earth, says the vehicles in question were damaged in transit from Europe.

China's grandly named and clearly selective General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine declared that Renault should examine its quality-control measures and take steps to ensure the safety of its products.

A Renault spokesperson claimed in an interview with Bloomberg news agency that the issues raised by the Chinese relate to "problems with the transport and storage of a limited number of cars and that there are no issues connected to manufacturing".

What this means to you: A reminder that the old adage 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' doesn't apply with the lawsuit-leery motor industry.