Safety
Mazda CX-9 Warranty Claims Investigated By NHTSA
U.S safety regulators have begun investigating warranty claims regarding the brake effectiveness of the 2008 Mazda CX-9. The investigation surrounds leaking brake fluid that could affect the brakes of the 2008 CX-9, according to NHTSA. So far, no injuries or crashes have been reported however, an estimated 37,000 vehicles could be affected. Information was sent to the…
BMW Testing Car-To-X Communication To Help Make Driving Safer [videos]
As part of a national project called SIM-TD, BMW is working on technological advancements to help make driving safer through its next-generation Car-to-X Communication technology. BMW recently conducted several field tests, showing what the technology is capable of, from activating warning lights when a vehicle makes a left turn, to alerting drivers on upcoming traffic…
2012 Buick LaCrosse Recalled For Improperly Calibrated ESC
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall for 4,077 Buick LaCrosse sedans after finding issues pertaining to the electronic stability control system. The issue only pertains to 2012 model year cars, built between June 9 and July 2. According to the recall notice, “The StabiliTrak system has an incorrect calibration that may…
Audi R8 Spyder Recalled For Fuel Leak, Fire Risk
As much as we love Audi‘s new R8 Spyder, there is something wrong with it – the potential to catch on fire! Not to worry, however, as Audi has issues a recall on all 920 R8 Spyders dating from 2011 and 2012. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the fuel supply line…
Stability Control Has Lowered Fatal Accidents by 18 Percent Says Safety Agency
According to a new study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), stability control has made cars much safer, lowering fatal accidents by eighteen percent. The government study used statistics from 1997 to 2009 to assess the effectiveness of stability control systems. The study also noted in 2005, less than twenty percent of new vehicles were sold…
BMW 7-Series Under Safety Investigation by NHTSA
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into 120,000 BMW 7-Series vehicles. The issue is regarding the car not shifting securely into park and rolling away. The affected model years include 2002 to 2008, after receiving a complaint regarding a 2006 model that rolled away after the owner parked and exited the vehicle. The…
Ford Mustang, VW Jetta TDI Under Investigation for Safety Issues
Both the new Ford Mustang and the new VW Jetta are facing possible recalls as a result of ongoing investigations by safety officials. The Mustangs in question are those from the 2011 and 2012 model year equipped with a manual transmission, with reports from owners stating an inability to shift into gears while merging into…
Pagani Huayra U.S. Sales Delayed Until 2015 Over Airbag Issue
Turns out, being rich and looking good ain’t enough to get you by in this business. The Pagani Huayra has to step in line with the proletariat: just because it’s a six-figure, low-volume supercar, doesn’t grant it an exemption from America’s airbag regulations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stopped giving waivers to their airbag safety…
Honda Recalls 1.5 Million Accord, CR-V and Element Models
Honda has launched a recall for about 1.5 million vehicles in the United States to update the software that controls the automatic transmission. The recall will include the 2005-10 4 cylinder Accord, 2007-10 CR-V and 2005-08 Element models. The issue surrounds a bearing in the automatic transmission system that was not built with sufficient strength and as a result,…
Dodge Durango Awarded Top Safety Pick From IIHS [Video]
The 2011 Dodge Durango was awarded the Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The SUV earned the award based on receiving a score of ‘good’ in front, side, rollover and rear crash tests. The Dodge Durango implements advances to offer 45 safety and security featuers aiding drivers in vulnerable situations as…
NHSTA Furthers Ford Fusion Investigation
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has upgraded their investigation into consumer complaints that the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles are affected by wheel stud fractures that cause the wheels to come off. The initial investigation of 317,315 Ford mid-sized sedans has been upgraded to an engineering analysis after more than 29 complaints and…
Depressed Teen Drivers More Likely To Cause Accidents
Depressed teenagers are more likely to cause accidents than those who aren’t, according to a study from the journal Injury Prevention. The aptly-named journal found that among already-risky teenage drivers, those who are depressed are more likely to speed and not wear seat belts, which journal authors believed was a translation of self-destructive behaviors (underage…
Hackers Can Now Unlock and Start Your Car With Cell Phone
Technology has progressed so much that sometimes it can be unsafe, even for your car. Mobile apps can now allow drivers to unlock car doors and remotely start their engines. However two hackers have exploited this convenience and now have access to vehicles with remote starters. Researchers Don Bailey and Mathew Solnik managed to use a laptop…
2007 Volvo S80 Recalled Over Power Steering Concern
Volvo is recalling the 2007 S80 built between March 2006 and May 2007 due to the power steering reservoir return hoses that may been incorrectly routed. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an incorrectly routed hose can result in increased pressure within the power steering. If there is a failure, it’s possible for the hose…
Lowrider Car Show Errupts In Shooting, 12 People Wounded [Video]
A lowrider event hosted by the La Raza car community in Kent, Washington, erupted in gunfire on Saturday, as a fight broke out between unnamed individuals, ending with at least 12 people suffering from gunshot wounds. Nine people ranging from age 14-32 were taken to Harborview Medical Center with injuries to their arms, legs, feet…
Toyota Announces Self-Steering Pre-Collision System
Pre-Collision Systems are a proven method of not only reducing accidents but of limiting the severity of injuries should a crash occur. Current systems like Volvo’s City Safety will apply brakes if an impact is inevitable. Looking to rebrand itself as a safety leader, Toyota has just announced its own PCS that goes a step…
Ford Recalling More Than 20,000 Trucks In The US
As a result, the automaker is recalling certain 2004-2011 Ford Ranger pickups, 2002-07 Super Duty pickups, including F-250 through F-550 models, as well as 2002-05 Excursion SUVs.
Toyota To Offer AC Electric Outlets On Japanese Market Prius Models
For next year, Toyota will start offering AC electric outlets as an option on the Prius hybrid so drivers can plug in accessories or appliances to their car. Toyota developed the idea through the March 11 earthquake disaster in which people used the Toyota Estima hybrid van (pictured above) as a source of emergency electricity when the power…
Toyota’s RAV4 EV Will Not Be Sold To General Public
Toyota has decided that the RAV4 electronic vehicle will not be made available to consumers. According to Geri Yoza, Toyota’s national business planning manager of advanced vehicle marketing, the vehicle will instead be focused for “very strategic applications” such as fleets and car sharing programs. The RAV4 EV has made use of Tesla’s electric drivetrain…
Volvo City Safety Dramatically Reduces Accidents: Study
Volvo is living up to its reputation for being a leader in safety, with a new report shedding light on exactly how big an impact the brand’s new City Safety collision avoidance system is having. According to a study published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI),…
3,000 Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego Sedans Recalled Over Fuel Tank
Ford has issued a recall for 3,000 2007 Ford Five Hundreds and Mercury Montego sedans due to faulty fuel tanks. The tank may not have been properly welded between the fuel tank and fuel filler neck. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has posted that in the event of a severe rear impact, a faulty weld could…
North Carolina Government Implements “Run and Your’re Done” Law
The North Carolina state government will implement the “Run and You’re Done” law beginning December 1 2011. Governor Bev Perdue signed the bill into law on June 23. This new law allows North Carolina to seize the vehicle of anyone convicted of felony speeding to elude. The vehicle would then be auctioned off to the…
Netherlands Worst Driver Runs Over Camera Men, Almost Kills Passengers [Video]
We’ve all seen our fair share of bad drivers but this driver takes the cake. In the show, De Allerslechtste chauffeur van Nederland? also known as “Who Is The Worst Driver In The Netherlands?” the driver almost kills several people. Pim, the driver, mistook the accelerator for the brake, veered off the course, covered his eyes…
Chrysler Recalls 280,000 Ram Pickups
This marks the second time in less than year that Chrysler has had to recall trucks for tie rod ends, a previous one was issued back in December, that affected heavy-duty 4500 and 5500 chassis cab trucks.
