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Tag Archives: odi
NHTSA Opens Tesla Probe for Steering Wheels Falling Off
In the filing, ODI said both vehicles received an end of line repair requiring removal and re-installation of the steering wheel. A friction fit maintained the connection between the steering wheel and the column splines during operation until separation. Sudden separation occurred when the force exerted on the steering wheel overcame the resistance of the friction fit while the vehicles were in motion. Both known incidents occurred at low vehicle mileage. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino, NHTSA PE23003, odi
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Crown Victoria, Lincoln Town Car Recalls for Bad Steering
The recall was prompted by a NHTSA engineering investigation after receiving multiple complaints. Continue reading
Posted in recalls, safety
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, ford recalls, Ken Zino, nhtsa, odi
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Unintended Acceleration on 730,000 Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute SUVs under NHTSA Scrutiny in New Preliminary Investigation
The Center for Auto Safety had petitioned NHTSA last week to open defect investigations on the V6 Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute models equipped with cruise control. NHTSA opened its own investigation instead, in a move that was required given the seriousness of the allegations that were about to become public.
In a defensive bureaucratic move, NHTSA also denied a CAS request for potentially embarrassing public hearings about the safety agency’s, as well as Ford Motor’s and Mazda’s lack of corrective action thus far. To make matters more complicated and potentially more image damaging for all involved, it is possible that an earlier safety recall resulted in more unintended acceleration accidents on the models involved. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, litigation, news analysis, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, cas, escape and tribute stuck gas pedals, ford unintended acceleration, Ken Zino, mazda unintended acceleration, nhtsa, odi, toyota unintended acceleration, unintended acceleration
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NHTSA Investigating Chevrolet Cruze and Jeep Wrangler Fires
There are three steps in the NHTSA recall process. P.E. – Preliminary Evaluation, E.A. – Engineering Analysis – and then a so-called ‘voluntary’ recall or rarely a NHTSA forced recall. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, cruze fires, Ken Zino, nhtsa, odi, recalls, wrangler fire
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NHTSA Upgrades Probe of Saturn Automatic Transmissions
When NHTSA began the safety defect probe last May only 2007 model year Saturn Aura sedans were implicated. Now the investigation has been expanded to 2008 models as well, covering more than 88,000 Saturn models. In a regulatory filing this week NHTSA said that at least seven accidents have been reported. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news, recalls, safety
Tagged aura transmission defect, auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Ken Zino, nhtsa, odi, safety defects, saturn, saturn aura, saturn safety defect, zino
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NHTSA Probes GM Electric Power Steering Sudden Failure
Complicating matters for General Motors is the EPS system used in those vehicles is the same as that used in 2005 -2010 model year Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 models. In March of 2010, GM recalled more than 1 million of them to fix a defect with the EPS assist motor. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, engineering, news analysis, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, auto news, auto safety, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Chevrolet Cobalt, chevrolet malibu, electric power steering failures, electric power steering sudden failures, Ken Zino, nhtsa, odi, Pontiac G5, safety defects, Saturn Ion. Pontiac G6, steering defect investigation, zino
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NHTSA Opens BMW Defect Probe on 120,000 7-Series Models
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary engineering investigation on 120,000 2002-2008 BMW 7-Series models because of one complaint. The Office of Defects Investigation said in a regulatory filing today that it has received a single complaint from a consumer alleging a rollaway incident with a model year 2006 BMW 7-Series vehicle after parking and exiting the vehicle. Continue reading
NHTSA Investigating Ford Mustang Manual Transmissions
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigations has received 32 complaints alleging an unexpected inability to shift into gear on model year 2011-2012 Ford Mustangs equipped with manual transmissions. According to a filing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration some of the reports allege that the incidents occurred while merging into high speed traffic; others allege that incidents occurred while turning left across oncoming traffic. Continue reading
NHTSA Scrutinizing Ford Fusion for Wheels Falling Off
Since the root cause is thus far officially unknown, and Ford’s investigation is ongoing – a recall if it comes could include more model years than the one that spawned the inquiry. Fusion is – and has been Ford’s best selling car, meaning more than one million vehicles could be affected, since it’s selling at roughly 200,000 units annually. Continue reading
Ford Recalls EcoSport and Focus Models for Engine Seizures
A loss of engine oil pressure can result in engine damage or seizure, which can result in a loss of motive power and a loss of the mechanical vacuum pump required to provide power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash. The engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm may fracture, separate from the tensioner backing plate, and/or the oil pump drive belt material may degrade and lose teeth, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure, according to the NHTSA filing. Continue reading →