Archive for the ‘NHTSA Investigations’ Category
Manufacturers need to “solve this puzzle,” says IIHS president.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.25, 2019
Rear-seat occupants are less likely to survive some frontal crashes than those up front, warns the IIHS.
Automotive manufacturers have made significant improvements in safety in recent years, but rear-seat passengers may be getting left behind, according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The insurance industry trade group studied more than 100 fatal crashes, while conducting a series of its own tests, and found that passengers seated in the rear are less likely to survive a frontal collision because they often don’t have access to effective safety systems such as frontal airbags.
Breaking News!
“Manufacturers have put a lot of work into improving protection for drivers and front-seat passengers,” IIHS President David Harkey said in a statement. “We hope a new evaluation will spur similar progress in the back seat.”
(more…)
Tags: airbag, auto news, auto safety, car crash, car news, iihs crash test, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, rear seat safety, thedetroitbureau, vehicle safety
Posted in Advocacy Groups, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Lawsuits/Legal, NHTSA Investigations, Regulatory, Safety, Safety, Technology, Traffic Fatalities | Comments Off
ZF-TRW produced airbags for six automakers.
by Michael Strong on Apr.24, 2019
The 2011–13 Kia Optima has already been recalled once for an airbag problem.
As U.S. auto safety regulators are attempting to wind down the ongoing Takata airbag debacle, they are now investigating nearly 12.3 million vehicles with airbags that may not inflate during a collision.
The vehicles are equipped with airbags produced by ZF-TRW, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and could be responsible for as many as eight fatalities. The airbags do not inflate due to faulty control units.
News You Can Trust!
The investigation involves 2010-2019 model year vehicles produced by Fiat Chrysler, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi and Toyota. (more…)
Tags: NHTSA airbag analysis, NHTSA investigates 12.3 million airbags, TheDetroitBureau.com., ZF-TRW airbags under investigation, ZF-TRW faulty airbags, auto news, faulty airbag investigation, michael strong, safety news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Coupes, Crossovers/CUVs, FCA, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lawsuits/Legal, Markets, Minivans, Mitsubishi, NHTSA Investigations, Regulatory, Safety, Safety, Sedans, Technology, Toyota, Traffic Fatalities, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Driver was at the wheel of 2002 Honda Civic: 14th Honda fatality.
by Michael Strong on Mar.29, 2019
Takata's faulty airbags claimed their 16th victim in the U.S. Fatality discovered during recent NHTSA and American Honda investigation.
Takata’s faulty airbags that triggered the most expansive automotive recall in U.S. industry have killed another person, according to a newly completed investigation, bringing the total number of U.S. fatalities tied to the airbags to 16.
Following a joint inspection by American Honda Co. and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it was determined the driver of a 2002 Honda Civic was killed June 8, 2018, in Buckeye, Arizona.
News Now!
After sustaining injuries from the ruptured inflator, the unidentified driver died June 11. It is the 14thperson killed driving a Honda equipped with Takata airbags. More than 200 people have been injured by the faulty devices. (more…)
Tags: Takata airbag death toll at 16, Takata deadly airbags, Takata millions of airbag recalls, Takata news, Takata recall efforts, Takata's 16th U.S. airbag death, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, michael strong, takata airbag recall, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Executives, Honda, Markets, NHTSA Investigations, Personalities, Politicians, Recalls, Safety, Sedans, Traffic Fatalities, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Sometimes the transmission will downshift to first gear unexpectedly.
by Michael Strong on Feb.13, 2019
Ford is recalling 1.48 million F-150 trucks from model years 2011–13 due to a transmission downshift problem.
Ford Motor Co is recalling 1.48 million F-150 pickup trucks because of a transmission issue that could, in certain circumstances, lead to a crash.
The company said that select 2011–13 model year trucks with six-speed automatic transmissions could downshift into first gear without warning. This downshift could cause the axle to lock up, causing the truck to skid and the driver to lose control.
Breaking News!
As of now, there have been five accidents and one injury – whiplash – reported tied to the problem. The recall covers 1.26 million trucks in the U.S. The rest are in Canada. Affected 2011-13 F-150 vehicles were built at Dearborn Assembly Plant, April 28, 2010 to Oct. 28, 2013, and Kansas City Assembly Plant, May 18, 2010 to Nov. 18, 2013. (more…)
Tags: Ford recall news, Ford recalling 1.48 million trucks, Ford recalling 1.48M trucks for transmission downshift problem, Ford transmission problem means recall, Ford truck recall comes after five crashes, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ford news, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Business, Executives, Ford, Markets, NHTSA Investigations, Personalities, Pickups, Politicians, Quality and Reliability, Recalls, Safety, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Agency also seeks comment on vehicle communications technology.
by Michael Strong on Dec.18, 2018
GM plans to introduce a fully driverless version of the Bolt EV in 2019 for ride-sharing fleets.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will no longer need to determine if a petition complete to issue summary for public comment, hoping to accelerate the process for getting autonomous vehicles on the road.
The agency cut the requirement wanting to improve “the efficiency and transparency of the process to focus on the safety review,” according to Reuters. Now the agency can zero in on the safety of a vehicle without a driver or steering wheel and brakes.
Subscribe Now!
Automakers currently meet nearly dozens of auto safety standards, often based on the assumption that a licensed driver would be able to control the vehicle using traditional human controls, Reuters noted. (more…)
Tags: NHTSA cuts approval time on autonomous reviews, NHTSA cuts autonomous requirements, NHTSA speeds up self-driving vehicle reviews, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration review, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, michael strong, nhtsa news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, Driverless Vehicles, Lawsuits/Legal, Markets, NHTSA Investigations, Personalities, Politicians, Ride-Sharing, Safety, Technology, Technology, U.S./North America, V2V | Comments Off
Safety regulators investigating problems with vehicles.
by Michael Strong on Dec.17, 2018
The 2014 Sonata is part of an NHTSA investigation about engine fires.
U.S. owners of select Hyundai and Kia models filed suit against the automakers in the U.S. trying to resolve a possible defected that may cause some engines to catch fire. The affected vehicles are already part of an ongoing investigation by U.S. regulators.
The more than 350 complaints filed by vehicle owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration constitutes “concealment of the defect,” according to the class action suit filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District Court of California by law firm Hagens Berman.
News Now!
The fires have been occurring for some time, but have been difficult to separate from fires that occurred as a result of a crash and those that happened before or after a crash. In Florida, more than 400 fires were reported, but just 120 of those fit the description for the lawsuit. (more…)
Tags: 1.6 million Kia Hyundai complaints, Hyundai Kia fire lawsuit, Kia Hyundai engine fires, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, hyundai news, kia news, michael strong, new class-action suit Hyundai Kia engine fires, owners file class-action lawsuit, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Advocacy Groups, Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Hyundai, Kia, Lawsuits/Legal, Markets, NHTSA Investigations, Recalls, Safety, Sedans, U.S./North America | Comments Off
VW officials say it wasn't possible for him to know early.
by Michael Strong on Dec.10, 2018
VW Chairman Hans Dieter Poetisch denies having knowledge of the scope of the diesel cheating scandal
Volkswagen officials are denying reports that Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch knew about the diesel emissions cheating allegations before they were revealed by U.S. authorities in September 2015.
German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported that Poetsch found out about the carmaker’s violations of the rules in late June 2015. He was Volkswagen’s head of finance at that time. The company was led by Martin Winterkorn, who later resigned due to the scandal.
Global News!
The paper cites a confidential presentation from the VW legal department, which was made available to investigators handling alleged market manipulation. One of the investigations centered on VW is if executives acted quickly enough and if not, was it done to manipulate the company’s value. (more…)
Tags: Poetsch denies early diesel knowledge, TheDetroitBureau.com., VW Chairman Hans Dieter Poetisch, VW denies Poetsch knew early, VW's Poetisch, auto news, diesel news, lawsuit claims Poetsch saw presentation, michael strong, thedetroitbureau, vw diesel scandal, vw news
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Diesel, Europe, Executives, Financials, Investors, Lawsuits/Legal, Markets, NHTSA Investigations, Personalities, Safety, U.S./North America, Volkswagen | Comments Off
Agency hasn't yet issued a recall over the matter.
by Michael Strong on Nov.23, 2018
The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado is being investigated for a brake problem. The query covers 2.7 million vehicles.
Federal safety regulators are investigating problems with 2.7 million General Motors full-size pickups and sport-utility vehicles after fielding more than 100 complaints with the brakes on those vehicles.
A brake vacuum pump may break down, requiring the driver to employ increased braking effort resulting longer stopping distances, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Recall News!
The safety agency has fielded 111 complaints, which include nine crashes and two injuries. (more…)
Tags: GM 111 complaints about brakes, GM full-size truck brake issue, GM probed by NHTSA, GM trucks and utes brake problem, NHTSA investigates GM brake problem, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, gm news, michael strong, nhtsa news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Executives, GM, GMC, Markets, NHTSA Investigations, Personalities, Pickups, Politicians, SUVs, Safety, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Initial action taken in 2013 covered about 370,000 vehicles.
by Michael Strong on Nov.06, 2018
GM may be forced to recall an additional 1.7 million SUVs due to a faulty windshield wiper.
General Motors is under investigation by U.S. safety regulators that are considering forcing the company to expand a windshield wiper recall to cover 1.7 million additional sport-utility vehicles.
The company recalled 368,000 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain SUVs for the 2013 model year. The government is mulling having the expand the action to include vehicles from 2010 through 2016, according to multiple reports.
News You Can Trust!
GM issued the initial recall of the SUVs in August 2016 because the wipers could fail. Water and other debris could get into the wiper assembly ball joints, leading to wear and eventual joint failure. (more…)
Tags: GM Recall, GM SUV wiper recall, GM may be forced to expand recall, GM wiper recall expansion, TheDetroitBureau.com., U.S. regulators considering expanding recall, auto news, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Lawsuits/Legal, Markets, NHTSA Investigations, Recalls, SUVs, Safety, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Agency accuses automaker of dragging heels on issuing recalls.
by Michael Strong on Oct.30, 2018
The 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is part of Daimler's recall of 1 million vehicles to resolve and airbag problem.
Mercedes-Benz USA is alleged to have dragged its heels on mailing recall notes to the owners of 1.4 million vehicles in the U.S.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it found after an extensive review the German automaker has been exceeding the time limits for mailing informational letters to owners about recalls for their automobiles.
Product News!
The safety agency also has questions about the company’s process for making recall decision, specifically the time it takes to make the call and inform the U.S. government. (more…)
Tags: Mercedes NHTSA query, Mercedes being investigated by NHTSA, NHTSA investigating Mercedes, NHTSA questioning Mercedes recall practices, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, michael strong, recall news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Business, Executives, Lawsuits/Legal, Markets, Mercedes, NHTSA Investigations, Personalities, Politicians, Safety, U.S./North America | Comments Off
