Safety
Subaru Forester Recalled Over Faulty Seatbelts, 275,000 Units Affected
Subaru is issuing a recall for 275,000 Foresters today, built between November 26, 2007 and March 13,2012. NHTSA cites a fault in the automatic locking retractor in the rear center seat belt assembly as the source of the issue. This specific seat belt connector is used for restraining child seats, and because of the faulty locking…
GM Recalls 3,633 Buick Regals For Defective Parking Lights
While it’s probably not the most dangerous issue to merit a recall, General Motors will fix defective parking lights in some 2012 Buick Regals. The company says an inability to turn the parking lights in a total 3,633 vehicles could reduce visibility and increase the likelihood of a crash. It seems the vehicle still has functional lighting, even…
Nissan Recalls 8,120 Infiniti M45 Sedans, Inaccurate Gas Gauge
Few people carry an emergency gas tank, even fewer carry it full but doing just that might be a good idea for a few Infiniti owners. Nissan is issuing a recall for 8,120 Infiniti M45 sedans made between March 7, 2002 and June 3, 2004 because the cars may run out of gas — unannounced….
Ford Taurus Under NHTSA Investigation for Sticky Throttle
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a preliminary investigation regarding approximately 360,000 units of Ford Taurus produced from 2005 through 2006. According to 14 Taurus owners, the Ford Taurus has experienced incidents of stuck throttle due to cruise control cable detachment. NHTSA revealed that most complaints described that the Taurus would experience,…
2013 Volvo V40 Unveiled With Six Engines: 2012 Geneva Auto Show
The Volvo V40 small hatchback debuted at the Geneva Auto Show yesterday, but as we reported last week, it won’t be heading to the U.S. market. The stylish five-door featured a range of six engines, three gasoline and three diesel. The range-topping T5 gas engine actually gets as much torque as the most powerful diesel option…
Nissan Quest Recalled for Software Defect, 23,531 Units Affected
Nissan has announced a recall on Quest minivans manufactured from July 29, 2010 through February 21, 2012. Due to a flaw in its software programming, an insufficient supply of fuel to the engine may occur when the Quest is driven slowly along a descent or idling on a decline with a 1/4 tank of fuel…
Volvo Recalls 17,000 Vehicles Over Faulty Wiring, Airbag Issues
Volvo has issued a recall for 17,000 vehicles today, for risk of front/side airbags not deploying in a crash. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of side airbag issues in the past few weeks, but Volvo is very specific about why this occurs. 2012 models of the Volvo S60, S80, XC60 and XC70 are…
2013 Buick Enclave Teased: New York Auto Show Preview
Forget about the Geneva Motor Show for a minute. Ignore the sexy exotic cars, the allure, the mystique. Buick is teasing the new Enclave, set to debut at the New York Auto Show on April 4. GM didn’t give any specific details about the car, but promised that more would be revealed in the coming…
Lamborghini Aventador Crashes Into a Snow Drift
Usually our spy photos feature the latest secrets coming out of the auto industry, but one of our photographers happened to get some great shots of a Lamborghini Aventador crashing into a snow drift. Obviously this test driver was not well versed in the delicate act that is winter driving, which is especially hard when…
Backup Camera Rule Delayed, Again
A decision expected today regarding a new rule that may make backup cameras mandatory for all new cars and light trucks sold in the U.S., is delayed until the end of the year — at the earliest. Part of a law signed in 2008 by George W. Bush required the mandate be issued by the end…
Volvo V40 Not Shipping to the United States
The new Volvo V40 might be one of the most attractive hatchbacks that you can’t have. Sorry, but that’s just how it goes. Europeans get the freedom of choice to take a fifth door in elegance, Americans don’t. We have been covering the new Volvo V40’s slow release ahead of the Geneva Motor Show for over two months…
Ray LaHood Further Distracts Distracted Drivers
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood doesn’t like seeing people using cell phones behind the wheel, but who does? It poses danger to everyone in the immediate vicinity, including the reckless chatterbox in question. What, then, should be done if you happen upon one of these miscreants during your morning commute? LaHood has the answer: pull up…
Nissan Recalls 79,275 Vehicles Due to Fire Risk
Nissan is recalling 79,275 vehicles after finding that an improperly tightened fuel pressure sensor may lead to gas leaks and an increased risk of fire. The vehicles affected are certain 2011-12 Jukes, Infiniti QX and Infiniti M vehicles. The leak is prone to happen because of heat and vibration, loosening the sensor and allowing the…
NHTSA Announces New Test Dummy
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a new test dummy yesterday in an effort to further improve its crash testing procedures. The new dummy weighs 74 pounds and is meant to simulate a child nearing the maximum recommended size for a car seat: 80 pounds. That figure was recently revised by NHTSA, where the…
Backup Cameras May Become Mandatory on all New Vehicles
Backup cameras used to be a premium feature, but that will change thanks to a federal mandate expected Feb. 29. If it goes through, the little screens that keep drivers from backing into objects will be required on all new US vehicles. The move is meant to cut down on the current death and injury…
Ferrari FF Catches Fire In Shanghai
A Ferrari FF caught fire near the Shanghai World Expo Avenue in China this past weekend. According to China’s WZRB, eyewitnesses saw the FF cruising along until it started to smoke and eventually caught fire. The driver was notified of the hazard and turned off the road, gathering his things from the car before calling…
Honda Expands Side Curtain Airbag Recall
Earlier this month we reported that Honda had launched a recall for 347 Accords and Crosstours subject to the possibility of side curtain airbag failure. The devices may fail to deploy at the moment of strong impact, putting passengers at a higher risk of physical harm. The failure lies in incorrect propellant used in the…
DOT Proposes Distracting Driving Guidelines for Automakers
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the first-ever federally proposed guidelines for in-vehicle electronic devices to automakers, hoping to limit how distracted drivers can get by these new devices. The proposed voluntary guidelines affects communications, entertainment, information gathering, and navigation devices or functions that are not required to safety operate a vehicle. The National Highway…
Winter Driving Rollover Caught on Video
It can’t be said enough: winter tires and careful driving are the only way to stay safe while travelling on snow and ice. Even the best driver will ultimately fail to predict obstacles in some scenarios on the road, which is exactly what happened here. A Russian motorist, or at least a motorist who speaks…
Mazda CX-5 Compact Crossover to Receive Smart City Brake Support (SCBS)
In an ever continuing effort to provide more active safety technology to more cars, innovations once exclusive to premium and luxury vehicles are trickling down to family vehicles. Mazda will offer its new Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system for the new CX-5 compact crossover. This new brake controller intervenes to prevent distracted drivers from…
2012 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger Both Top Safety Picks
The 2012 Chrysler 300 and its mechanical twin, the Dodge Charger are both recognized as Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) after also earning a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA. The American full-size sedans each received full marks in front and side crash tests and earned a commendable four-stars in…
Top 10 Cheapest Cars to Insure in 2012
Those looking to save a few bucks when buying a new car, might want to take a look at this list from Insure.com of the least expensive cars to insure. They may not be the flashiest vehicles around, but we’re sure your bank account will appreciate the frugal cost of insuring these new cars –…
BMW Fined $3 Million for Delays in Reporting Defects
BMW has been charged with a U.S. civil penalty for a failure to report auto-safety defects and recalls in a timely manner for approximately 338,700 vehicles in 2010. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), BMW was reviewed in 2010 when the German automaker routinely did not disclose enough information regarding defects and…
2013 Cadillac XTS Gets Latest GM Safety Tech
Cadillac‘s 2013 XTS will get new safety features starting this fall that make it GM’s most technically advanced production car to date. Known as sensor fusion, GM’s latest safety system uses a complex mix of tools to alert drivers of potential hazards. Essentially, it combines GM’s list of safety technologies and as the name would suggest, fuses…






