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Category Archives: safety
NHTSA – 31 Second Consumer Alert on Vehicle Theft
“Each year, vehicle theft costs Americans more than $8 billion. Victims are left handling the aftermath, such as higher insurance premiums and vehicle depreciation if they’re lucky enough to get their vehicle back. More than 1 million vehicles were stolen in 2023, a 25% increase in vehicle thefts over the previous few years,” NHTSA said. Continue reading
Hyundai Recalls 55,000 Vehicles for Sudden Power Loss
The fuel control valve in the high-pressure fuel pump assemblies equipped in the vehicles could allow excess fuel to enter the fuel pump due to gradual wear of the FCV plunger. An air/fuel mixture that runs too “rich” may result in a reduction or loss of motive power at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. The problem resulted in a recall in Korea last month. According to HMC, upon detection of a fault, the vehicle entered a “limp” drive mode that limited acceleration when exceeding 60 MPH. Continue reading
BMW Has Yet Another Airbag Shrapnel Recall
“The inflator for the driver air bag may not have been produced according to specifications by the supplier. In extremely rare cases, the air bag inflator could rupture, which could result in injury or death to vehicle occupants,” BMW claimed in the required NHTSA filing. Continue reading
FCA US Recalls 332,000 Vehicles for Bad Airbags
In the required filing just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, FCA said “A disrupted connector on the buckle switch hall effect may affect the conduction on the connectors of the seat wiring and buckle which may cause the front seat air bag to not perform as expected during a crash.” The part in question was made by ZF Group in Italy as Molex part number 98817-1025. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged Alfa Romeo recalls, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Crysle FCA US recalls, FCA US recall 82B, Fiat recalls, jeep recalls, Ken Zino, Molex part number 98817-1025, NHTSA recall 24V-510 or 24V510
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Takata Airbag Shrapnel – BMW Recalls 400,000 3-Series Models
The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with a Takata inflator that can explode during deployment. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, news analysis, recalls, safety
Tagged 24V513, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, BMW Takata airbag recall 24V-513, Ken Zino, Michael Brooks, New Leaf of Pfafftown North Carolina, NHTSA Number: 24V-513, The Center for Auto Safety
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IIHS Pooh-Poohs Merits of Partial Automation Systems
“Everything we’re seeing tells us that partial automation is a convenience feature like power windows or heated seats rather than a safety technology,” said IIHS President David Harkey. Continue reading
Largest Ever Clean Air Act Fine Imposed on Marathon Oil
The Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have reached a settlement with Marathon Oil Company* over Clean Air Act violations at the company’s oil and gas production operations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The settlement requires that Marathon pay a civil penalty of $64.5 million, the largest ever for violations of the Clean Air Act at stationary sources, which include downstream facilities such as oil and gas tank systems. Under the settlement agreement, Marathon will implement extensive compliance measures to achieve major reductions in harmful emissions from more than 200 facilities across the state. Continue reading
Posted in environment, fuel economy or emissions, litigation, milestones, news, news analysis, public health
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, ConocoPhillips, David M. Uhlmann, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Mitigating Climate Change, Ken Zino, Marathon Oil Clean Air Act violations, Merrick B. Garland, U.S. Justice Department
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NHTSA Issues Consumer Alert on Faulty Replacement Airbags
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that used car buyers and owners need to be aware of cheap, substandard replacement air bag inflators that can cause death or serious injury in a crash. In the last year, three people have been killed and two people have suffered life-altering, disfiguring injuries due to these faulty aftermarket replacement air bag inflators. Continue reading
Posted in aftermarket, auto news, fools 'n frauds, news analysis, quality, safety
Tagged airbag fatalities or serious injuries, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Homeland Security Investigations office, Ken Zino, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, NHTSA Consumer Alert on Replacement airbags
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GM Recalls 2024 Colorado and Canyon Models for Fuel Leaks
General Motors is recalling ~9000 2024 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles for fuel tank leaks. The lock ring that secures the fuel pump to the fuel tank assembly may not have been fully locked during assembly by the supplier Plastic Omnium. This can cause a leak during a crash, possibly leading to a fire, according to GM recall filings released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Continue reading
Ford Mustang, F-Super Duty Recalls for Steering and Brakes
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today made public more safety defect recalls on 2022-2023 Ford Mustangs, some 2024 Mustangs as well as 2025 F-Super Duty F-650 and F-750 pickup trucks. The safety defects come from a variety of causes including, improper heat treating, power steering control module (PSCM) software and body control module (BCM) software. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, quality, recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ford Recall 24S42, Ford Recall 24S43, Ford Recall 24S44, Ken Zino, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA 24V493, NHTSA 24V494, NHTSA 24V496
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Ford Motor Recalls More than 550,000 F-150 Pickups
Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 550,000 2014 model F-150 vehicles, the National High Traffic Safety Administration said today. A loss of the signal between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into first gear at any vehicle speed. A downshift to first gear without warning could result in a loss of vehicle control, obviously increasing the risk of a crash. Continue reading
NHTSA Fire Alert – Park Outside! 2020-2024 Kia Tellurides
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today in a Consumer Alert that Kia America has issued a “park outside” recall for 462,869 model year 2020-2024 Telluride vehicle. There is a risk of fire while parked or driving in the vehicles. Kia is advising owners to park their vehicles outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair has been completed. Continue reading
Toyota Releases More Details on Vehicle Certification Fraud
“All the cases are related to certification. The certification system in Japan verifies whether a product meets the established standards mainly in the fields of safety and environment using measurement methods in accordance with rules. Vehicles can only be manufactured and sold after meeting certification test standards. The point of this issue is that the vehicles were mass-produced and sold without going through the correct certification,” Toyoda said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, engineering, litigation, news analysis, safety
Tagged akio toyoda, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Customer First Promotion Group, Daihatsu, Hino, Ken Zino, MLIT, Shinji Miyamoto, Toyota Group, Toyota Industries
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More Toyota Certification Problems Emerge from MLIT Probe
Toyota Motor Corporation said today that it had received a “correction order” from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), that calls for “drastic reforms to ensure appropriate certification operations.” Akio Toyoda’s chairman’s position remains under threat here from dissatisfied shareholders, AutoInformed notes. Continue reading →