Category Archives: safety

Toyota Recalls 2024-2025 Tacoma Models for Bad Brakes

Posted on 11 February 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor North America is recalling more than 106,000 model 2024-2025 Tacoma 4-wheel-drive vehicles built in Mexico and California. The clearance between the rear brake hose and wheel may allow mud and dirt to build up, which can damage the brake hose and lead to a brake fluid leak. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls Expeditions, Super Dutys and Lincoln Corsairs

Posted on 10 February 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling more than 72,000 model 2021 Expedition, 2021-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The rearview camera may display a blank or distorted image.

In the required safety defect recall notification  made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning, Ford said it doesn’t have fix for the safety defect. The remedy is currently under development. Continue reading →

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MBUSA Recalling EQB models for Battery Fires

Posted on 10 February 2025 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling more than 7000 model year 2022-2024 EQB 250, EQB 300 4MATIC, and EQB 350 4MATIC electric vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving.

In the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning, MBUSA said, “Due to the combination of certain production and vehicle use conditions, an internal short circuit of a battery cell in the high-voltage battery might occur, which could lead to the risk of a fire.” The defective software supplier is Farasis Energy-Ganzhou in China. Continue reading →

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Volvo Cars Posts Record Sales, Revenue, Profits in 2024, but…

Posted on 6 February 2025 by Ken Zino

Volvo Cars (VOLCAR B:STO)* today posted a record-breaking year in 2024 with the highest full-year retail sales, revenues and core operating profit in its 98-year history. However, the Chinese owned company anticipates a turbulent 2025 “due to challenging market conditions,” aka Trump’s Trade and Tariff Wars.** “Full-year revenues exceeded SEK 400 billion for the first time in the company’s history, due to a new all-time sales record of 763,389 cars. Its full-year core operating profit of SEK 27 billion, excluding joint ventures and associates, was another record and up 6% compared to 2023. The core operating margin came in at 6.8%, up from 6.4% in 2023,” Volvo said. Continue reading →

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Ford Motor Posts Mixed Results for 2024

Posted on 5 February 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today posted Q4 full-year 2024 financial results. They were mixed from awful to okay. During 2024, Ford Blue’s revenue was flat at $101.9 billion as positive net pricing offset a 2% decline in wholesale vehicle transactions from what Ford said were the cancellation of low-margin products. The internal combustion engine segment at Ford S EBIT was $5.3 billion. Ford Model e reported a full-year EBIT loss of $5.1 billion. The electric vehicle e segment delivered $1.4 billion in cost improvements, net of a $100 million increase in spending to launch new battery plants and next-generation electric vehicles, Ford said. For full-year 2024, revenue climbed 5% to $185 billion; net income was $5.9 billion, and adjusted EBIT was $10.2 billion. For 2025 Ford is predicting a $2 billion profit drop! Bloomberg says that 27% of analysts have a sell recommendation, the highest on record.  Continue reading →

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Toyota Motor Posts FY2025 Q3 Net Revenue Gain

Posted on 5 February 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC: Tokyo 7203. NYSE: TM) today announced financial results for the third quarter fiscal year 2025, which ended 31 December 2024. TMC also announced significant changes in China. Consolidated vehicle sales totaled ~7,000,000 units, a decrease of ~295,000 units compared to the same period fiscal year 2024. On a consolidated basis, net revenues for the period totaled 35.673 trillion yen ($233.2 billion), an increase of 4.9%. Continue reading →

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Subaru Forester Recall for Bad Alloy Wheels

Posted on 3 February 2025 by Ken Zino

Subaru of America (Subaru Corp. NASDAQ: FUJHF) is recalling more than 20,000 2025 Forester vehicles equipped with 18″ aluminum alloy wheels, according to the required recall documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“The wheels may have been manufactured with an incorrectly specified lug seat surface, which can result in the wheel being improperly attached and cause a loss of vehicle stability,” Subaru said in the required safety defect recall filing. Continue reading →

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Toyota Recalls a Previous Bad Airbag Recall

Posted on 3 February 2025 by Ken Zino

“An electrical connection inside the steering column’s spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver’s air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection,” Toyota said in the mandatory safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. Continue reading →

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Acura MDX Vehicles recalled for Bad Rear-view Cameras

Posted on 3 February 2025 by Ken Zino

American Honda Motor Company is recalling more than 9000 2025 Acura MDX vehicles for bad back-up cameras, according to  a safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.

“The touchscreen in the center console may go blank, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, Rear Visibility,” Honda said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing. Continue reading →

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Software Recall for Honda Pilot, Acura MDX, TLX

Posted on 29 January 2025 by Ken Zino

American Honda Motor (7267.T) is recalling ~295,000 model year 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.

In the required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda said: “Due to improper programming of the fuel injection electronic control unit settings, sudden changes in the throttle opening could cause the MIL [Malfunction Indicator Light] to illuminate and/or the engine to lose drive power, hesitate and/or stall.” Continue reading →

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Quantum Materials Discovery by Honda Research Institute

Posted on 28 January 2025 by Ken Zino

“Our technology provides a new pathway for the synthesis of quantum nanoribbons with precise width control, leveraging their unique mechanical and electronic properties as a single photon light source to realize secure communication known as ‘quantum communication’,” said Dr. Avetik Harutyunyan, Senior Chief Scientist, Honda Research Institute USA Inc. and the leader of the quantum research. Continue reading →

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Kia Niro Recalls for Air Bags or Seat Belts

Posted on 27 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Dealers will inspect, replace and reroute the floor wiring assembly, as necessary, free of charge as required by long-standing Federal safety regulations. In addition, dealers will install wiring covers. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 14 March 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia’s number for this recall is SC332. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to nhtsa.gov about NHTSA 25V024. Continue reading →

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Ford Bronco Recalls – Shocks and Batteries

Posted on 27 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is recalling 149,449 2021-2024 Bronco vehicles. The rear shock absorbers may corrode and fail, resulting in detachment of the external reservoir. Ford is also recalling a previous recall on 272,817 2021-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles. The 12-volt battery may experience degradation and suddenly fail. If the battery suddenly degrades during a drive it can lead to a vehicle that is unable to restart after an auto stop/start event or experience a stall while coming to a stop at low speed. Either of these conditions may be accompanied by a loss of 12-volt accessories, including hazard lights. Continue reading →

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Hybrid Crossing Beacons Often Ignored by Pedestrians

Posted on 22 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Traffic signals known as pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHBs) allow walkers who need to cross a busy road to evoke a stoplight by pressing a button. However, while the devices are great at getting drivers to yield, many pedestrians don’t bother to activate them before crossing, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows. Pedestrians are more likely to activate rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), even though they’re less effective at getting drivers to stop.

“It’s well-documented that both of these common pedestrian warning signals make drivers more likely to yield and allow walkers to cross the street safely,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “But they can only do that if pedestrians push the button to activate them. This study offers valuable lessons for how we can make that more likely.” Continue reading →

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Kia Software Recall for Failed Headlights and Tail Lights

Posted on 20 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Kia America is recalling ~75,000 2024-2025 Sorento, 2025 Sorento Hybrid and 2025 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid vehicles because of loss of headlights and tail lights from a software logic error. Hyundai Mobis in Korea produced the defective component. The safety defect first occurred in Korea.

In the required safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Kia said, “A software error in the Body Domain Control Unit (BDC) may cause a loss of low beam headlights and taillights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.” Continue reading →

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