Tag Archives: nhtsa

FocusDriven Distracted Driving PSA: 5,500; How Many More?

FocusDriven, the first national non-profit organization advocating for victims of distracted driving has released new Public Service Announcement or PSA titled, “5,500; How Many More?”

The PSA highlights that nearly 5,500 people are killed and half a million more are injured in distraction-related crashes annually. The auto industry and electronics makers whose devices are enabling distracted driving thus far show no interest in helping to curb this growing safety problem. And the U.S. Congress has forbidden federal safety regulators form promulgating national standards or rules. Continue reading

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DOT Secretary LaHood Blasts Distracted Driving Yet Again

Congress has prohibited DOT from enacting national regulations governing driving behavior, so LaHood can do little about it except use his “bully pulpit” to address the growing issue, which has been called repeatedly an epidemic by safety advocates. Continue reading

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OnStar Presidential Shakeup. Preuss Out. Marshall In

As a lifelong public relations professional, Preuss was likely much more sensitive to the growing distracted driving problem than Wall Street and other executives who emphasize growth with little or no concern for the social problems that the growth might cause. Continue reading

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General Motors Recalls Pickups, SUVs for Rear Wheel Lockup

General Motors is recalling almost 27,000 pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles from the 2011 model year because the rear wheels can unexpectedly lock, possibly sending the trucks out of control and causing an accident. Continue reading

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NHTSA Administrator Strickland Visits NAIAS Show Promoting Jobs, Not Safety? The Endless Partison Political Campaign Continues

The man responsible for traffic safety in the United States, David Strickland, visited the North American International Auto Show – NAIAS – this week promoting the Obama Administration’s jobs agenda – or at least the let’s talk, but do little, part of it, with nary a word about traffic safety. Continue reading

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American Honda Recalls 2010 Accord, CR-V Models for Stalling

While most of the attention during the past year has been on Toyota’s quality and recall problems, Honda has also been recalling large number of vehicles for safety defects. In the latest instance, thousands of 2010 Honda Accord cars and … Continue reading

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Ford Recalls F-Series, Edge, Lincoln MKX for Fires. “Toyota Effect” at NHTSA as Makers Now Rush to Recall Defects

Ford Motor Company in the U.S. is recalling thousands of 2011 F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles for fires. A Mexican-built control computer from Lear Corporation can burst into flames without warning. At least two of … Continue reading

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Honda Recalls Accord, Pilot Models for Suspension Failures

American Honda will recall model year 2010-11 Accord and 2011 Pilot vehicles in the U.S. to prevent a potential front suspension failure. The machinery used to tighten the spindle nuts on the front axles of both vehicles, and the damper … Continue reading

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Korean Hankook Recalls Defective Tires for Blowouts

Hankook Tire America Corporation (HTAC) is recalling imported P256/70R17S replacement tires because they failed Hankook tests for sidewall wear, which can lead to blowouts.

In a series of lawyer-written filings to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Korean tire maker said even though the imported tires conformed with U.S. Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Hankook considers the tires’ failure of internal standards that were deliberately set higher, a safety related defect. As a result, Hankook will conduct a safety recall, according to Dae-Ki Min, HTAC’s lawyer. Continue reading

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Toyota Motor Fined Another $32.425 Million for Safety Defects

Toyota Motor Corp. will pay $32.425 million in civil penalties as the result of two Department of Transportation Investigations into safety defects it was announced late last night by DOT. The additional penalties are on top of a previous fine … Continue reading

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Volkswagen Recalls 377,286 Jetta, Beetle and Rabbit Models for Fuel Leaks and Potential Underhood Fires

Volkswagen is initiating a recall of hundreds of thousands of Mexican built Jetta, Beetle and Rabbit models for fuel leaks that could lead to underhood fires. Model years 2006-2010 are affected. The affected models all have 2.5-liter engines with design … Continue reading

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Honda Passport SUVs Recalled for Wheels Falling Off

Honda will recall 35,984 Passport SUVs sold in the United States from model years 1998-2002 to inspect the rear suspension lower trailing links. The forward mounting bracket for the left or right rear suspension lower link may suffer excessive corrosion leading to a failure of the suspension, increasing the risk of a crash.

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American Honda Recalls Fit for Headlight Failures

American Honda Motor Company will recall approximately 143,083 model year 2007 and 2008 Honda Fit vehicles because of a bad headlight switch, which can case the low-beams to fail and possibly start a fire. The problem derives from the routing … Continue reading

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Toyota Recalls Sienna Minivans for Defective Brakes

Toyota is recalling 94,000 2011 Model Year Sienna vehicles because the brakes might hang up and ultimately fail.

The latest safety defect from Japan’s once preeminent automaker arises from the clearly faulty design of a brake light switch bracket, which, according to Toyota, is too close to the parking brake pedal and can become “deformed” if driver applies the parking brake, something that Japanese development engineers apparently missed during testing, or procurement or manufacturing engineers missed after manufacturing began. Continue reading

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DOT Proposes Rear View Visibility Rule. Endless Regulation?

The U.S. Department of Transportation today proposed a new safety regulation designed to help eliminate blind zones behind vehicles that can hide the presence of pedestrians, especially young children and the elderly. Continue reading

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