Tag Archives: Automobile Safety

Texting While Driving

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Despite several nationwide campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of texting while driving, a new survey by the Automobile Club of Southern California says that it has not kept drivers from doing it. The rates of texting while driving dropped off after the ban began in January 2009, but have since risen to nearly pre-ban levels.

Although the California Highway Patrol has issued about 11,600 hand-held cellphone citations each month over the last year, it has issued an average of only 150 citations per month for texting. Catching drivers who are texting is tricky since drivers who are texting often keep their phones hidden in their laps.

The fact that we’re seeing a statistically significant rise in texting despite state bans indicates that additional efforts are needed to help deal with the problem. People are naive to believe that texting while driving does not affect their driving and should take driving seriously if not for their safety, at least for the safety of everyone else on the road.

Toyota Recalls Sequoia SUV’s

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Toyota has issued a recall for approximately 50,000, 2003 Sequoia sport SUV’s to fix a problem related to the unexpected slowing of the vehicle. Toyota said Wednesday that the recall would address the vehicle’s electronic stability control system, which helps maintain traction during turning. In some cases, the stability control could activate at low speed and prevent the SUV from accelerating as quickly as a driver expects. The company said that there have been no reports of accidents or injuries connected to the issue and about half of the vehicles had already been repaired under warranty.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had been investigating the issue so Toyota decided to recall the vehicles to address the government’s concerns. “Toyota is committed to investigating customer complaints more aggressively and to responding quickly to issues we identify in our vehicles,” said Steve St. Angelo, Toyota chief quality officer for North America.

Toyota owners will receive letters about the recall in late May, and any owners who paid for the fix should mail a copy of their repair order to the company’s U.S. headquarters in Torrance, Calif., for reimbursement. Owners can call (800) 331-4331 for more information.

Porsche Panamera Recalled For Seat Belts

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Porsche and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have issued a recall for 3,176, 2010 Porsche Panamera for faulty seat belt mounts. This recall is a concern for short drivers, since the mounts could fail when the front seat is adjusted in an extreme forward position, where the locking mechanism could detach from the anchoring system. The front seat belts operate properly in normal crash conditions with the seats adjusted to a more average driving position.

Porsche has not sent out owner notifications yet, so if owners of a Porsche Panamera want to check on the status of this recall, they should contact Porsche at 1-800-545-8039.

Ford Recall For Faulty Seats

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Ford Motor Co. will be recalling almost 33,500 of its 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans built from December 11-February 3 in Hermosilo, Mexico, and some 2010 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer SUV’s built from December 15-February 3 in Louisville, Kentucky. There have not been any reported injuries, but a potentially faulty front seat recliner mechanism could fail during a collision, which may lead to injuries.

The automaker said it expects to begin notifying owners of the recall by letter on April 30.

Automobile Recalls For March 2010

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Below are some of the automobile recalls for March 2010:

  • Chrysler is recalling model year 2010 Jeep Commander and Grand Cherokee vehicles. They may have been built with an improperly manufactured rear track bar reducing the vehicles stability. Dealers will inspect the rear track bar bushing retaining hoop and replace the rear track bar if any are found to be mis-positioned. The safety recall is expected to begin during April 2010. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
  • General Motors is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and model year 2007-2010 Pontiac G5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering. The driver may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist. The safety recall began on March 29, 2010. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
  • General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles for failing to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 103, “Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems.” These vehicles were built with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control knobs that may fracture and spin on the control shaft. The driver may no longer be able to control the heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle. If this condition affects the defrost system when it is required, it may decrease the driver’s visibility. Dealers will replace all HVAC control knobs free of charge. The safety recall began on March 11, 2010. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and GMC at 1-866-996-9463 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
  • Hyundai-Kia will recall certain model year 2011 Sonata vehicles manufactured from December 11, 2009 through February 15, 2010. The front inside door lock switch can remain in the unlatched position, and may open while the vehicle is in motion. Hyundai-Kia will notify owners and dealers will replace latches affected by this recall. The safety recall began on March 12, 2010. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-633-5151.
  • Nissan is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Titan, armada, and Infiniti QX56, and model year 2008-2009 Nissan Quest vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin end was not spin-formed to specification which could cause the pinto slide and cause the brake pedal to partially disengage from the brake pedal bracket. The driver will experience looseness in the pedal and a reduction in braking force. Dealers will inspect to see if the pivot pin had been formed properly and will replace the brake pedal assembly if necessary. The safety recall began on March 22, 2010. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
  • Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Titan, Armada, and Infiniti QX56 vehicles. The instrument panel fuel gauge may inaccurately display that the vehicle still has some fuel. Dealers will replace the fuel sender unit inside the fuel tank with a new improved sender card. The safety recall began on March 22, 2010. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
  • Nissan is recalling certain model year 2006 and model year 2008 Frontier, Xterra and Pathfinder vehicles. The molded fuel tank shells can deform, causing the fuel sender float arm to contact the tank shell causing the instrument panel fuel gauge to show that the vehicle has approximately one quarter tank when the fuel tank is empty. Dealers will replace the fuel level sending unit inside the fuel tank with a new one that has a modified float arm. The safety recall began on March 22, 2010. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
  • Porsche will recall certain model year 2011 Boxster Spyder 2 door convertible passenger vehicles. It is possible that the locking hook on the soft top may not engage correctly into the lock catch. If the soft top is not fully locked, it can open when traveling at higher speeds. Dealers will replace both the locking hook and lock catch with redesigned components. The safety recall is expected to begin during April 2010.
  • Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Tundra vehicles with four wheel drive. There is a possibility that an improper weld exists at the union of the propeller shaft and yoke. This joint may separate and the shaft may come into contact with the road surface. The safety recall is expected to begin during April 2010. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Linux Making Driving Safer

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Your GPS is great for getting you where your going, but the accuracy of the navigation system does have its downfalls. Leading you down a one way street or a dead end is not unheard of since changes on the roadways are not picked up by the GPS. Currently the mapping companies need to get someone to drive up and down streets in a vehicle with cameras fixed in all directions noting the changes on the streets. They take this footage back to the office where it is analyzed, frame by frame, and someone records where all the changes are. Because this is a tedious task, mistakes are often made.

The Smart Cars project, a joint effort between the National ICT Australia (NICTA), the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization (CSIR), and the Australian National University, could make these problems a thing of the past. The NICTA, using Linux based technology will develop technology to make personal navigation systems more accurate.

AutoMap, developed by the NICTA, uses machine vision techniques that can detect and classify geometric shapes from video footage. These shapes include things like signs and company logos, the type of fixtures that change frequently in a neighborhood and make it difficult for digital map makers to keep their products up to date. Instead of having cameras fixed to vehicles specifically for recording changes on the roads, the cameras can be mounted on vehicles that already travel the roads on a regular basis, such as taxi cabs or garbage trucks. The technology could be on the market in as little at 12 months.

How To Get Rid Of A Lemon In California

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The first step to getting rid of your “lemon” vehicle is to determine if your vehicle is actually a “lemon”. Here is a few criteria to go by to determine if you have a “lemon”.

  • If you start having problems with your automobile during the new car warranty period and you have taken it in four times or more, and the problem still has not been fixed, you could have a “lemon”.
  • If the problem is safety related, and is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, and your have taken it in two times or more and the problem still exists, you could have a “lemon”.
  • If your vehicle was out of service for a total of more than 30 days during the first 18 months or 18,000 miles and the problem is still not fixed, you could have a “lemon”.

The above paragraphs are only guidelines, but as long as your vehicle has substantial manufacturing defects which relate to safety, value, or use, and so long as they initially occurred within the new car warranty period (typically 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first) your vehicle may qualify as a meritorious lemon law claim.

If you have had repeated substantial problems, and if your vehicle is still not repaired, you should call 1-888-EX-LEMON or fill out the form at the top of the page for a free consultation with one of our experts to learn whether your vehicle qualifies or, if not, whether there are other legal alternatives.

If you are in California call our Lemon Law Offices:

Anywhere in California (free call): 1.888.ExLemon (395.3666)

  • California Lemon Law in Los Angeles: 310-475-1700
  • California Lemon Law in San Francisco: 415-285-5366
  • California Lemon Law in San Diego: 619-229-6900
  • California Lemon Law in Orange County: 949-856-4333
  • California Lemon Law in Palm Springs: 760-395-1000
  • California Lemon Law in San Fernando Valley: 818-837-0500

Acura ZDX Recall For Airbags

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Honda will be recalling approximately 1,850 2010 Acura ZDX vehicles for passenger side airbags. While no incidents have been reported, a manufacturing quality check revealed that some vehicles do not have the necessary laser-cut scoring on the underside of the dashboard surface material to allow the airbag to deploy properly. A simple visual check of the dashboard will be carried out, and if the vehicle does not have the proper scoring, it will be replaced.

Owners of affected vehicles will be informed by mail later this month. In addition, ZDX owners can go to http://owners.acura.com/recalls or may call (800) 382-2238 for more information.