Safety
Lexus Driving Simulator On Display In New Commercial
Lexus‘ giant egg-like monolith isn’t some weird monument to quality control or reduced NVH. The big white orb is actually a very advanced driving simulator, complete with an LS460 that can rotate 360 degrees. Giant screens can simulate a wide variety of conditions so Lexus test drivers can perform tests in a safe environment with…
Mercedes Recalling 85,000 C-Class and E-Class Models Over Steering Issues
Mercedes-Benz is recalling about 85,000 of its C-Class and E-Class models due to potential steering problems. The recall affects the 2010 C-Class as well as 2010 and 2011 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet models. Mercedes says the cars could lose power steering fluid and cause drivers to lose “sufficient control of the vehicle,” especially in low-speed…
Hyundai Recalling 2011 Sonatas Over Defective Steering, 140,000 Cars Affected
Hyundai’s seemingly unstoppable rise to the top has hit as stumbling block, as the company is forced to recall 140,000 of its mid-size Sonata sedans over a steering issue. The Sonata, which recently hit third place in the mid-size sedan sales charts, is being recalled due to “the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections…
Bentley Issues Recall Over Hood Ornament Rust
Rust is usually the domain of multi-decade Tauruses and Bonnevilles, but today, we get a bit of schadenfreude as Bentley issued a recall for Bentley Azure, Arnage and Brooklands from the year 2007-2009. The reason? The retractable “Flying B” hood ornament could rust to the point where it won’t retract. This isn’t a big deal…
Cadillac Recalling 2009-2010 CTS And CTS-V Due To Possible Leg Injury
Cadillac is recalling their 2009 and 2010 CTS and CTS-V models due to a possible leg injury that could be sustained. Dealers will replace the glove compartment piece or even modify the instrument panel structure to make the vehicle compliant. GM estimated 20,000 cars are affected. The recall is set to begin on or before…
Toyota Requests Dismissal Of Sudden Acceleration Lawsuits
Toyota is asking a U.S. federal court judge to dismiss lawsuits related to the company’s unintended acceleration scandals, with the automaker claiming that the anecdotal evidence brought forward can’t accurately identify any specific defects. More than 300 lawsuits have been brought against Toyota, with plantiffs alleging lost income, personal injuries and fatalities. A hearing is…
Honda To Recall Accord Crosstour Over Faulty Airbag
Honda will recall 3,340 Accord Crosstour models over a fault passenger airbag, including 700 units in Canada. The recall is said to have stemmed from the airbag not meeting safety requirements when tested with an unbelted crash test dummy the size of a child. Honda has advised parents to refrain from putting children under 12…
Suzuki Recalls SX4, Grand Vitara and Equator for Navigation Fire Risk
Suzuki has said that it will begin notifying owners of the recall on September 13 and once the vehicle is brought in, a Garmin representative will replace the defective batteries and install a spacer on top of them to prevent overheating.
Allstate Report Reveals America’s Best and Worst Cities to Drive in [video]
Have you ever wondered what the safest cities in the U.S. to drive in? Allstate has done the research and ranked the country’s 200 largest cities and how safe they are to drive in. Based on the likelihood of drivers to get into an accident, this annual report determines the locations that boast the best…
Poll: Pets Are Another Distraction While Driving
It seems as though drivers can be distracted by just about anything. First, there was a lot of concern about cell phones, and then it was all about kids in the car. And don’t forget the dangers of eating and driving. Now we’ve got another distraction to add to the list: your pets. A new…
Kia Soul, Sorento Recalled Over Fire Concerns
Kia is recalling both the 2011 Sorento and the 2010 Soul after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation confirmed the interior lighting wiring harnesses could be faulty. The harnesses could develop an electrical short, which could then lead to a fire. The recall affects 35,185 vehicles built between September 7, 2009 and July…
Study: One in Five Drivers Drink and Drive
You’d think that with all of the public service announcements, all of the shocking statistics and all of the cringe-worthy footage you can find on YouTube, drivers would think twice about getting behind the wheel drunk. Does it surprise you that almost 12,000 people are still killed annually from alcohol-related accidents? Just as surprising is…
Ford Windstar Recalled for Rear Axles That Can Snap; 575,000 Vehicles Affected
Ford has officially announced a recall for the Windstar minivan after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation confirmed the rear axles on the cars can snap. The recall affects 1998 to 2003 model year models (a total of 575,000) in 21 cold-weather U.S. states and all of Canada. The issue is specific to…
Ferrari 458 Italia Reportedly Recalled Due to Fire Risk
Ferrari won’t confirm as much, but it’s believed the Italian automaker has recalled its new 458 Italia model after as many as four vehicles were damaged (or altogether destroyed) after spontaneously combusting like a Spinal Tap drummer. The vehicles created headlines (at least in automotive circles), with many blaming engineering while others blamed the drivers….
Tata Nano Is The Latest Car To Go Up In Flames
Tata’s Nano city car is being investigated for a series of fires in India related to the car. A Tate spokesman said that the company was “conducting a probe” into the matter. The Nano, which costs about $2,500, is billed as the world’s cheapest car. Initial reports of fires were said to be unrelated incidents,…
Drunk Driving Campaign Steps Up For End of Summer
We’re all a little sad to see the end of summer. We usually send it off with a long weekend, lots of backyard BBQs and a few pool parties. Since most of these types of shindigs involve alcohol, there’s always an increased risk of intoxicated drivers on the road. That’s why the National Highway Traffic…
Jeeps Being Probed for Fuel Tank Defects
However, the center also said that these post-crash fires, on their own do not establish a manufacturing defect with the vehicles.
Ford Fiesta Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick Award
Great news for Ford – the 2011 Fiesta earned a 2010 Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This marks the first time a mini-car has picked up an award since the introduction of a new roof strength test. And if that was reason enough to celebrate, this nod also makes…
Set a Safe Mood in Your Vehicle with Ambient Lighting
Want to set the mood while you’re driving with some help ambient lighting? Hey, it’s not that kind of mood we’re thinking of (so get you’re mind out of the gutter). These days, more vehicles are adding ambient lighting as a standard or optional feature because it makes drivers feel safe. A soft illumination around…
NHTSA Investigates 1.2 Million 2005-2007 Toyota Matrix And Corolla For Engine Stalls
After receiving 1,100 complaints regarding the 2005-2007 Toyota Matrix and Corolla, NHTSA has decided to broaden their investigation into the vehicles, after launching a preliminary inquiry in November of 2009. According to reports, Toyota told NHTSA that a problem with the car’s ECU (engine control unit) that causes stalling, rough shifting and stops the car from re-starting…
Europe Up in Arms Over Tire Pressure Monitors
At present a number of vehicles on sale in Europe are available with TPMS systems, but so far, based on market research, there appears to be only small numbers of customers opting for them.
General Motors Recalling 207,000 Crossovers Over Faulty Trim Piece
GM is recalling 200,000 crossovers, among them the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook due to a piece of trim in the vehicle’s second row of seats. The trim can prevent the seats from folding flat after they were moved upright, and the seat belt buckle release can also inadvertently be pressed, resulting in…
Mercedes-Benz G-Class Recalled Over Turn Signal Covers
Mercedes-Benz‘s G-Class pimpmobile SUV is being recalled for turn signal covers that were deemed a no-no by NHTSA. According to the agency, “impact over time the signal’s ability to meet the minimum requirements of FMVSS 108.” For those of you not up on obscure governmental regulations, this means that the covers could obscure the signals,…
Good Samaritan Arrested for Driving Drunks Home
Seriously, how can we live in a country where this can happen? Last Saturday, Jonathan Schoenakase of Quincy, Illinois was arrested for operating the pictured vehicle, a courtesy shuttle home from local bars to keep drunk drivers off the road. Sounds like a good idea, right? Well, local taxi companies lobbied to make it illegal….
