Category Archives: safety

Toyota Expands Hybrid Recalls for Sudden Shut Downs

Posted on 5 September 2013 by Ken Zino

In the involved Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX 400h vehicles, transistors within the hybrid system’s inverter assembly can experience heat damage “due to variations in characteristics of the transistors built in parallel circuits,” which in Toyota’s disingenuous view is different from the previous recall for the same problem. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Recalls Fiat 500e Electric Vehicles

Posted on 26 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Chrysler is recalling 2013 Fiat 500e electric vehicles because the half shafts may loosen and separate causing noise and leading to a complete loss of power. The problem occurred because of an earlier repair on the new vehicles. The company says no accidents or injuries have been reported. Continue reading →

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Autonomous Vehicles by 2020. Legal Issues Slow Use

Posted on 26 August 2013 by Ken Zino

The classic ‘who pays’ problem is the core issue. Automakers might assume responsibility for their vehicles, but it is improbable that they will assume responsibility for safely operating them. There remain significant technical barriers as well. Computing power, glitch free software development, high-end image processing and sensor cost and coordination are all issues. Continue reading →

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Big West Oil Fined $18 Million for Clean Air Act Violations

Posted on 23 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Big West Oil agreed to pay a $175,000 penalty and to spend $18 million to install emission controls at its refinery in North Salt Lake, Utah, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today. Big West Oil will also invest $253,000 to improve the monitoring and management of potential releases of hydrofluoric acid at the facility. Continue reading →

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DOJ Antitrust Suit Opposes American – US Airways Merger

Posted on 19 August 2013 by Ken Zino

The Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit opposing the proposed $11 billion merger between US Airways and American Airlines. DOJ said that the merger would result in world’s largest airline, and would “substantially lessen competition for commercial air travel in local markets throughout the United States and result in passengers paying higher airfares and receiving less service.” Continue reading →

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Scion Touchscreen Now Standard Equipment for 2014 Models in Latest Distracted Driving Enabling Scheme

Posted on 15 August 2013 by Ken Zino

The Scion brand is aimed at younger buyers who are the most likely to be involved in Distracted Driving accidents. New Scions will now come standard with the 6.1-inch LCD touchscreen. Included in the Scion touchscreen audio package is AM/FM/CD/HD Radio, hands-free phone capability, music streaming via Bluetooth wireless and AUX/USB port with iPodconnectivity. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Rule Tells Automakers to Reveal Uncompleted Recalls

Posted on 15 August 2013 by Ken Zino

A new regulation issued by NHTSA requires automakers and motorcycle manufacturers to provide information on uncompleted vehicle safety recalls online. During a speech at the Washington Automotive Press Association, NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said that the safety information would be searchable by the Vehicle Identification Number, aka VIN, free of charge. Continue reading →

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Florida Fuel Company Owner Indicted for Fraud

Posted on 15 August 2013 by Ken Zino

A Florida-based airline fuel supply company and its former owner and operator were indicted on charges of participating in a scheme to defraud Illinois-based Ryan International Airlines, according to the Department of Justice. Continue reading →

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JPMorgan Chase Employees Charged With Financial Fraud

Posted on 14 August 2013 by Ken Zino

“Our financial system has been hurt in recent years not just by risky bets gone bad, but also, in some cases, by criminal wrongdoing,” opined Attorney General Holder. Critics maintain Holder has done little to prosecute financial fraud at the ratings agencies and on Wall Street that led to the collapse of the U.S. economy, cut American wealth in half, and created the highest rates of unemployment since the Great Depression that is still hurting the American middle class. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls Focus EVs for Defective Lights

Posted on 12 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor is recalling 2012-2013 Focus BEV vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights because of bad wiring, which causes the front side-marker lamps to stay dark. Continue reading →

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ExxonMobil to Pay Fine for Fracking Wastewater Dumping

Posted on 11 August 2013 by Ken Zino

The consent decree, lodged in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and almost certain court approval given the DOJ’s laughably lenient treatment of corporate criminals. Continue reading →

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Toyota Recalls 342,000 Tacoma Pickup Trucks

Posted on 11 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Toyota along with Ford Motor Company has the dubious distinction of paying record fines to NHTSA because of cover-ups on known safety defects. The brief Toyota statement does not provide accident or fatality details or any information on how the safety defect became known. . Continue reading →

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License Plate Recognition is a Valuable not Abusive Tracking Claims Pressure Group. After NSA that’s Tough to Believe

Posted on 7 August 2013 by Ken Zino

License plate recognition technology is a tool that helps law enforcers solve crimes and save lives, according to a new survey of law enforcement professionals. However, license plate readers mounted on police cars or on road signs and bridges, use small, high-speed cameras to photograph thousands of plates per minute as federal and state governments continue their relentless pursuit of spying and abusive data collection, according to critics. The TSA is subsidizing the technology under the Obama Administration through grants to buy the readers. Continue reading →

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Nissan Recalls 2014 Versa Models for Bad Bolts

Posted on 5 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Nissan North America is recalling model year 2014 Versa Note subcompact cars because the rear seat-latch bolts were manufactured incorrectly, reducing their strength. Continue reading →

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Waterlogged Flood Cars – Tide Rising as Titles Falsified

Posted on 2 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Buyer beware and nowhere does that apply more than used flood cars that have been damaged by water that causes insurmountable problems after the vehicle is returned – often illegally – to service. Nearly two-thirds of these flood damaged cars are on the road in ten states – Texas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Louisiana, Illinois, New York, Florida, Mississippi and Virginia. However, as the research shows, crooks are moving flood cars to any state where unfortunately unknowing consumers will buy them. Continue reading →

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