Tag Archives: Video

Honda Accord Sub Frame Rusting

Posted on by

The Center for Auto Safety is urging Honda to issue a recall on certain 1999-2002 Honda Accords after an exclusive 5 On Your Side investigation exposed a potential safety issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there have been 11 complaints since 2009 of sub frame rust that have left owners with vehicles that are unsafe to drive. The complaints allege that water from the air conditioning drain hose dips down onto the passenger side sub frame rusting it so badly that the frame can separate from the vehicle. The above video shows that while the passenger side disintegrated from rust, the driver side is often rust free.

A spokesperson for Honda confirmed that the company has also received similar complaints, but said they do not believe the defect warrants a safety bulletin or recall. In 2003 Honda changed the location of the drain hose, but said that the design change is unrelated to the problem. If the investigation should lead to a recall, approximately 1.5 million vehicles could be affected.

Powering EVs With Lithium-Air Batteries

Posted on by

Consumers who are thinking of purchasing an electric car are usually deterred by the range of the lithium-ion battery used as the power source. Concerns about range, life expectancy, and the ability to find a charging station usually results in the consumer purchasing the vehicle with the technology they are familiar with, the combustion engine. Researchers are hoping to change consumers attitude toward electric vehicles with a new electrochemical cell called the lithium-air battery.

Lithium-air batteries are attractive to researchers because they rely on air as the cathode and lithium metal as the anode. This allows the battery to be lighter and can offer up to ten times more energy per density mass unit than conventional lithium-ion batteries. The first lithium-air battery was developed in the mid 1990’s but the technology still requires improvements before we can expect to see it used commercially.

  • The battery requires a steady flow of oxygen to operate, so an air compressor and blower will need to be added to the system. This not only negates the weight reduced on the battery, but adds extra parts to the system.
  • Lithium metal is highly flammable when exposed to water, so water vapor must be removed from the air and a water tight encasing is required.

Despite recent significant improvements in the technology, researchers say we are still 15 to 20 years from seeing it offered to the public. Once the battery has been approved a long term array of testing is required to make sure the battery can be used safely.

Mazda Tribute Problems Same As Ford Escape

Posted on by

Safety advocates encouraging a recall of certain 2002-2004 Ford Escape vehicles are also asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to include the 2002-2004 Mazda Tribute in their investigation. According to the group, both sport utility vehicles (SUV) are similar vehicles built on the same assembly line. In 2004 Ford and Mazda issued identical recalls for unintended acceleration caused by an accelerator cable that may not return to the idle position. Ford later issued a technical service bulletin that warned dealers that an improper repair could lead to an adjacent cruise control cable being damaged and snagging on the engine cover causing unintended acceleration. The Center for Auto Safety say that because the vehicles are so similar and there is no way of knowing whether the recalls were carried out correctly, Ford and Mazda should issue a recall to ensure the safety of the vehicles.

Ford Escape Investigated

Posted on by

The Center for Auto Safety (CAS) is encouraging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to open an investigation into certain 2002-2004 Ford Escape vehicles that could be susceptible to unintended acceleration after being repaired for another recall. According to the consumer safety group, the original recall involved accelerator cables snagging on the accelerator pedals, preventing the engine from returning to idle. The group says that almost a year later, Ford issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) which cautioned dealers to take extra care when correcting the recall because the adjacent cruise control cable could be damaged in the process. The damage could allow the cable to snag on a ridge in the engine cover causing unintended acceleration. There have been over 130 complaints from owners claiming they experienced sudden acceleration before and after the original recall was performed. The recall petition also mentions a case in Payson, Ariz., where a 17 year old died in a crash that was blamed on a snagged cruise control cable. According to Ford, they are currently working with the NHTSA to investigate the problem.

Automobile Sales Up For June

Posted on by


Automobile manufacturers reported strong vehicle sales in June despite analysts predictions that the automobile economy is likely to slow for the summer. The average increase for dealership sales was 22% with Toyota and Honda showing the strongest gains. Consumer interest in larger vehicles, such as pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) is being attributed to a sudden drop in the price of fuel, and low interest rates and the release of new models is bringing in consumers who have been delaying purchasing a new vehicle because of lack of confidence in the economy.

Defective Window Switch Investigation Expands

Posted on by

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is expanding an investigation into defective power window switches in some Toyota and GM vehicles. Both investigation began in February after vehicle owners reported intermittent power windows, the smell of smoke, and in rare occasions fires. If the investigation leads to a recall, approximately 1.4 million Toyota and 342,000 GM vehicles could be involved. The vehicles under investigation includes:

  • 2007-2009 Toyota Camry
  • 2007-2009 Toyota Yaris
  • 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUVs
  • 2006-2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SUVs

The NHTSA said that it also will evaluate other GM vehicles with the same underpinnings. They include:

  • Buick Rainier
  • GMC Envoy
  • Isuzu Ascender
  • Saab 9-7X SUVs

Car To Car Networking

Posted on by

David Strickland, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has announced that the NHTSA is considering new regulations that they say could eliminate up to 80% of traffic accidents. The agency will be conducting a year long study involving about 3,000 vehicles to test technology that will allow car to car networking. General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes Benz, Nissan and Volkswagen will all be working with the NHTSA to provide support for the study.

The above video shows how interconnected sensors in vehicles will gather information about the conditions around it and will send this information through a wireless local network to surrounding vehicles. Other drivers will be alerted about slow-downs, bad weather, accidents and other road problems ahead and can safely reduce their speed. If the new technology is adopted, it could benefit Google as they talk to car companies about developing self driving cars to bring to the market within the next decade.

California Lemon Law Basics

Posted on by

Common California lemon law misconceptions have prevented thousands of lemon owners from trying to get rid of their vehicle and get their money back. The requirements of the lemon laws are technical, differ from state to state, and different manufacturers may interpret their obligations differently. It is important to get an attorney who is experienced in the lemon law of the state you live in. If you live in California and think you have a lemon, contact the lemon law firm of Delsack & Associates at 1-888-395-3666, for a free consultation or go to LemonLawSpecialitsts.com, and GET RID OF YOUR LEMON TODAY!