Category Archives: safety

Polaris – Stop-Ride/Stop-Sale for Fires on Off-Road Vehicles

Posted on 26 July 2016 by Ken Zino

Polaris Industries (NYSE: PII) is issuing a stop-ride/stop-sale advisory, pending a formal recall for 2016 RZR Turbo off-road vehicles. Continue reading →

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FCA Sales Reporting Crisis has Broad Industry Implications

Posted on 19 July 2016 by Ken Zino

The outcomes of both legal matters potentially have broad implications for the sales reporting practices of automakers and dealerships and how demos are subsidized.
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BP Deepwater Horizon Liabilities – GULP – $61.6 Billion

Posted on 15 July 2016 by Ken Zino

BP said yesterday in London that progress in resolving outstanding claims arising from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident and oil spill, the largest in U.S. history would have a final cost of $61.6 billion. Continue reading →

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Consumer Reports Stops Gushing about Tesla. Finally

Posted on 14 July 2016 by Ken Zino

NHTSA told Tesla last week it wants to know about all crashes alleged to have occurred because Forward Collision Warning (FCW) or Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) did not occur when expected. Continue reading →

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Distracted Driving Update – Construction Sign

Posted on 11 July 2016 by Ken Zino

An 18-year-old Rhode Island man was driving on I-495 in Wrentham, Massachusetts recently when he hit a highway sign warning of impending construction. The sign then proceeded to trash the windshield of his Toyota Corolla, hitting him in his obviously brain-less head. Continue reading →

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Distracted Driving? Chevrolet Lowers 4G LTE Prices by 50%

Posted on 8 July 2016 by Ken Zino

In only two years, Chevrolet customers have consumed more than 3 million gigabytes of data – the equivalent of streaming more than 100 million hours of music. Chevy says its in-vehicle data usage continues to trend upward. Continue reading →

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Traffic Deaths up 7.7% in 2015

Posted on 6 July 2016 by Ken Zino

The most significant increases came for pedestrians and bicyclists. Continue reading →

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Autoliv is Toyota Supplier in Latest Airbag Inflator Recall

Posted on 4 July 2016 by Ken Zino

The latest safety defect is disturbing for car owners who already have doubts about the safety and durability of inflators – highly explosive devices – and in the case of Takata and now Autoliv – unstable. Continue reading →

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BMW Motorrad Smartphone Cradle Debuts

Posted on 1 July 2016 by Ken Zino

As if distracted driving wasn’t bad enough, the BMW Motorrad Smartphone Cradle is now available at all BMW Motorrad retailers. In Germany the Smartphone Cradle can be purchased for a price of €195 ($217) including 19% added value tax. The … Continue reading →

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New Takata Tests – High Risks in Older Honda, Acura Models

Posted on 30 June 2016 by Ken Zino

The latest test data on defective Takata air bag inflators show that model-year 2001-2003 Honda and Acura vehicles have a far higher risk of ruptures during air bag deployment. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Requires Rental Car Companies to Fix Open Recalls

Posted on 30 June 2016 by Ken Zino

Federal law now prohibits any company or dealer with fleets greater than 35 vehicles to rent un-repaired recalled vehicles. It also extends NHTSA’s recall authority to cover rental car companies for the first time, giving the safety agency power to investigate and punish violators. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls – Three More in North America

Posted on 29 June 2016 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor recalls 2015-2016 Ford Focus electric cars, 2016 F-150 and 2016 Explorer trucks, and 2016 Transit Connect for a variety of mechanical and electronic safety defects. Continue reading →

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Toyota Recalls More than 1.4 Million Airbags

Posted on 29 June 2016 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. recalls 482,000 Model Year 2010 – 2012 Prius; 2010 and 2012 Prius Plug-In Hybrids and 2011 and 2012 Lexus CT 200h vehicles for defective airbag inflators that were not made by Takata. Worldwide the total is ~1.43 million. The supplier was not identified. Continue reading →

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$14.7 Billion Volkswagen Diesel Fraud Settlements

Posted on 28 June 2016 by Ken Zino

The plea bargain requires Volkswagen to spend up to $10.03 billion to compensate consumers under the program. In addition, the VW will spend $4.7 billion to mitigate the pollution from these cars and invest in green vehicle technology. Continue reading →

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Chinese Junk Watch – HP Recalls Lithium-Ion Batteries

Posted on 24 June 2016 by Ken Zino

Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Continue reading →

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