Tag Archives: NHTSA

Chrysler’s Recall For Sticky Gas Pedals

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After the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received five complaints of sticky gas pedals, Chrysler has been quick to recall about 25,000, 2007 Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass vehicles. The problem started to surface in late April, and is being blamed on the pedal system built by the CTS Corporation of Elkhart, Indiana, the same company that built the accelerator pedal assemblies that were involved in the Toyota recall.

A NHTSA analysis found that the problem resulted because pockets in the pedal assembly that hold bushings, which act as a bearing for the pivot shaft of the accelerator pedal arm, were too large. Chrysler said the vehicles were equipped with an electronic throttle control system that reduced engine power when there was a “disagreement” between the brake and the accelerator signals, adding that the system prevented the pedal problem from causing “an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.”

Only pedals installed in cars manufactured between March 7 and May 19, 2006, are affected. The automaker said its recall was designed to find those faulty pedal assemblies and replace them.

CTS denies that its pedals cause sudden acceleration or that the pedals can even fully stick. It called the issue a “slow return pedal phenomenon,” and said in a statement that it was unaware of any accidents or injuries because of the problem. Regulators have opened a defect investigation into CTS, the first ever taken against the company.

The Cost Of Black Boxes On Automobiles

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The automotive safety bill progressing through Congress promises to make automobiles much safer for consumers, but in the process, they will also become more expensive. The reason for this is that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) hopes to equip all vehicles with ‘black boxes’ similar to those installed in aircraft.

Some estimates say that more than half of the new cars and trucks on the market today are already equipped with these event data recorders. The device, a small computer mounted in the passenger compartment, continuously records and deletes the most-recent few seconds of data about the vehicles speed, acceleration and deceleration, and other performance factors. They are also part of the airbag control unit, which uses vehicle data to determine when to deploy airbags.

The problem with the already existing computers is that they are not durable enough to withstand a crash. In order to do this, they must be made waterproof and fireproof, adding more bulk and complexity which will lead to a total new design of the system. This could increase the price tag of a vehicle by $4,000 to $5,000 more.

While the NHTSA advertises these ‘black boxes’ as a good thing for consumers, it’s an even bigger business opportunity for the suppliers of the technology. If the bill passes, the regulations would take effect beginning in the 2015 model year, but the specifications that NHTSA will mandate for the ‘black boxes’ have not been determined yet.

Automobile “Secret Warranties”

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When someone buys a new car, it comes with a warranty. We have the California Lemon Laws (aka: Song Beverly Consumer Warranty Act) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which all work together to protect the consumer when buying a vehicle. We also expect the dealership to deal fairly with consumers and sell us vehicles that are safe and free of defects. One more category of protection that you will never read about in your vehicle warranty documents is the “secret warranty”.

When a car manufacturer builds a new vehicle many of the parts are manufactured all over the world. Once the vehicle is put together, it is tested to make sure there are no defects. Often during the testing phase, problems are found that are regarded as low risk and the automobile will be allowed to go into production. When the problem starts to turn up in a few vehicles most often, they just get repaired. For those few consumers who make a big fuss and threaten to report the problem to the NHTSA, the dealership makes a “special exception” and fixes the vehicle defect at no cost. They know that the problem exists, but it is cheaper to repair the few vehicles that come in rather than issue a recall. Every automobile manufacturer has at least one ‘secret warranty’, and often have three or four. If too many safety defects get reported, the NHTSA will issue a recall.

If you have a defect in your car, do your homework. Go online and find out if other owners are experiencing the same defects. Read about the lemon law and find out if a ‘secret warranty’ exists and get the service you deserve.

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Another Safety Probe For Toyota

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As Transportation chief Ray LaHood met with president of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, another safety probe is on the horizon. This time, Federal regulators are examining whether Toyota delayed disclosing a defect in the steering system in 4Runner SUVs and T100 trucks. The probe was launched when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received documents Friday indicating that Toyota had potentially misled the government in 2005 over problems with steering linkages in its 1989-95 4Runner and the 1993-98 T100 vehicles.

Toyota said it had recalled HiLux trucks sold in Japan but no recall was necessary in the U.S., because there had not been any complaints. But four lawsuits filed in 2009 in Los Angeles, showed that there had been complaints as far back as 2000 on models using the same linkages. It wasn’t until 2005 that the automaker recalled vehicles in the U.S. to replace the steering relay rods.

In addition to the new investigation, NHTSA is examining whether the company’s recalls for floor mats and sticky pedals that could cause sudden acceleration were timely. In addition to investigating sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles, the stability control system in the Sequoia SUV, stalling problems in the Corolla and Matrix, steering wander in the Corolla and Matrix and braking performance in the Prius.

But NHTSA has also come under fire for its handling of the Toyota defect scandal. In the last eight years, the agency closed multiple investigations involving Toyota despite thousands of complaints and allegations of several dozen deaths caused by sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles.

Moter Vehicle Safety Act of 2010

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Legislation drafted by House committee representatives Henry Waxman and Bobby Rush is one of the biggest overhauls of federal motor vehicle safety regulations in over a decade. The bill, called the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010, hopes to reshape auto safety regulations and significantly boost potential fines against automakers for violation of safety laws. The installation of black boxes (also known as event data recorders) and brake override systems are only a couple of the half a dozen new safety standard rules that will be included.

Removal of the existing $16.4 million cap on civil penalties, raising individual violation fines from $6,000 to $25,000, a $250 million fine for executive who knowingly provide false information, and a new tax of $9 per new vehicle after three years to help fund the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and some of the new requirements of the law, are sure to face opposition from automakers.

Beyond fines and taxes, the bill would dramatically overhaul the federal government’s ability to oversee rapidly advancing electronics technology by creating a center for vehicle electronics and emerging technologies.

The proposed law will be introduced in a hearing on May 6 by the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on commerce, trade and consumer protection.

Toyota Serious About Safety

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The Consumer Reports warning not to purchase the Lexus GX 460 SUV is just another blow to Toyota questioning their vehicles safety. It seems that Toyota has learned from their unintended acceleration recall, because they are not only looking into the GX 460 problem, but they will be testing their entire SUV lineup of Toyota and Lexus. Popular models such as the RAV4, 4Runner, and the Highlander will all be scrutinized, said Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons. The automaker will be testing the vehicles’ stability control and aims to replicate the Consumer Reports’ test that first uncovered the problem.

Another Step To Prevent Distracted Drivers

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In an effort to make roads safer from distracted drivers, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is kicking off pilot programs in Hartford, Connecticut and Syracuse, New York to test whether increased law enforcement efforts can get distracted drivers to put down their cell phones and focus on the road. California, Connecticut, N.J., N.Y., Oregon and Washington prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving and twenty-two states have enacted texting bans.

The program, similar to curb drunk driving and increase seat belt use among drivers, are the first federally funded efforts in the country to focus on the effects of increased enforcement and public advertising on reducing distracted driving. Drivers caught texting or talking on a hand-held cell phone will be pulled over and ticketed. The message is simple, “Phone in One Hand. Ticket in the Other.”

Each pilot program is supported by $200,000 in federal funds and matched by $100,000 from the state. Researchers will study changes in attitudes and behavior and the results will serve as a model for employing high visibility enforcement, education and outreach to reduce distracted driving behaviors in other cities and states across the country.

“There is no question that high-visibility enforcement combined with effective public advertising works. We’ve seen the results first-hand with national campaigns like Click It or Ticket and Drunk Driving. Over The Limit. Under Arrest,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.

Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that in 2008 alone, nearly 6,000 people were killed and more than a half million people were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver.

NHTSA Investigate GM Brake Failure

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is opening up an investigation into corroded brake lines in Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks and SUVs after receiving over 100 complaints from consumers. The problem could affect 6 million vehicles from 1999 through 2003 and has been blamed for three crashes, none of which injuries were sustained. The NHTSA suspects that the problem comes from vehicles driving in snowy northern states where salt is used for icy conditions.

GM spokesman Alan Adler said the company is aware of the issue and is working with NHTSA to look at possible causes and consequences of the alleged defect.