Category Archives: safety

NHTSA Probe Forces Ford Focus EV Recall for Stalling

Once again, sloppy computer programming is responsible. The powertrain control module simply shuts off the Focus EV, just like a Microsoft operating system locking up your computer, but with potentially far dire consequences. Continue reading

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Carbon Black Maker Cabot Corporation Fined by EPA

Boston-based Cabot Corporation, the second largest carbon black manufacturer in the United States, will pay a $975,000 civil penalty and spend an estimated $84 million on technology to control harmful air pollution, resolving alleged violations of the New Source Review (NSR) provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Continue reading

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NHTSA Opens Tesla Model S Battery Fire Probe

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today officially opened a preliminary investigation into 2013 Tesla Model S battery fires. The probe safety affects more than 13,000 of the $70,000 to +$100,000 Tesla EVs sold in the U.S. Continue reading

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Accidents, Injuries prompt 1.2 Million Ram Truck Recall

Chrysler Group is now in the process of organizing three Ram truck recalls affecting 1.2 million vehicles after six accidents and two injuries involving model-year 2008-2012 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks. Continue reading

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Third Tesla Model S Fire in Two Months

Tesla’s claim that gasoline cars catch fire, in defense of the second fire, while true, ignores questions about how many actually catch fire after a crash or hitting road debris adjusted for the vehicle population and miles driven. While it could be just a run of bad luck, three fires with such limited exposure need looking into. Continue reading

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Tesla Signs Battery Deal. Second Model S Fire Reported

Panasonic Corporation and Tesla Motors today announced that they have reached an agreement where Panasonic will expand its supply of automotive-grade lithium-ion battery cells to Tesla. The announcement comes just after a second Model S fire this month was reported by the Diario de Yucatan. Continue reading

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Ford Recalls Keyless C-Max, Focus EVs for Door Chimes

Ford is recalling 23,000 C-Max and Focus EV models because of an older Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standard that requires the door chime to operate when the vehicle is running and the door is open. Continue reading

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Clean Diesel Technologies to pay $1.9 million to ex CFO

OSHA’s investigation found that the company violated the whistleblower provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act when it wrongfully terminated the former CFO for warning the board of directors about ethical and financial concerns raised by a proposed merger. Continue reading

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Toyota Recalls 800,000 Cars for Defective Air Bags

Toyota Motor Sales is recalling 803,000 Model Year 2012-2013 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, and Venza vehicles because the air bags may not deploy. Continue reading

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Toyota Adds Steering to Collision Avoidance System

Toyota Motor said it has developed a pre-collision system that uses automatic steering in addition to increased braking force and automatic braking to help prevent accidents with pedestrians. This is just the latest development on the road to a fully autonomous car, which will require no input from the driver to operate it. Continue reading

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Toyota Wins Unintended Acceleration Case

In the first and by no means the last product liability case concerning the design of Toyota vehicles, the jury rejected the claim of the family of Noriko Uno, who alleged that her accident would not have happened if her vehicle had been equipped with brake override. Continue reading

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Mazda6 Recall Underway for Doors Opening Suddenly

More than 161,400 Mazda6 sedans built by the UAW in Flat Rock, Michigan are affected, it was revealed before the Republicans shut down the U.S.safety agency NHTSA along with the rest of the government. Continue reading

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Infiniti Recalls on M35, M45 for Sudden Engine Stalling

More than 98,000 Infiniti models are affected in the U.S. Japanese authorities are also investigating the safety defect. Other Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are not affected because the design of the Aisin-supplied accelerator pedal assembly is unique to these models, according to a required filing with NHTSA that was made publicly available just before Tea Party Republicans pulled the plug on the world’s largest and arguably the most effective safety agency. Further safety recall information from NHTSA will not be available until the Federal Government reopens. Continue reading

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IIHS issues First Crash Avoidance Ratings

IIHS is now rating the performance of front-crash prevention systems. The insurance industry funded group wants to “encourage” automakers to increase adoption of the expensive technology at $1,000 or more per vehicle. Continue reading

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Euro NCAP to Publish First Crash Avoidance Ratings

In the ever-escalating technology wars over auto safety, Euro NCAP said today that it is currently testing a number of European cars equipped with crash avoidance technologies. The first results will be published on 29 October in a move that foreshadows the inclusion of such systems in the overall safety rating next year. Continue reading

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