Category Archives: safety

Ten Carmakers to fit AEB – Auto Emergency Braking – on New Vehicles as Standard Equipment

FCA, aka, Chrysler, which has more than its share of problems with DOT over safety matters, is notably for its absence. FCA as well as other automakers will face increasing pressure to add AEB as more systems are added at competitors. Continue reading

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Static Electricity from Wipers Prompts Jeep Recall

The electro-static discharge in the wiper system could feed back into the Body Control Module internal electronics and cause the BCM to fail. A bad BCM could cause the windshield wipers to stop functioning without warning. Continue reading

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Connectivity or Not? Pew Cell Phone Research Inconsistent

We have all been in these situations. Many who say that phone use is a social hindrance also admit to using their phones when they are in social groups. Continue reading

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National Safety Council: 2015 Traffic Safety Worst Since 2007

NSC says that from January to June, nearly 19,000 people died in traffic crashes across the U.S., and more than 2.2 million were seriously injured, making 2015 the deadliest driving year since 2007. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Recalls 420,000 Cars, SUVs for Bad Airbags

The fix for this safety recall is still under development even though the first field reports of the defect appeared in 2011. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation has received nine reports from consumers alleging steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models. NHTSA opened an investigation last March after VW internal reviews said “low failure rate detected and no impact on vehicle safety” was found at a 2012 meeting. Continue reading

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Mazda Recalls CX-9 Crossovers after NHTSA Safety Query

The recall, due to start in September, comes after NHTSA sent an inquiry to the Japanese automaker about the potential safety defect after receiving customer complaints. Continue reading

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Continental Automated Driving Prototype adds Vision

Automated driving systems help the driver with many safety features, can remove human error, and – it is hoped – reduce vehicle accidents and personal injuries. Continue reading

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Aluminum Ford F-150 Top IIHS Safety Pick, but Criticized, not for the First Time on Repair Costs, which could be Premature

However, IIHS said the F-150 extended cab only turned in a good performance in four of five assessments. The problem is the small overlap front test just a marginal rating for occupant protection in a small overlap front crash. The results are the first ratings for large pickups in a group the Institute is evaluating this year. Continue reading

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Ineffective FAA Sits By as Drones Take Over U.S. Airspace

What is it going to take – a commercial airliner knocked out of the sky by a drone before the FAA exercises its right to control national airspace? Already drones have been reported on the approaches to large airports, including LAX – Los Angeles. Continue reading

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NHTSA Testing Flunks Mini Coopers on Side Impact Forces

After crash testing by NHTSA, BMW is recalling 2014-2015 Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S Hardtop 2 door vehicles and 2015 Mini John Cooper Works Hardtop 2 door vehicles because they do not meet the side-impact performance requirements for the rear seat passengers. Continue reading

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NHTSA Whacks Chrysler with Record $105m Safety Penalty

In an unusual Sunday release, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced yesterday that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles acknowledged violations of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act’s requirements to repair vehicles with safety defects. Continue reading

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CFPB Scoffs at NADA FOIA Request on Auto Lending

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, aka CFPB, has rejected a Freedom of Information Act – FOIA – request by the National Automobile Dealers Association to release a memorandum that NADA alleges shows that the agency is seeking to exercise jurisdiction over auto dealers financing, which is prohibited under the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, also called Dodd-Frank. Continue reading

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Hack Attack! FCA Recalls 1.4m Vehicles Because Outsiders Can Take Control Remotely by Exploiting the Software

“The software manipulation addressed by this recall required unique and extensive technical knowledge, prolonged physical access to a subject vehicle and extended periods of time to write code.” Continue reading

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Ford Recalls Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Lincoln MKS, MKT Models

Ford in a statement said it is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this issue. Continue reading

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Ferrari Recalls All 2015 Cars. Bad Takata Airbag Stops Sales

This defect comes from “insufficient gluing” of the leather on the driver’s side airbag cover and the possible rotated installation of the driver’s airbag cushion in the airbag module. The potential for a defect was first discovered during out of position (OOP) tests with a 458 Italia model for validation of a new steering column. Continue reading

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