Category Archives: safety

Honda, Toyota, Nissan Expand Takata Airbag Recalls Yet Again

Posted on 14 May 2015 by Ken Zino

NHTSA is fining Takata $14,000 a day for what it says is Takata’s slow response to the deadly problem. Former NHTSA Acting Administrator David Kelly is now serving as project manager for ten automakers that have hired Orbital ATK to conduct independent testing on Takata airbag inflators. Continue reading →

Posted in litigation, recalls | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Rising Auto Insurance Rates have People Shopping, but Not Necessarily Switching

Posted on 13 May 2015 by Ken Zino

Increases in Auto Insurance rates by an average of 2.1% nationwide in 2014, following an increase of 2.5% in 2013 have many customers shopping for a new insurer, but few are actually switching insurers. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, insurance | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Road Rage – Texters Scorned the Most by other Drivers

Posted on 12 May 2015 by Ken Zino

According to a new survey just released the “Texter” generated the most fury of fellow drivers, earning the scorn of 26% of Americans contributing to the Road Rage problem. Continue reading →

Posted in distracted driving, people | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Recalls its Best Selling 2015 F-150 Pickup Truck

Posted on 12 May 2015 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company has announced a safety recall for 12,300 2015-model Ford F-150 pickup trucks in North America because an upper I-shaft may have been riveted improperly, potentially causing it to separate. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

NHTSA Warns Ford Fiesta, Fusion, Lincoln MKZ Owners of Sudden Door Openings

Posted on 12 May 2015 by Ken Zino

NHTSA is taking the unusual step off issuing a public warning after Ford Motor recall of almost 400,00 cars where the doors can suddenly pop open during driving. Continue reading →

Posted in recalls | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Latest Ford Motor Safety Defect Recalls affect 600,000 Vehicles

Posted on 29 April 2015 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company announced this morning that it is conducting safety defect recalls on Fiesta, Focus, Edge, Escape, F-Series, and Lincoln MKZ, models with ~600,000 vehicles involved. Ford claimed it is aware of one accident, but no injuries or fires because of the latest quality lapses. Continue reading →

Posted in recalls | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Recall Mania Continues. Newly Revealed Safety Defects at Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Jeep, Ford, Nissan, Volkswagen

Posted on 27 April 2015 by Ken Zino

Safety defect recalls are now active for Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Nissan, and Volkswagen in what has become an ongoing industry wide scramble since NHTSA – embarrassed by its lack of regulatory oversight on the Toyota unintended acceleration and GM ignition switch debacles – started enforcing U.S. safety regulations and assessing fines and penalties on automakers. Continue reading →

Posted in litigation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Driverless Vehicle Technology – Not All Good?

Posted on 22 April 2015 by Ken Zino

California SB 1298, which directed the DMV to write rules covering driverless vehicles, required the department to have regulations for the public use of the robot vehicles in place by Jan. 1, 2015. DMV – dealing with complicated new technologies – missed that deadline and is still working on driverless car public use regulations. Continue reading →

Posted in engineering, news analysis, safety | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota and Lexus to Introduce Low Cost Automatic Braking

Posted on 30 March 2015 by Ken Zino

From a significance point of view the new Lexus RX – the crossover SUV built from the Camry in the last century that caught the Detroit Three and the Germans napping and ultimately propelled Lexus into the number one spot of U.S. luxury car sales is the one to watch. Early previews reveal a radically style fastback that aside from the now expected and highly controversial exaggerated snout grille, seems to trade off utility for flash. Continue reading →

Posted in new vehicle, safety | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Recalls 110,000 Vehicles for Power Steering Failure

Posted on 30 March 2015 by Ken Zino

Toyota is recalling more than 110,000 current production Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, and Rav4 vehicles because the power steering can fail. The electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Continue reading →

Posted in recalls | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Honda Expands Takata Airbag Recall Again to 5.5 Million

Posted on 23 March 2015 by Ken Zino

This is the first time 2008 Pilot models will be repaired because the Takata airbag inflators release shrapnel into passenger compartments. Continue reading →

Posted in litigation, recalls | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Renewable Biodiesel Fuel Scam from Washakie in Utah

Posted on 20 March 2015 by Ken Zino

During 2010, Washakie issued more than 7.2 million Renewable Identification Numbers, aka RINs, and reported to EPA that it produced biodiesel associated with those RINs at its Plymouth, Utah refinery. During that time, Washakie did not produce any biodiesel at the Plymouth facility. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, fuel economy or emissions, litigation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Delphi Record Try for Longest US Autonomous Drive

Posted on 16 March 2015 by Ken Zino

In an old-fashioned publicity stunt that includes some real prototype engineering, Delphi Automotive try to set a record by conducting the longest autonomous drive ever attempted in the U.S. Continue reading →

Posted in concept, engineering, safety | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Jet Wiper on Volvo XC90 Safer, More Efficient

Posted on 16 March 2015 by Ken Zino

Electronics, combined with spray nozzles integrated in the wiper arm are the reasons. Continue reading →

Posted in engineering, safety | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Telematics Enable Usage Based Insurance and Privacy Risks

Posted on 12 March 2015 by Ken Zino

A Celant report on insurance developments also includes results of a survey on how receptive customers would be to real time feedback on their driving. How would you like to receive this message while driving: Your current driving style suggests that you have a one in three chance of having a fatal or very serious accident during the next year. Continue reading →

Posted in insurance, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment