The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating certain 2008-2009 Mercecdes Benz C-Class vehicles after receiving 21 complaints from owners who say they experienced a loss of one or more rear lamp assemblies as well as overheated electrical connector that resulted in melting connectors, smoke, and fires from the rear lamp connector in the trunk. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Safety Investigation
Chrysler Recalls Jeep SUVs For Fire Risk
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation into certain Jeep vehicles experiencing a high rate of fires due to rear impact accidents, has finally resulted in a recall. Continue reading
Honda Odyssey Airbags Investigated
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have opened a preliminary investigation into whether certain 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey Minivans should be recalled. There have already been six consumer complaints of sudden airbag deployment and forty one complaints alleging the vehicle’s air bag warning light illuminates intermittently. Continue reading
Lemon Alert! Ford Sedan And SUV Engine Problems
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating problems of stalling and surging engines on certain Ford and Mercury cars and SUV’s. The investigation will cover Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUV’s as well as Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans all from the 2009-2011 model years. Continue reading
Defective Window Switch Investigation Expands
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
Mandatory Back Up Cameras
The Department Of Transportation has delayed a ruling proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to make backup cameras mandatory on all passenger vehicles. The NHTSA was hoping the ruling would be finalized today, but the DOT has decided that further studies are needed in order to ensure the most protective and efficient rules possible. A law to improve and standardized rear visibility for vehicles was first introduced in 2008, but the deadline has been extended several times. The new rule requirements would see 10% of new vehicles equipped with backup cameras by the end of 2012, 40% by the end of 2013 , and 100 % by the end of 2014.
According to the NHTSA, over 17,000 people are injured and approximately 230 people die in backup accidents involving cars, trucks and SUVs. Statistics show that most on these accidents involve children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. It is estimated that using a camera to eliminate the rear blind spot could cut that number in half. Unfortunately, it could also add up to $200 more per vehicle for a total of approximately $3 billion to the auto industry, most of which would be passed on to the customer.
The NHTSA provides a 60-day comment period on this rule making that begins when the proposal is published in the Federal Register. The proposal and information about how to submit comments is at: http://www.nhtsa.gov/Laws-Regs
