Safety
Chrysler Recalling 657 Models Equipped With new Pentastar 3.6L V6
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Chrysler is issuing a recall for a small number of vehicles equipped with the new 3.6-liter “Pentastar” V6. According to the automaker a total of 657 vehicles may be affected and could exhibit a loss of power as a result of manufacturing debris left in the engine. Chrysler saw the problem was caught early on,…
Safety Innovations Dramatically Reduce Car Versus Truck Crash Fatalities
A study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety revealed a significant drop in fatalities involving accidents between a car or a minivan versus an SUV of comparable weight. By comparing two sample sets, one used to record the number of crashes involving SUVs registered in 2000-2001 and another to record SUVs from 2008-2009, IIHS…
2009 Honda Odyssey Investigated By NHTSA For Liftgate Malfunction
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the 2009 Honda Odyssey for a possible liftgate malfunction. The Odyssey’s power liftgate is said to close unexpectedly, and NHTSA has received seven complaints so far, with two of the complaints resulting in injury after the owners were unexpectedly struck with the liftgate. An estimated 20,000 vehicles are affected….
2002-2003 Jeep Liberty Investigated For Premature Airbag Deployment
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Jeep Liberty SUVs built between 2002 and 2003 for an issue regarding the premature deployment of airbags. NHTSA said that they’ve received 7 complaints regarding airbags deploying without a crash, with 5 of these incidents having caused injuries. 387,356 vehicles are said to be affected by the issue. [Source: Automotive News]
Kia Sorento SUVs Recalled For Faulty Air Bag Issue
10,631 Kia Sorento SUVs built between June 15th, 2006 and November 27th, 2007 will be recalled due to a faulty airbag issue where the passenger-side air bag may be turned off even when an adult is occupying the seat. Naturally, the Occupant Classification System is designed to be turned off when children or small adults…
Kia Recalls 10,600 Sorento SUVs For Unintended Passenger Airbag Deactivation
NHTSA has announced a safety recall for 10,600 model year 2007-2008 Kia Sorento SUVs. A sensor used to deactivate an airbag when a child or baby seat is installed at the front passenger side may incorrectly deactivate the airbag when an adult is in the passenger seat. Airbag deactivation will cause an increased risk of…
Subaru Recalls 69,590 Legacy And Outback Models Over Sunroof Defect
Subaru has recalled 69, 590 2011 Outback and Legacy models over defective sunroofs. Vehicles manufactured between August 3, 2010 and July 1, 2011 can have the sunroof’s glass panel detach from the sunroof entirely. This could understandably cause a serious safety hazard to owners and occupants, as well as other vehicles on the road. Owners can contact Subaru…
2011-2012 Volkswagen Jetta Recalled Over Tail Pipe Burn Hazard
In a country where people can sue restaurants over coffee being too hot, the latest recall for the 2011-2012 Volkswagen Jetta is dubious, but legally sound. According to NHTSA, some vehicles built between March 18, 2010, and Aug. 22, 2011 had a stainless steel exhaust tip installed at the port. The exhaust tip may stick out past the…
Honda Recalling Almost One Million Fit, CR-V and CR-Z Models
The recall affects 2006 to early 2010 Fit subcompacts, plus in the US, the company is also recalling some 80,111 CR-Vs from the 2006 model year for similar problems.
Honda CR-V, CR-Z Recalled for Unrelated Electrical Gliches
Honda is issuing two new recalls, this time for 80,111 CR-Vs from the 2006 model year and 5,626 manual transmission CR-Zs from the 2011 model year for different and separate issues. The 2006 CR-Vs are being recalled for a faulty power window master switch while the 2011 CR-Zs are getting an update to the software…
Toyota Blamed By Chinese Government For Several Fatal Accidents
A Chinese inspection agency has alleged that Toyota vehicles are responsible for several fatal accidents. China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine claimed that the Toyota Camry, Prado and Reiz models have faulty brakes and drive shafts. The agency has yet to provide any details pertaining to the accidents , nor casualty information….
BMW Recalling 241,000 3 Series Models Due To Faulty Tail Lights
BMW is recalling 241,000 3-Series models due to faulty tail lights. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has confirmed that certain 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i and 330xi models built between September 1, 2001 and March 1 2005 may experience resistance in the electrical contacts of one or more rear lamp functions. The resistance could eventually lead…
Ford Experiencing Success With Vista Roof Option
Ford is experiencing tremendous success with its new Vista Roof option, a large panoramic sunroof available on their crossover vehicles. Take rates for the inexpensive roof option are climbing as consumers opt for more airiness and light bathed cabins. Both the Ford Explorer and Flex are popular models featuring the Vista Roof. Almost half of…
MINI Coupe Hits Iceland, Rio And Hong Kong In New Ads [Video]
MINI has recently released another short commercial featuring the adventurous 2012 coupe. This video is a tad bit creepy, involving a hitchhiker, a MINI driver and a wanted poster. The video leaves us on a cliffhanger, and we’re not exactly sure what happens. Maybe MINI Coupe owners attract negative attention? MINI also released two other…
Dashboard Mounted Smartphones Track Traffic Light Times
Imagine having a gadget in your car that could tell you how fast to go to avoid stopping at the next light. Well, now you can. A network of dashboard smartphones can monitor traffic lights and congestion helping drivers avoid idling, cutting fuel use by 20 percent. SignalGuru collects and analyzes traffic data from images…
Watch as a Burning Car Explodes in a Firefighter’s Face [Video]
In this crazy video, a Los Angeles firefighter is only inches away from a burning car that explodes in his face. Perhaps more impressive is that he doesn’t even flinch – showing some serious cojones. “As they were attacking the fire, it appears from the video, that an airbag went off, sending sparks,” LAFD Capt. Jaime Moore told…
Nissan Trucks, SUVs Suffer Transmission Woes
Owners of Nissan’s 2005-2010 Pathfinders, Frontiers and Xteras are experiencing failures to their automatic transmissions because radiator coolant is leaking into the system. The radiator cooler tanks are rupturing, which forces the coolant into the transmission through the transmission cooler lines. Nissan has offered an extended warranty for the radiators, but the coverage only applies to vehicles…
Saab to Apply for Creditor Protection as Bankruptcy Looms Yet Again
Debt ridden Saab is to apply for court protection from its creditors in a bid to stave off bankruptcy get again. For months, the automaker has struggled to raise finances to pay off suppliers, and as a result, has halted production. Saab was rescued from bankruptcy last year by Dutch owner, Swedish Automobile (formerly Spyker),…
Applying the Brakes With Your Brain Could Drop Stopping Distances by 15 Feet
The time between your impulse to hit the brakes and a your right foot actually stomping down on the pedal amounts to as much as 15 feet of stopping distance – more than enough to make a serious difference in avoiding a collision or significantly reducing injuries. This new research comes out of Germany, after…
Feds to Test Cars that ‘Talk’ to Each Other to Avoid Collisions
The technology works by incorporating GPS systems which allow the individual tracking of various vehicles, along with communal wireless communication that allows the cars to share their location with others and via onboard computers transmit signals to warn drivers of impending accidents.
2011-2012 Porsche Boxster, Cayman And 911 Recalled Over Seatbelt Anchor Defect
Porsche is recalling specific vehicles from the 2011 and 2012 Boxster, Cayman and 911 model ranges due to an issue with the seatbelt anchor. The automaker claims that undersized mounting holes for the anchors could cause the seatbelt to become not “routed optimally around the occupant.” Over time, the anchor could loosen, resulting in an increased…
Top 5 Fastest Roads in America
America’s five fastest roads have been ranked and surprisingly, the average driver’s need for speed has been dampened. American’s are traveling more slowly than they were a few years ago, likely due to rising gas prices and increased traffic enforcement. The average speeder traveled 81 mph on America’s top ten fastest roads, which is down…
2012 Nissan Altima, NV Recalled For Air Bag Defect
Two weeks ago, a recall was launched for approximately 20,000 Nissan Altima sedans for a front suspension bolt that may not have been properly tightened during production of the vehicle. Today, another recall was launched regarding an incorrectly assembled air bag control unit in both the 2012 Altima and the 2012 NV work van. The affected vehicles…
Maserati Quattroporte and GrandTurismo Recalled Over Defective Tie-Rods
Maserati is recalling 2009 model year Quattroporte and GranTurismo vehicles, over inadequate rear tie-rods that could fail. The recall is affecting 763 vehicles that were built between July and September 2008. A failed tie-rod could lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Maserati dealers will replace the poorly installed…
