-
Recent Posts
- Mass Production eVTOL Soon? Joby Aviation and Toyota JV
- More Ford Motor Recalls for Rollaways ~740,000 Affected
- IMSA Watkins Glen: Cadillac, Corvette, Porsche Run Solid
- Sudden EV Power Loss – Toyota BZ, Lexus RZ, Subaru Solterra Recalled
- Milestones – 15 Million Honda Accords Sold in U.S.
- UAW to “Practice Pickett” Tomorrow at Woodward MPC
- June 2026 U.S. Auto Sales Forecast Up 3.6%
- BMW Expands Factory Use of Humanoid Robots
- “Disasters” – UAW on NAFTA, U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreements
- Connectivity Snags Haunt Improvements in New-Vehicle Quality
- Trumped! – 2026 Vehicles Sales Forecasts All Down
- Annals of Marketing – Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Revived
- Milestones – Nissan Canton Builds 1 Millionth Frontier Truck
- Porsche AG Board Drastically Cuts 2025 Annual Dividend ~50%
- Ford Recalls Expand – Six More Covering ~172,000 Vehicles
Recent Comments
- Magna International on Magna International Posts Q1 2026 EPS Loss of $0.04
- Council on Foreign Relations on Iran and Strait of Hormuz on AAA – Pump Gasoline Prices Still Soaring
- Autocrat on Stellantis Subordinated Perpetual Hybrid Bonds on Stellantis Posts Full Year 2025 Loss of €22.3B
- Michigan Governor Whitmer on Pew – Confidence in Trump Dips, Fewer Support His Policies
- Porsche Motorsport Daytona Victory on Daytona 24 Hours – Old and New Stars Getting Ready to Run
Archives
Meta
Category Archives: safety
Drunk Driving – Tie One On for Safety Campaign
Tie One On for Safety is a campaign to remind everyone to stay safe and make the right choice to designate a driver this holiday season by placing a red ribbon on their car this holiday season. The M1 Concourse in Pontiac will host and sponsor the kickoff event on 16 November again this year. Continue reading
Large Pickups Good in Side Impacts. Back Seat Safety Lacking
The Ram 1500 crew cab, Ford F-150 crew cab and Toyota Tundra crew cab, all 2023 models, earn good ratings in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s updated side crash test, while the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab is rated acceptable, IIHS said today. However, in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, which now emphasizes back seat safety, only the Tundra manages a marginal rating. The F-150, Ram 1500 and Silverado are rated poor. Continue reading
Posted in engineering, insurance, news analysis, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab, crash testing, David Harkey. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Ford F-150 crew cab, iihs, Ken Zino, Ram 1500 crew cab, side impacts, Toyota Tundra crew cab
Leave a comment
NHTSA Consumer Alert on Steering Wheel Decorations
The product is a metal or plastic plate, usually covered with rhinestones or other shiny decorations, with an adhesive back that covers the vehicle’s logo in the center of the steering wheel. In a crash, the force of a deploying air bag can turn the product into a projectile, like shrapnel, resulting in serious injury or death.
“Unlike the permanently affixed logo on your vehicle’s steering wheel, these aftermarket decals can easily become dislodged when the air bag is deployed. Any alterations or changes to your air bag or its cover can also cause it to not function correctly,” NHTSA said. Continue reading
Kia America Recalls all 2015-19 Soul Hybrids for Software Bug
All owners of 2015-2019 model year Soul hybrids will be notified by first class mail telling them to bring their vehicles to a Kia dealer. Dealers will update the Electronic Control Unit software for the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) logic so that the EPB automatically activates when the gear shift lever is in the “P” (Park) position regardless of whether the vehicle is powered ON or OFF. Kia will reimburse owners for repair expenses already incurred as required by US law. Continue reading
Toyo Tire Blowout Recalls – Open Country and Extensa Tires
Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas is recalling Open Country and Extensa tires made in Serbia because of blowouts. The tires may have been produced using the wrong mold, which can result in the tread or tire sidewall suddenly detaching. The tires were produced on various dates from December of 2022 through April 2023. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, NHTSA recall 23T007, Open Country and Extensa tire recalls, Toyo Open Country and Toyo Extensa tire recalls, Toyo Tire blowouts, Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas
Leave a comment
Infrastructure – More DOT Roadway Safety Planning Grants
Whether it’s a dangerous intersection or highway, or a need for better bus and bike lanes, no one can better pinpoint a community’s safety needs than the people who actually live and work there,” said US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “In the past five years, the communities we are awarding these grants to experienced nearly 14,000 roadway deaths. To help change that unacceptable reality, we are proud to deliver this needed funding to help them address their unique safety needs and save lives.” Continue reading
Honda Autonomous Vehicle Test at Toronto Pearson Airport
“Our Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle has been verified to help improve worksite efficiencies and safety through previous field tests, so we’re ready to move to the next stage of exploring real world applications with airfield operators,” said Jason VanBuren, systems engineering manager at American Honda Motor Company. Continue reading
Posted in autonomous vehicles, aviation, connected vehicles, electric vehicles, mobility company, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Cisco Canada, Eagle Aerospace, Genwave Technologies, Honda AWV, Honda Prototype Autonomous Work Vehicle, Illuminex AI, Jason VanBuren, Ken Zino, Toronto Pearson Airport
Leave a comment
Ford Recalls Explorer SUVs for Loss of Power, Rollaways
Ford Motor Company is recalling ~240,000 2020-2022 model year Explorer SUVs because the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect. This leads to a sudden loss of power or vehicle roll-away if the parking brake is off. This is an expansion and correction of two previous recalls.* Ford’s previous recall repair was to add a software update that automatically applies the electronic service parking brake to keep the vehicle from rolling away in the event of a driveshaft failure. However, there is no safety remedy addressing the failed rear axle horizontal mounting bolt. Continue reading
New York Auto Repair Shop Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud
If convicted, Strocchia faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Continue reading
Posted in aftermarket, litigation
Tagged Aniello Strocchia, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg, DOJ tax division, Ken Zino, US Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York
Leave a comment
Chrysler Recalls ~273,000 Ram Pickups for Software Glitch
The recalled Ram trucks began production on 25 June 2021, when the first 2022 MY vehicle was produced, and ended on 2 August 2023, when vehicles were no longer built with an incompatible rear-view camera system and radio combination. Similar vehicles not included in this recall are equipped with a compatible rear-view camera and radio combination or were built after the suspect period. Continue reading
Nissan Recalls All 2023 Ariya EVs for Sudden Power Loss
Nissan North America is recalling all 2023 Ariya crossover electric vehicles. The inverter software may detect a short circuit and shut down the EV system, resulting in a loss of drive power. The latest programing glitch with EVs was made … Continue reading
Honda Shows Prototype Electric Autonomous Work Mower
“Our development of the prototype zero-turn Honda Autonomous Work Mower comes at a time when technology is shaping the future of the landscaping industry,” said Hirokazu Hara, vice president of New Business Development, American Honda Motor Company. Continue reading
Hands-Free Driving Ford Mustangs Now in Spain
BlueCruise uses Ford’s Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (IACC), which can automatically keep pace with traffic within legal speed limits down to a complete stop. Hands-free mode allows drivers on approved Blue Zone sections of motorways to drive with their hands off the steering wheel if they continue to pay attention to the road ahead. Before transitioning to hands-free driving, BlueCruise-equipped vehicles confirm that lane markings are visible, that the driver has their eyes on the road and that other conditions are appropriate. Continue reading
Posted in autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, mobility company
Tagged adas, advanced driver assistance system, Ashley Lambrix, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ford BlueCruise, ford Europe, hands free driving, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Ken Zino
Leave a comment
SEC Sues Musk for Blatant Refusal of Subpoena
The filing in US Court for the Northern District of California concerns an ongoing investigation by the SEC regarding, among other things, potential violations of various provisions of the federal securities laws in connection with Musk’s 2022 purchases of Twitter stock, and Musk’s 2022 statements and SEC filings relating to Twitter. According to the filing, the SEC seeks Musk’s testimony to obtain information not already in the SEC’s possession that is relevant to its legitimate and lawful investigation. Continue reading
Distracted Driving Laws – Hands Free Results Vary
“In the first few months, reporters write about it, the government runs campaigns for it, and police officers actively educate drivers about it. Over time though, resources and attention shift to other areas,” said Cambridge Analytics. Continue reading →