Category Archives: safety

Chinese Junk Watch Death Risk – Luyuan Youth ATVs

Posted on 12 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The United States Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) said today that Luyuan is recalling Youth ATVs due to risk of serious injury or death from crash hazard. The X-Pro Eagle 40cc Youth ATVs and FRP Sahara 40cc Youth ATVs violate … Continue reading →

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Stellantis and Bolt Partner on Driverless Mobility

Posted on 9 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) and Bolt, a European mobility platform, today announced they have entered a partnership to jointly explore the development and use of Level 4 (driverless) autonomous vehicles for commercial operations across Europe. [The move is a defensive one as the Chinese undoubtedly are preparing to attack this lucrative segment – AutoCrat]*

“Our AV-Ready Platforms™ are designed for maximum flexibility, so we can deliver the best possible experience for European customers. Autonomous fleets can also contribute to a lower carbon footprint by enabling a shared and optimized mobility, reducing congestion and emissions. Partnering with Bolt is intended to bring this vision closer to reality, combining our engineering expertise with their operational reach in the hopes of making driverless mobility a trusted part of everyday life in Europe,” said Antonio Filosa, Stellantis CEO. Continue reading →

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Genesis Recall for Sudden Unintended Braking

Posted on 8 December 2025 by Ken Zino

“The subject vehicles are equipped with Highway Drive Assist (“HDA”), an advanced driving assistance system that allows semi-autonomous driving on limited-access highways with continuous, direct supervision by the driver. The vehicles may falsely detect another vehicle entering its lane of travel and apply the brakes without warning when HDA is enabled at speeds below approximately 12 mph or when HDA is enabled along with the Lane Change Assist (“LCA”) feature, activated by the driver moving the turn signal lever to the desired direction to change lanes,” HMA said  in the required safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today. Continue reading →

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Road Hazard – Ford Escape Liftgate Hinge Cover Recall

Posted on 8 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is recalling ~108,762 model year 2020-2022 Escape and 2025 Escape* compact SUVs with a Panoramic sunroof because the rear liftgate hinge covers can fall off. Ford back in the summer of 2012 had dismissed the problem as minor involving few vehicles. Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its previous handing of recalls.

“A hinge cover that detaches while driving can create a distraction and/or road hazard for other road users, increasing the risk of a crash,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing mad public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading →

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Stellantis Shows Two Autonomous Driving Vehicles

Posted on 5 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Stellantis (NYSE: STLA. STLAM.MI) today showed its latest automated driving technologies. This occurred at the so-called Hi-Drive Final Event in Brussels. [Hi-Drive is a European technology demonstration project dedicated to advancing vehicle automation. “The program focuses on expanding automated vehicles’ … Continue reading →

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Hyundai Santa Fe Recall for Bad Rear-View Cameras

Posted on 1 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor America is recalling more than 143,000 model-year 2024-2025 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The rear-view camera may not have been installed properly, which can damage the wiring harness and cause the rear-view camera image not to display.

“The camera’s main wire harness was improperly assembled by the supplier, causing increased tension and wear in the cable’s shield line, and resulting in poor terminal contact when connected to the camera,” HMA said in the mandatory recall notification made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. [Seoyon E-Hwa Alabama is the supplier – AutoCrat] Continue reading →

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Nissan to Test Autonomous Mobility Service in Nada Gogo

Posted on 28 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Nissan Motor (7201T and NSANY ADR) today announced that, in collaboration with Kobe City, it will begin a field test of an autonomous mobility service in the Nada Gogo area starting 19 January 2026.

“The Nada Gogo area in Kobe is a renowned tourist destination, celebrated worldwide for its traditional sake brewing and rich history. Through this test, Nissan will leverage its autonomous driving technology to offer a new travel experience for visitors touring sake breweries, enhancing convenience for tourists and exploring opportunities for regional revitalization. The autonomous mobility service seeks to create new experiential value for visitors and contribute to the promotion of tourism in Kobe,” Nissan said. Continue reading →

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More Ford Recalls – Escape, Corsair Battery Failures, Fires

Posted on 24 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling more than 205,000 model-year 2020-2024 Ford Escape and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure or fires. [This is a recall of a previous ineffective recall -AutoCrat]

“The vehicle’s high voltage battery cells may experience internal short circuiting. This population of vehicles was previously recalled under 24V954 /24S79 to address this risk. The 24V954 remedy updated the vehicle’s Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) software, adding an enhanced capability to detect cell anomalies indicative of conditions that may lead to short circuiting. In the event of anomaly detection, the software provides customer notification, and battery charging is stopped to reduce the risk of shorting. Based on new information, the recall remedy for 24V954/24S79 may not detect these conditions in all cases,” Ford said in the required filing made public by the e National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today. Continue reading →

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IIHS – Driver-Side Blind Zone Risk for Pedestrians

Posted on 19 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Vehicles with large driver-side blind zones [think large pick-ups and SUVs – AutoCrat] are much more likely to strike crossing pedestrians while turning left than those with small blind zones. A  new study released today from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows the risks. A large driver-side blind zone raises the risk of a left-turn pedestrian crash 70% compared with a small blind zone, the study found. Thick and slanted A-pillars, bulky side mirrors, and tall, long hoods all obstruct driver views. The field of view offered by the windshield, which alters the location of the blind zones, also affects the driver’s ability to see.

“These results clearly identify problematic aspects of vehicle design,” IIHS President David Harkey said. “The challenge for automakers will be to find ways to address them that don’t diminish the protection vehicles provide to their occupants in a crash.” Continue reading →

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Software Safety – Honda Recalls ~256,000 Accord Hybrids

Posted on 18 November 2025 by Ken Zino

American Honda said today that it is voluntarily recalling ~256,000 model-year 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles in the U.S. that may have incorrect software programming.

“Due to improper software programming by a supplier [Astemo Indiana, Inc. – AutoCrat] the Integrated Control Module (ICM) may reset while the vehicle is in operation, which can cause loss of power while driving, increasing the risk of a crash or injury,” Honda said. Continue reading →

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Takata Recall Haunts BMW X5 SUVs

Posted on 10 November 2025 by Ken Zino

BMW of North America (BMW) is recalling more than 5000 model year 2000-2001 X5 SUVs that may be equipped with a sport steering wheel containing a Takata PSDI-4 air bag inflator (TK Global LLC). The inflator may explode during deployment due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

“Certain vehicles may contain a sport steering wheel equipped with a Takata driver’s front air bag module that contains a PSDI-4 inflator that could have been installed as a replacement / spare part. The originally equipped did not contain an inflator with ammonium nitrate,” BMW said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning (NHTSA). Continue reading →

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Rear Camera INOP – Toyota Recalls More than 1M Vehicles

Posted on 10 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling ~ 1,024,407  model year 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, Rear Visibility.

“This issue only affects the vehicles listed above which are equipped with the Parking Assist ECU containing specific software logic from a specific supplier,” Toyota said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. [Denso Corporation is the Tier One supplier of the ECU – AutoCrat.] Continue reading →

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Battery Fire Recalls – ~320,065 Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4Xe Models

Posted on 10 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Chrysler (FCA US) is recalling more than 320,000 2020-2025 model year Jeep Wrangler 4Xe and model year 2022-2026 Grand Cherokee 4Xe plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving. Samsung SDI America supplied the defective batteries.

In the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public today by the National Highway Traffics Safety Administration (NHTSA), Chrysler said “In rare circumstances, a battery pack may contain cells with separator damage. Separator damage, combined with other complex interactions within the cells, may lead to a vehicle fire.” Continue reading →

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Air Bag Deployments – NHTSA Investigating Honda Odysseys

Posted on 3 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Late last week in spite of the Republican led government shutdown, The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) at DOT opened an engineering analysis into inadvertent air bag deployments on 2018-2022 model year Honda Odyssey minivans manufactured by American Honda Motor Company. More than 440,000 vehicles are involved. Most government workers are doing their jobs without pay. House Republicans aren’t working of course, but receiving full pay and benefits.*

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 18 complaints, and some Early Warning Reporting (EWR) and death & injury reports alleging inadvertent air bag deployment. These inadvertent deployments relate to the side curtain and/or side thorax air bags used in model year 2018-2022 Honda Odyssey models. Continue reading →

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Distracted Driving – Cell Phone Manipulation Persists

Posted on 30 October 2025 by Ken Zino

An Arizona law making it illegal to hold a cellphone while driving cut handheld conversations, but other problems remain, according to a study published today by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In Arizona, the number of warnings issued by state police fell by about a quarter and the number of citations fell by a third between 2021 and 2024.*

“These results are a bit of a reality check. ‘No holding’ laws are a positive step, but it will take more than better-worded legislation alone to combat cellphone distraction,” said IIHS President David Harkey. Continue reading →

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