Safety
Ford Windstar Rear Axle Recall Surpasses 600,000 Units
Almost down to the day, it’s been two years since we originally reported the Ford Windstar recall that still seems to be out of control. Most recently the automaker added 27,000 of the minivans from Virginia because of cracked rear axles.
Nissan Leaf Tested in Strange New Ways to Ensure Safety – Video
Along with concerns like range anxiety, many potential electric car buyers express concerns about high voltage electric shocks. With the Nissan Leaf being an entirely new type of vehicle, before it came to market engineers sat down and postulated all the possible “what ifs” of things that could go wrong, making sure to test the…
Teens Recognize Dangers of Texting and Driving and Do It Anyway
Despite acknowledging that it’s a dangerous habit, a significant proportion of teens admit to texting and driving. A new survey by Consumer Reports shows that almost a third of the teens surveyed admitted having the practice themselves.
2012 BMW 3 Series Recalled for Head Restraints
BMW is recalling 7,600 of its 2013 3 Series models because of an issue with the head restraints. Units built between October 19, 2011 and March 18, 2012 are affected.
Ferrari 458, California Recalled for Crankshaft Fix
The Ferrari 458 is being recalled again, but not for catching on fire this time. A small group of Ferrari 458 models, as well as convertible California models have been issued a recall notice by the Italian exotic automaker due to an issue with the engine crankshaft. In total, 206 cars did not receive a…
Infant Safety Seats Recalled: 1737 Units Affected
Customers who bought infant-safety seats from Dorel Juvenile Group will want to know about a new recall affecting 1737 units.
Cadillac XTS Ad Highlights Vibrating Seat Alerts – Video
Cadillac is releasing its new XTS sedan to market soon, and to preview the car to the public the company has released a new commercial.
2004 Ford and Mercury Minivan Inquiry Upgraded by NHTSA: 63,000 Units Involved
After a series of complaints about seats failing to latch properly in 2004 Ford Windstars and Mercury Monterey minivans, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is upgrading its inquiry of the 63,000 vans from an investigation to an engineering analysis.
Sports Car Rental Company Leads Police to International Car Thieves
Honest business: 1, international crime syndicate: 0. Eric Blumberg owns Rent-In-Style, an L.A. based high end rental car company, which offers clients an opportunity to take out premium luxury and performance vehicles for a couple hours or even a week.
Honda Develops Successful Traffic Jam Detector
Honda announced a technology breakthrough today capable of detecting the potential for traffic congestion by actively determining whether the driving pattern of a vehicle is likely to create bottle-necking.
NHTSA To Hold Safety Meeting On Electric Vehicle Lithium-Ion Batteries
A series of very public Li-ion defect related incidents have caused the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) decision to hold a meeting with automakers and battery suppliers with regards to the safety of the new technology.
Future Toyotas to Use Drivers Mood for Safety Systems
The days of having our personal Knight Rider are quickly approaching. Toyota is currently working on a mood detection system that will alter how the warning systems in its vehicles work. While some vehicles are giving owners the ability to set their own ambient mood lighting, Toyota is hoping to develop the first auto-sensing system…
Force India F1 Team Members Leave after Violence During Bahrain Grand Prix
Last year, civil unrest and rioting caused the Kingdom of Bahrain to withdraw from hosting the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix. One year later, Formula 1 returns to Bahrain despite remaining political instability. Authorities gave their word to assure the safety of the visiting Formula 1 community, promising to provide an enormous security presence for the event. Unfortunately,…
Younger Passengers Less Likely to Tell Drivers to Stop Texting and Driving
A recent study released by the Department of Transportation (DOT) finds that passengers under 25 are less likely to speak up to a driver who is texting and driving… maybe because they’re too busy texting as well. The study was conducted and released to encourage passengers to speak up against distracted drivers and is spearheaded…
Formula 1 Braking Technology Explained by Brembo in Video
To see the latest in car technology, be sure to check out the advancements in Formula 1 cars. They have engines with incredible amounts of power, superb aerodynamics that keep these little things on the ground and safety features that keep their drivers safe in the case of a high-speed crash. There’s still an untold…
Nissan Eases Child Seat Purchases with new Initiative
Purchase incentives usually involve a zero-percent interest rate, cash back after purchase or no-cost options, but Nissan is going another direction to target families with young children. One of the problems a family that relies on child seats faces is finding a product that fits both their cars and child. For those of us without…
Mandatory Throttle-Override System Proposed by US Regulators
Following the rash of alleged self-accelerating cars, U.S. regulators are calling for all automakers to make throttle override mechanisms standard equipment in every light vehicle. This issue came to light after Toyota’s unintended acceleration case, which spurred NHTSA to begin looking into override technology in 2010. Essentially, the required system would ensure that the brake will overpower…
Study Reveals Spike In Road Fatalities During Tax Day
Nothing is certain but death and taxes. The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study which consisted of researcher Dr. Donald Redelmeier and colleague Christopher Yanell of the University of Toronto comparing the number of fatalities during each tax deadline day to the number of fatalities occurring on regular days. The statistics show that the…
Teen Girls Twice as Likely to be Distracted by Cell Phones Behind the Wheel
A comprehensive new study by AAA has revealed insight into exactly what teenagers are being distracted by behind the wheel, with teenage girls 50 percent more likely than their male counterparts to be on the phone, texting or using another electronic device. The new study, Distracted Driving Among Newly Licensed Teen Drivers, is the first…
Lexus Eco Challenge Grand Prize Winners Announced
Toyota supports environmental consciousness by holding the annual Lexus Eco Challenge competition, encouraging middle and high school students to practice eco-friendliness in creative ways. Since the program’s inception, $4 million in scholarships and grants have been awarded to middle and high school students for their distinguished projects. “Through this program, more than 25,000 participants have demonstrated…
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Brochure Leaked With images
Images of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe leaked today, giving us an idea of what features to expect in the upcoming model. While there have already been teaser images spread across the internet, the brochure pictures show LED head and tail lights and indicate that the new model will have lane departure warning, parking assist, knee…
Amish Exercise Religious Freedom, Object to Orange Triangles an Buggies
Sometimes living simply can get a person entangled in legal complications. An Amish man spent 13 days in a county jail in January when he refused to pay a fine for not affixing an orange slow-vehicle triangle indicator onto his horse-and-buggy. Intended as a law to make their buggies more safe, the Amish sect objects…
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Recall Issued, Company Fights Decision
It’s a case of technicality versus practicality: The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration told Hyundai to replace the center rear seat belts in 14,728 Sonata Hybrids made between 2011 and 2012, but the Korean automaker declined. It comes down to a dispute over why the belts need to be changed. U.S. safety regulations prohibit using “a release…
Subaru EyeSight Safety Technology Announced: 2012 New York Auto Show Preview
Subaru announced its new, low-cost suite of safety systems called “EyeSight” today that the company says will be one of the most affordable instances of this technology on the U.S. market. By using two charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras mounted inside the car on the upper edge of the windshield, the company is able to offer a…
