Category Archives: safety

Toyota Adds 150,000 Lexus Models to Deadly Floor Mat Recall. NHTSA Says Filing Lacks Required Info. Another Cover-up?

Posted on 2 July 2012 by Ken Zino

In Toyota’s carefully worded latest filing with NHTSA, Toyota U.S. said, “the accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver’s floor mat.” NHTSA in acknowledging this terse and incomplete notification said that it lacked much of the required information under U.S. safety regulations. The Toyota report is missing the required chronology of events that were the basis for its decision to conduct an expanded safety recall, including a summary of all warranty claims, field or service reports, and other information, with their dates of receipt. Continue reading →

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NTSB Blames Jack Roush in 2010 Oshkosh EAA Crash

Posted on 29 June 2012 by Ken Zino

A National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the crash that seriously injured pilot Jack Roush at EAA AirVenture 2010 said that Roush, long time Ford Supplier and racing team owner, let his Hawker Beechcraft 390 jet stall during an attempted go-around. Continue reading →

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Pratt & Whitney of United Technologies Guilty of Criminal Charges for Helping China Develop a Military Attack Helicopter

Posted on 28 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Pratt & Whitney Canada, a Canadian subsidiary of the Connecticut-based defense contractor United Technologies Corporation, today pled guilty to violating the Arms Export Control Act and making false statements in connection with its illegal export to China of U.S.-origin military software used in the development of China’s first modern military attack helicopter, the Z-10. Continue reading →

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Massive Recall on Chevrolet Cruze for Fires Caused by Leaks

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet is recalling more than 410,000 Cruze models because oil and fuel leaks can cause fires. Model year 2011 and 2012 Cruze compact sedans are affected by the safety defect. In required filings with NHTSA, GM said that it would modify the engine shield under the vehicle. This change will help prevent any liquids from being trapped in the engine compartment, where a fire could start and spread. The GM safety action was prompted by customer complaints to NHTSA about smoke or fires in the engine compartment. It appears that careless oil changes are responsible for the oil leaks Continue reading →

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Ford Inflatable Rear Seat Belt to Debut on New Mondeo

Posted on 22 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company announced today that an inflatable rear seat belt would make its European debut next year on the all-new Mondeo. The inflatable belt is designed to reduce head, neck and chest injuries for rear-seat passengers. Ford said that often children and older passengers who can be more vulnerable to such injuries are in the rear seat. Continue reading →

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U.S. Wins WTO Dispute with China Over Steel Duties

Posted on 22 June 2012 by Ken Zino

The United States has prevailed in a World Trade Organization or WTO dispute over China’s imposition of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on flat-rolled electrical steel from the United States. The duties affected a substantial amount of United States trade in U.S. steel products. After talks with the Chinese failed to resolve the matter, the WTO established the panel in March 2011. Continue reading →

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FAA and NASA Sign Commercial Space Safety Standards Pact

Posted on 20 June 2012 by Ken Zino

The ‘No Jobs’ Obama Administration is trying to position this as a move to encourage private sector innovation, in-sourcing work to American companies around the development of spaceflight capabilities along with job creation claims no matter how tenuous. Continue reading →

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Ex Alabama Cop Arrested for Stealing from Motorists on I-65

Posted on 12 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Former Fort Deposit, Alabama Police Officer Carlos Tyson Bennett was arrested today on charges of stealing money from motorists on Interstate 65 in central Alabama and subsequently trying to conceal his criminal activity. Continue reading →

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Honda Recalls 50,000 2012 Civic Models for Bad Driveshafts

Posted on 12 June 2012 by Ken Zino

American Honda will recall approximately 50,000 model-year 2012 Civic vehicles in the United States to inspect and, if necessary, replace the left driveshaft in its latest quality gaff. The driver’s side driveshaft may not have been properly assembled, potentially allowing it to separate from the outer CV joint (constant velocity) while in operation, Honda said in a statement today. The compact Civic is one of the best selling cars in the U.S. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Study Claims Better Design Reduced Crashes, Deaths

Posted on 12 June 2012 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today announced that better-designed, safer vehicles have contributed to an overall decline in crashes, deaths and injuries on U.S. roadways. In a new NHTSA report issued today, the agency’s analysis of police-reported crash data estimates that design improvements between the 2000 model year and 2008 cars helped save 2,000 lives and prevented one million occupant injuries in the 2008 calendar year alone. Continue reading →

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OnStar Subscribers Reach 450,000 in China

Posted on 11 June 2012 by Ken Zino

OnStar Shanghai said today that it passed two major milestones in May with its subscriber base across China reaching 450,000, and requests for Turn-by-Turn Navigation totaling 13.8 million since the launch of the telematics service in October 2009. OnStar has 6 million subscribers worldwide.

Shanghai OnStar received certification from China’s State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping in 2011, becoming the first telematics joint venture allowed offering mapping service in China. Continue reading →

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Kia Recalls Rio for Defective Airbag Sensor

Posted on 11 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Kia Motors is recalling more than 72,000 Rio subcompact cars because the passenger side occupant sensor can fail with the possibility that a child could be hurt if the airbag deploys. Model year 2006-2008 cars are affected by the safety defect although no injuries have been reported. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Expands Corrosion Recall to 347,000 Liberty Models

Posted on 11 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Chrysler is expanding its Jeep corrosion recall on Jeep Liberty SUVs because a rear suspension control arm can corrode and fracture in salt-belt states and Canada. The corrosion recall started in March now includes model year 2006 and 2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles, adding 137,176 vehicles to a recall that now includes all 2004-2007 Liberty vehicles. Owners don’t appear concerned. Thus far, only 921 Jeeps have been repaired. Continue reading →

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Yazaki Exec and Autoliv Plead Guilty on Price Fixing Auto Parts

Posted on 6 June 2012 by Ken Zino

This is the first case filed relating to occupant safety systems sold to auto manufacturers as part of the DOJ’s ongoing antitrust auto parts investigation. An executive of Japan-based Yazaki Corporation has also agreed to plead guilty for his role in a separate conspiracy to fix prices of automotive wire harnesses and related products installed in U.S. cars. Continue reading →

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Fisker Expands Karma Battery Recall for Potential Fires

Posted on 5 June 2012 by Ken Zino

In an example of ongoing bad Karma, Fisker has told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it is expanding its recall of the $102,000 Karma EV because the A123 supplied battery pack can leak coolant and start fires. Continue reading →

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