The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have revealed their plans to more aggressively enforce automobile safety after admitting to missing signs of ignition problems affecting millions of GM vehicles. The Administration will be using a team of auto safety system experts who will spend a year advising the NHTSA about implementing new reforms to strengthen its investigation processes, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Automobile Safety
Vehicle Safety Improvement Act Of 2015
The House of Energy and Commerce Committee have introduced a safety bill designed to increase penalties for auto, tire, and auto parts makers that fail to recall defective products or notify the government of safety problems. The Vehicle Safety Improvement Act, introduced Feb. 27, 2015, hopes to address a number of shortfalls in the current system by enhancing congress oversight of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and making safety information more readily available to consumers. Continue reading
Takata Airbag Recall Expands Again
Takata continues to make the news as Japans three biggest automobile manufacturers, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, announce that they are expanding the recall for faulty airbags. Over 30 million vehicles world wide have been recalled over the defect and it has been linked to six deaths and over 100 injuries. Although it is not known for sure why Takata airbags are prone to exploding some suspect the ammonium nitrate used to inflate them can overheat, especially in high humidity, and shower passengers and drivers with shrapnel from the canisters holding them. Continue reading
Dealerships Propose Bill To Protect Consumers From Unfixed Recalls
In response to the NHTSA pushing congress to change rules that will force car rental companies and used car dealerships to fix recalls, California car dealers have come up with their own version of a fix they say will protect consumers. The organization is proposing a state bill that would require 100% disclosure of recalls for used car sales. Dealerships would be obligated to tell you about all defects and where you can go to get it fixed, same line dealerships would have to make repairs before they could sell a recalled car, and serious recalls, as defined by manufacturers, would have to be fixed no matter which type of dealership is selling it. Continue reading
2011-2013 Chevy Volt Software Safety Defect
General Motors will be notifying certain 2011-2013 Chevrolet Volt owners about a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety. According to reports, it is possible that drivers could exit their vehicle while inadvertently leaving them “On”. After a period of time, the vehicle’s battery could drain and the vehicle’s gas engine will automatically start to run to recharge it. If the gas engine runs for long periods of time within an enclosed space, such as a garage, carbon monoxide could build up potentially causing injury. Continue reading
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Repeated Safety Defects
If you are the owner of a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, you are probably aware of the repeated problems experienced by many drivers. With over four hundred complaints and eight recalls, this model year Grand Cherokee has gained a reputation as a lemon vehicle. Airbag, electrical, electronic stability control (ECS), vehicle speed control, and brake problems have been blamed for unsafe driving conditions and accidents on several occasions. Continue reading
RECALL Act – Repair Every Car to Avoid Lost Lives Act
A new legislation introduced to the senate this week, would force states to inform drivers about safety recalls on their vehicles and require them to have repairs done before renewing their registration. The Repair Every Car to Avoid Lost Lives, or RECALL Act, has been introduced to address the millions of vehicles that have unfixed recalls and concerns that less that 70% of vehicle repairs are done within 18 months of being recalled. The bill has already received support from several consumer groups including the Center for Auto Safety, the Consumer Federation of America, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and even some automakers.
IIHS Study Shows Improvements In Automobile Safety
A recent study done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) looked at driver fatality rates in 2009-2012 model year vehicles. The study found nine models that are so safe that they had a driver death rate of zero. (Only eight years ago there were no car manufacturers who could make this claim.) These mostly 2011 models, show how the chances of dying in a car crash have steadily decreased over the last few years. Improvements in car safety such as electronic stability control, which was not required by federal mandate until 2011, have been a huge factor in preventing automobile accidents. “We know from our vehicle ratings program that crash-test performance has been getting steadily better,” according to David Zuby, IIHS’ executive vice president. “These latest death rates provide new confirmation that real-world outcomes are improving, too.” Continue reading
