Tag Archives: auto informed

NHTSA Prompts Toyota Power Window Switch Recall for Fires

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. will recall 2.5 million vehicles – 7.5 million units worldwide – because a defective power window switch can cause fires. The latest Toyota safety problem was discovered by NHTSA earlier this year after it opened an investigation about an unusual number of consumer complaints – 32 – alleging a burning electric window switch on the driver’s side door. Toyota and NHTSA have known of the problem for years. Continue reading

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

Los Angeles Most Congested of any City in the U.S. and Canada

Los Angeles traffic remains the most congested of any city in the U.S. and Canada, according to a survey just released. Trip times in Los Angeles are 33% longer on average than when traffic in the city is flowing freely, and a whopping 74% longer during evening rush hour. Other congested cities include Vancouver 33%, San Francisco 29%, Montreal 28%, Toronto 27%, Washington 26%, Seattle 26%, New York 25%, Chicago 23% and Miami 22%. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, results, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ally Financial Declares Dividends on Preferred Stock

The Ally Financial board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend on outstanding preferred stock effective 15 November 2012. A payment of approximately $134 million, or $1.125 per share, will go to the U.S. Treasury, which has invested $17.2 billion in keeping Ally, formerly GMAC, in business as a bank holding company. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, financial results, news analysis, results | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Motor and General Motors Declare Stock Dividends

The Boards of Directors of Ford Motor (NYSE: F) and General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) have declared quarterly stock dividends, as the U.S. auto industry continues its slow financial recovery because of increasing auto sales. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, financial results, news analysis, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NHTSA Says Chinese Counterfeit Air Bags are a Safety Problem

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – NHTSA – has published a consumer safety advisory to warn vehicle owners and repair shops about the dangers of counterfeit Chinese air bags. NHTSA said it has become “aware” of a problem involving the sale of counterfeit air bags for use as replacement parts in vehicles that have been involved in a crash. Continue reading

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, AutoInformed Editorial, fools 'n frauds, news, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Driving the 2013 Lexus LS 460, F Sport and 600hL Flagship Sedans

Lexus after decades of understated luxury has turned to relying on a “bold new grilles” and German-like performance models across the lineup to attract younger buyers. The latest example comes from its flagship LS sedan, which once upon a time (1989) catapulted Lexus to luxury car fame by being anti-German with its compliant ride without harshness and nosie, anti-German with a simple interior, anti-German with its limited maintenance requirements, anti-German with its much higher quality and durability, and decidedly anti-German with its much lower – by thousands and thousands of dollars lower – sticker prices. This formula has Lexus on track to sell 250,000 luxury vehicles in the U.S. this year, where it has dominated luxury sales for decades, except for natural disaster induced production losses that curbed sales during 2011. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, marketing, new vehicle, news analysis, road test | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

U.S. Motorcycle Thefts Decrease to One Every 11 Minutes

The National Insurance Crime Bureau today said that motorcycle thefts were down 6% in 2011 from their 2010 total. This means 46,667 motorcycles reported stolen in 2011 compared with 49,791 in 2010. The theft rate, which sounds low, actually averages to one motorcycle theft every 11 minutes. Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, insurance, litigation, motorcycles, news, news analysis, results, transportation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

New “Eco Friendly” Refrigerant Can Burn in Accidents Says Mercedes

Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. Environmentalists have forced the use of a new air conditioning refrigerant in Europe, saying it is better at cutting down on global warming, but it turns a out that the latest concoction from DuPont or Honeywell can go up in flames during an accident. Continue reading

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

NHTSA Prompts Recall of Dodge Ram Pickups for Axle Lockups

The Office of Defects Investigation at NHTSA opened an investigation this past July into complaints alleging rear differential failures resulting in rear wheel lock-up on Dodge pickup trucks,. Chrysler has now decided to recall 44,300 Dodge Dakota and Ram 1500 models. Continue reading

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

Honda Adds to Previous Recalls of CR-V Crossovers for Fires

Honda is recalling 500,000 CR-V models globally because an electric window switch can melt and cause an interior fire. This is in addition to a Honda recall in March for the same problem on other CR-V and Pilot models. At least five fires have been reported. In the U.S., the latest quality gaff covers model year 2002-2006 CR-V passenger vehicles manufactured from February 2002, through July 2006, potentially have the defective driver-side power window switch that may fail or melt.

Honda is experiencing something similar to Toyota’s well-publicized quality meltdown, but so far it hasn’t hurt new vehicle sales at either.
Continue reading

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

GM Ren Cen Honors Triple Crown of Tiger Miguel Cabrera

General Motors is adding three panels to its changing LED sign atop its Renaissance Center headquarters this weekend to celebrate Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera’s winning the American League Triple Crown. Cabrera led the league during the 2012 regular season in the batting average (.330), runs batted in (139) and home runs (44), and if there’s any justice in the baseball world should be the most valuable player when the votes are tallied, unless something, well, fishy occurs.. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, marketing, milestones, news, people | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Brits Say Rising Car Travel Costs are More Important than a Pint

What is said to be the rising car travel costs is forcing changes in buying and drinking habits in Great Britain, if you can believe MoneySupermarket.com. One third of right-hand drive motorists could not live without their car as costs rise, says the web comparison-shopping site. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, transportation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Most Buyers Shopping for New Vehicles use Personal Computers

While the buzz in the computer world is all about the growth of mobile devices to access the Internet, so-called tablets and smartphones are only being used by one in five new-vehicle buyers. This compares to nearly all (99%) buyers who use a desktop or laptop computer at some point when shopping for new wheels. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, marketing, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota, Honda Post Huge September Sales Gains, Nissan Stalls

Worrisome for competitors were increases in market share of 2.6% at Toyota, and 1.2% at Honda year-over-year, according to AutoData. Each percentage point in share is worth roughly $1 billion dollars in profits, according to an old industry rule of thumb. Left as road kill was Nissan whose share dropped more than 1% with sales of 92% units. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, marketing, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chrysler Group Reports September 2012 U.S. Sales Increase of 12%

Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales of 142,041 units, a 12% increase compared with sales in September 2011 (127,336) – the group’s best September since 2007 before the reckless practices of Wall Street collapsed the housing market and the economy. Of the Detroit Three automakers, Chrysler put in what was arguably the best performance of the month by nearly matching overall industry growth of 13%. Continue reading

Posted in marketing, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment