Category Archives: Automotive News

Dodge & RAM Reduced Charging & Engine Stalls

Posted on by

Chrysler will be contacting owners of certain Dodge Charger Police cars and RAM trucks regarding a problem affecting the electrical system. The affected vehicles could experience premature thermal fatigue of the silicon rubber diodes in the alternator. The diodes could develop a short which could result in the failure of the vehicle charging system and a risk of engine stalls and/or a vehicle fire. Drivers may experience a reduction in vehicle charging and/or a low battery indicator warning.

The vehicles affected include:

Continue reading →

Another NHTSA Investigation Into Airbag Safety

Posted on by

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have upgraded an investigation into exploding airbag inflators made by ARC Automotive Incorporated after a Canadian woman was killed during a low speed accident. According to a spokesman for Transport Canada, the woman may have survived the accident had she not suffered shrapnel injuries. The NHTSA began looking at ARC airbags last year after reports that an Ohio woman was seriously injured by a rupturing airbag when her 2002 Chrysler Town and Country minivan crashed. Investigators say another injury involving a 2004 Kia Optima also had an ARC inflator installed from the same factory.

The NHTSA are focusing on airbags made between 2000 and September 2004, but do not believe that humidity is the cause of the problem. The probe into the ARC inflators is similar to the Takata issue which resulted in 69 million Takata airbags recalled in the U.S.

View the full details of the NHTSA ARC Airbag Investigation HERE.

Will VW Buy Back 3.0L Vehicles For Cheating On Emissions Tests?

Posted on by

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Volkswagen are continuing talks on how to repair VW, Audi, and Porsche 3.0L diesel engines for cheating on emissions tests, after California regulators reject VW’s most recent recall proposal. In a letter to Volkswagen, CARB listed the failures of the proposed solution, saying that the company failed to provide a full description of the defeat devices, the impact the fix would have on vehicle performance and emissions, or even a description of the fix that would allow CARB to evaluate its feasibility.

The announcement is a setback for the automaker who believed that the 3.0-liter TDI models sold by Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen would only require a software update. If the manufacturer is unable to come up with a satisfactory fix, they could be forced into buying back almost 85,000 vehicles. VW also continues to face lawsuits by investors and dealerships in the U.S., as well as from consumer in Germany.

NHTSA Calls On Media And Public To Help Fix High-Risk Takata Airbags

Posted on by

New data affecting defective Takata air bag inflators in certain 2001-2003 Honda and Acura vehicles, has found a high risk of ruptures during air bag deployment. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are asking the media and public to ensure that vehicles in this population are found and fixed before they cause injuries or fatalities. According to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, there is a 50% higher chance that these air bag inflators could rupture in a crash. Owners should stop driving their vehicles and have the airbags replace immediately. Continue reading →

California Rejects VW Emissions Recall Plan For 3.0L Engines

Posted on by

Settlement Reach For VW 2.0L Engines

Volkswagen and the Federal Government have come to an agreement of compensation regarding certain diesel cars that were programmed to pass government emissions test despite emitting over 40 times the legal limit of pollutants. Volkswagen will pay up to $15 billion in consumer compensation with approximately $10 billion going to owners who can have their vehicles repaired or bought back. The models included are the 2009-2015 Jetta and Audi A3, the 2010-2015 Golf, and the 2012-2015 Beetle and Passat, equipped with two-liter engines.

Watch the video below for everything you need to know about the VW Settlement.

California Rejects VW Emissions Recall Plan For 3.0L Engines

Continue reading →

Tesla Model S Fatality Questions Autopilot Safety

Posted on by

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have opened an investigation into a May 7th fatal crash involving a Tesla electric car. At the time of the accident, it is believed that the “Autopilot” was controlling the vehicle while the driver was distracted. Witnessed say the driver of the car may have been watching a movie when the collision happened. Continue reading →

Recall Rental Law Protects Drivers From Safety Defects

Posted on by

On December 4, 2015 President Obama signed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Pub. L. No. 114-94) into law. Although the federal act focuses primarily on maintaining infrastructure, a major provision within the regulations includes rules affecting automobile rental companies. The legislation was championed by the family of Raechel and Jacqueline Houck, sisters who died in a rental vehicle that was under a safety recall that had not been repaired.

Beginning June 1, 2016, any company or dealer with fleets greater than 35 will be prohibited from renting vehicles with recalls until the problem has been fixed. Although the bill passed with the support of the rental car industry and the input of the American Car Rental Association, smaller independent companies question how the bill will affect their business. Often, automakers will announce a recall without a timeline for repairs or parts, leaving some fleets with cars parked for a potentially long time. Continue reading →