Category Archives: safety

Kia Shows Modular EV and Autonomous Driving Concepts

Posted on 9 January 2024 by Ken Zino

Kia has revealed its so-called Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) future strategy at a trade show in Las Vegas. Kia’s PBV business will start around the introduction of an all-new, modular vehicle, previewed by the Kia Concept PV5. This was presented … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, autonomous vehicles, concept, connected vehicles, electric vehicles, marketing, mobility company | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Noto Aftershocks – Toyota Japanese Plants to Run on Monday

Posted on 6 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“In regard to Toyota Motor Corporation’s plant operation schedule for January 8 onward, after much consideration, we have made the decision to operate our vehicle plants in Japan. Many of our local suppliers and their affiliates were affected by the earthquake. Therefore, we will utilize parts in stock outside the affected areas, Toyota said. Continue reading →

Posted in manufacturing, people, public health, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ford Airbag Recall – 2023 F-150, F250, F350, F450, F550, F600

Posted on 2 January 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling 2023 F-150 and Ford SD F250, F350, F450, F550, and F600 vehicles. The steering wheel clock spring from supplier BCS Automotive Interface Solutions may have an bad weld, causing a loss of electrical connection to the driver’s frontal air bag. The customer may notice loss of illumination and function of switches on the steering wheel, such as radio controls, inoperative horn and an airbag warning light. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Almost All New US Light Vehicles have Automatic Braking

Posted on 29 December 2023 by Ken Zino

All 20 participating automakers have fulfilled a voluntary pledge to equip nearly all the light vehicles they produce for the U.S. market with automatic emergency braking (AEB), according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Five new manufacturers installed AEB on more than 95% of the light vehicles they produced between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023, to meet the deadline set in a previous agreement.* General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Maserati and Porsche all dramatically increased the proportion of their vehicles equipped with the technology to meet the target. Kia, which was already close last year, also crossed the finish line.

Audi, BMW, Ford/Lincoln, Honda/Acura, Hyundai/Genesis, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan/Infiniti, Stellantis, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota/Lexus, Volkswagen and Volvo fulfilled the voluntary commitment in previous years. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, insurance, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Recalls Chevrolet Bolt EVs for Fires Again

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

In the required safety defect report just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, GM said that Bolts with recall 22V-930 completed by dealerships other than Simpson Chevrolet of Irvine are not affected by this new recall. A GM employee submitted this issue to GM’s Speak Up For Safety (SUFS) program on 29 August 2023, following a dealer report that 66 vehicles that received the recall remedy in GM recall 22V930 at Simpson Chevrolet of Irvine were in fact not repaired. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, engineering, manufacturing, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Recalls Maverick Pickups for Defective Software

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

In the required recall documents just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford said the Mexican built Mavericks contain rear tail-lamps with two turn signal lamp bulbs on each side. The body control module will not provide an outage notification to the driver if only one of the two rear turn signal lamp bulbs has failed. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Honda Expands Sudden Fuel Pump Failure Recalls

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

American Honda Motor is recalling more than 2.5 million gasoline and hybrid vehicles because the Denso-made fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. In the required safety defect report just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda said the fuel pump impeller was improperly molded, resulting in low density impellers. Over time, the low-density impeller can deform and interfere with the fuel pump body, making the fuel pump inoperative. If the fuel pump module is inoperative, the engine may not start or can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Porsche Fires – Cayenne, Panamera, Taycan Charging Cables

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Porsche Cars North America is recalling various models and model years of its Cayenne, Panamera and Taycan hybrid models because the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable can overheat causing the risk of fires. More than 41,000 Porsches are involved. According to documents just released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Porsche is blaming the home wiring of affected customers for the safety defect. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, quality, recalls | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tesla Model S and X Recalls for Failed Side Impact Protection

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Tesla is recalling more than 120,000 model year 2021-2023 Model S and X vehicles, according to documents just released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The cabin doors can unlock during a crash. These Tesla models fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214 “Side Impact Protection.” Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, recalls | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Honda, Mitsubishi, Tokuyama Studying Fuel Cell Recycling

Posted on 25 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Honda Motor, Tokuyama Corp., and Mitsubishi Corp. will run a joint demonstration to operate a data center using by-product hydrogen and a stationary fuel cell (FC) power station. It will reuse FC systems from fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Project Members will explore the potential of reusing automotive FC systems in a stationary application. The objective of the Demonstration Project is to reduce the economic liability on customers installing and operating stationary FC systems, which will contribute to the decarbonization of electric power. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, autonomous vehicles, economy, electric vehicles, engineering, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, milestones, news analysis, public health, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cummins to Pay $1.675B for Clean Air Act Violations

Posted on 22 December 2023 by Ken Zino

“Today, the Justice Department reached an initial agreement with Cummins Inc. to settle claims that, over the past decade, the company unlawfully altered hundreds of thousands of engines to bypass emissions tests in violation of the Clean Air Act. As part of the agreement, the Justice Department will require Cummins to pay $1.675 billion, the largest civil penalty we have ever secured under the Clean Air Act, and the second largest environmental penalty ever secured,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, environment, fools 'n frauds, fuel economy or emissions, litigation, news analysis, public health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Toyota, Lexus Airbag Recall ~1 Million US Vehicles

Posted on 21 December 2023 by Ken Zino

The recalled cars, SUVs and vans have the so-called Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors in the front passenger seat that could have been improperly manufactured, causing a short circuit. This would prevent the airbag system from properly classify the occupant’s weight, and the airbag may not deploy as designed in certain crashes, increasing the risk of injury. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, blog, customer satisfaction, electronics, manufacturing, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chrysler Pacifica Gets Top Safety Pick Award from IIHS

Posted on 20 December 2023 by Ken Zino

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety* said today that the 2023-24 Chrysler Pacifica minivan is rated as a Top Safety Pick. The Pacifica had a good rating in the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front and original moderate overlap front tests, as well as an acceptable or good rating in the updated side test. Continue reading →

Posted in insurance, news analysis, results, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mercedes-Benz – Turquoise Autonomous Driving Marker Lights

Posted on 19 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz said today that it has approvals for turquoise-colored automated driving marker lights in California and Nevada. The exemption permit for California is for testing vehicles and initially limited to two years. The Nevada permit applies to Mercedes-Benz Model Year 2026 production vehicles. Thus a marketing component – styling with lights – is now part of the ongoing debate about the effect of autonomous vehicles on the safety of other road users and pedestrians. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, autonomous cars, autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, electronics, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, public health, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mercedes-Benz GLE350 and GLE450 Recalls for Fire Risk

Posted on 18 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 2021-2022 model year GLE350 and GLE450 vehicles (the so-called 167 platform). A 12-volt ground connection under the driver seat may not be secured properly, resulting in the ground connection overheating. This might increase the risk of a fire. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment