Category Archives: safety

Increased Fines, Prison for Auto Execs in Safety Cover-ups

Posted on 9 July 2015 by Ken Zino

Automotive industry executives who cover up or conceal the death and injury risks of defective vehicles or parts could face up five years in prison, under auto safety legislation sponsored by three leading Democrats on the Senate Commerce Committee. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Blasts FCA Recalls – Big Fines, Maybe Criminal Charges Coming for Italian Automaker? Litigation Ongoing.

Posted on 9 July 2015 by Ken Zino

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation, aka ODI, has outlined problems associated with 23 different Fiat Chrysler recalls involving millions of vehicles. These recalls are for serious safety defects and “non-compliances.” Including recalls for fuel systems that can catch fire in rear crashes, defective ignition switches that can disable a vehicle’s air bags and defective air bags that can unexpectedly explode. These defects have caused deaths and serious injuries. Continue reading →

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432k Focus, C-MAX, Escape Recalls for Bad Ignition Switch

Posted on 3 July 2015 by Ken Zino

In these defective vehicles, among the best sellers at Ford, it is possible for the engine to continue running after turning the ignition key to the “off” position and removing the key. Continue reading →

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NASCAR Disavows Racist Confederate Flag

Posted on 3 July 2015 by Ken Zino

“To do that, we are asking our fans and partners to join us in a renewed effort to create an all-inclusive, even more welcoming atmosphere for all who attend our events. This will include the request to refrain from displaying the Confederate Flag at our facilities and NASCAR events. Continue reading →

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Dainese and Ducati Motorcycle Airbag Jacket Wins Award

Posted on 30 June 2015 by Ken Zino

Ducati’s Multistrada D-Air model has an intelligent system of sensors wirelessly connected to Ducati Apparel airbag jackets by Dainese. Continue reading →

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Hella Adding “Exit Alert” to its Radar Sensors

Posted on 29 June 2015 by Ken Zino

Exit Alert, said to ensure the safety of all road users, builds on already widely produced aids, including blind spot detection, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert and rear pre-crash braking and safety belt tightening. Continue reading →

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More Ford, Subaru and Lexus Safety Recalls

Posted on 29 June 2015 by Ken Zino

There are now more safety recalls coming from Ford Motor, Subaru of America and Toyota Motor because of defective antilock brakes and pre-collision systems, power steering that suddenly fails and potential vehicle fires as major makers – some with excellent quality records – continue to struggle with supplier procedures and a newly vigilant NHTSA. Continue reading →

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Porsche Recalls its $845,000 Spyder for Fires

Posted on 22 June 2015 by Ken Zino

Porsche said the root cause was in the production process, which means this will likely be a global recall for all 918 of the 918 Spyder nodes produced starting for the 2014 model year. Dealers will inspect the harness and provide additional tie-downs for it, if necessary. Continue reading →

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GM and GM Financial Now Investment Grade at Fitch

Posted on 18 June 2015 by Ken Zino

GM earnings have been pommeled during the last several years because of billions in charges taken for safety recalls. Moreover GM still potentially faces billions in charges for the legal liability and government fines in the ignition switch cover-up, including possible criminal charges from the Department of Justice. Continue reading →

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Honda Stops Sale, Recalls Acura MDX, RLX for Sudden Braking

Posted on 15 June 2015 by Ken Zino

American Honda Motor is recalling model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX 2wd and AWD, and 2014 RLX and RLX Hybrid vehicles. for sudden braking. In the latest example of bogus computer programming, a growing automaker safety defect problem, Honda’s so-called Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) can incorrectly interpret as obstacles roadside metal fences or guardrails and unexpectedly apply the brakes with full force. Continue reading →

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Akebono Knowingly Ships Defective Parts to GM

Posted on 12 June 2015 by Ken Zino

The long delayed recall is problematic since GM knew of the safety defect when its Wentzville assembly plant found brake fluid under a completed vehicle on October 9. Continue reading →

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445,000 Takata Airbag Inflators Recalled – Mazda6 and RX8

Posted on 8 June 2015 by Ken Zino

In the event of a crash with deployment of the driver’s frontal air bag, the inflator send metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Changing after Flubbing GM Ignition Switch Recall

Posted on 5 June 2015 by Ken Zino

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today released two internal reports from the Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aka NHTSA, that outline the changes NHTSA has adopted or will make in the wake of its embarrassing delayed handling of what became the deadly General Motors ignition switch recall. Continue reading →

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Infotainment Wars – Mitsubishi Electric’s FlexConnect

Posted on 22 May 2015 by Ken Zino

There is an ongoing automotive infotainment war escalating that has electronics companies vying with automakers over who gets lucrative consumer dollars. Continue reading →

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Takata Takedown – NHTSA to Direct Airbag Inflator Recall

Posted on 21 May 2015 by Ken Zino

The Takata inflators were made with a propellant that can degrade over time and has led to ruptures that have been blamed for at least six deaths worldwide. This expands the number of vehicles to be recalled for defective Takata inflators to nearly 34 million. Continue reading →

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