Tag Archives: NHTSA

NHTSA Investigates VW And Audi Diesel Vehicles

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Last February the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened up an investigation into failing fuel pumps in some Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars. Today, the NHTSA announced they will be intensifying the investigation after receiving over 150 complaints. The vehicles involved in this investigation include the 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta, 2010 Volkswagen Golf and 2010 Audi A3 vehicles. If the investigation should lead to a recall, nearly 100, 000 vehicles could be involved.

Last may, VW issued a service bulletin telling dealers to inspect the diesel fuel requiring fuel system service associated with fuel pump failure, suspecting the problem is with contaminated fuel. According to VW, even small amounts of gasoline in the diesel may disrupt lubrication, leading to fuel pump failure. They told the NHTSA that they were unable to find a defect related to motor vehicle safety with relation to the TDI clean diesel fuel system.

Think City Electric Car Recalls

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the 2011 Think City electric vehicle is being recall for two safety problems. The first recall involves 16 vehicles that have improperly installed seat belts. The drivers side seat belt may have mistakenly been installed on the passenger side. As a result, the tensioner needed to restrain a child seat is missing. The second recall involves 23 vehicles that may have inadequate defrosters systems. In cold or humid weather the windshield could fog up impairing the drivers vision.

If you are driving a 2011 Think City Electric car and suspect that your vehicle is involved in any one of these recalls, you can contact Think North America at 855-698-4465 for more information.

Will Fiat Recall Their Jeep Grand Cherokee

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Ralph Nader is encouraging Fiat to Recall their recently acquired 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee line because of a vulnerable fuel tank design. The Center for Auto Safety encouraged an investigation in October saying that the fuel tank on these vehicles are not only poorly designed, but are installed behind the rear axle below the bumper which puts them at an increased impact risk. It was also found that the routing of the fuel filler hose increases the possibility of it being pulled out of the tank in a crash. Nader went as far as calling the Grand Cherokee “a modern day Pinto for the soccer mom.”

According to Chrysler, the fuel tanks are not defective. They say that according to their internal studies, the tanks on the Grand Cherokee are no more susceptible to fires in rear impact crashes than any other similar models from other companies.

Record Recalls For Auto Industry In 2010

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2010 had the fourth largest number of recalls since the agency started keeping track in 1966. The total amount of recalls reached 20.3 million vehicles with Toyota leading the pack with 6.7 million vehicles recalled. Though this may seem like a record amount, in 2004 the auto industry had the highest recalls with almost 31 million units recalled. While Japanese vehicles have always been known for quality and safety, 2010 was the first year that three Japanese automakers ended up in the top five.

Safety recalls have become more common since 2000, when Congress passed legislation to spot safety defects more quickly. This was in direct response to a massive Firestone recall for defective tires. In 2010, as a result of Toyota’s unintended acceleration recall, Congress, not only increased penalties against automobile companies, but also increased safety standards for vehicles as well as gave the government more power when it comes to recalls. As a resulted more and more recalls are being initiated by automakers, also known as “voluntary recalls.” This does not mean that automakers have the choice to initiate a recall, it only means the recall was not enforced by the NHTSA.

Below is a list of the top automakers number of recalls from 2010:

  • Toyota: 17 recalls – 6.7 million vehicles
  • General Motors: 21 recalls – 4 million vehicles
  • Honda: 15 recalls – 2.4 million vehicles
  • Nissan: 16 recalls – 2.1 million vehicles
  • Chrysler Group: 17 recalls – 1.6 million vehicles
  • Ford Motor: 9 recalls – 581,107 vehicles
  • Volkswagen: 2 recalls – 393,188 vehicles
  • BMW: 15 recalls – 288,503 vehicles
  • Mazda: 3 recalls – 243,500 vehicles

Whether it be the increased involvement of government in the auto industry or the the increased safety features in today’s automobiles, traffic deaths last year also fell to the lowest level in 60 years.

Chrysler Recalls Dodge Ram Pickup For Brakes

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Chrysler Group LLC announced today that they will be recalling almost 80,000 diesel Dodge Ram pickup trucks over a defective brake system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that the recall will affect 2010-2011 Dodge Ram diesel trucks built between March 2009-October 2010. These vehicles have a hydroboost brake systems and could have a power steering reservoir cap that could allow excessive vent pressure levels. The excessive levels may lead to brake pedals that are slow to return and an illuminated brake light. Chrysler said it will notify owners and dealers will replace the steering reservoir cap free of charge. Owners can contact Chrysler at (800) 853-1403 if they have more questions about the recall.

NHTSA Investigates GM Medium Duty Trucks

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fan blade separation investigation into GMC trucksThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into General Motors 2006 medium duty commercial trucks which include the Chevrolet Kodiak W4500 and W5500, GMC TopKick C4500 and C5500 and Isuzu 4500 and 5000 Series. There have been no injuries to date, but several complaints of fan blades separating from the vehicle have been reported. The problem is being blamed on flexible fan blades that may develop cracks over time. If the investigation should lead to a recall, almost 60,000 medium duty trucks could be affected.

Unintended Acceleration In Ford And Mercury

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is warning owners of 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles not to place any unsecured floor mats on top of standard carpeted floor mats as it could lead to unintended acceleration. The NHTSA is opening a formal investigation into the problem after three complaints that when an all weather mat was placed on top of the standard floor mats, the mat could slip forward and trap the accelerator pedal. There have been no crashes or injuries related to the problem, but the NHTSA felt an investigation was necessary. For more information, consumers can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Hotline at 888-327-4236 or their Ford dealer.

NTSB Most Wanted List For Transportation Safety

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In order to combat the high incidences of motor vehicle accidents the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has put together a “Most Wanted List” of transportation safety improvements and notable “Most Wanted” successes of last year. While most items are related to aviation, operator problems for truckers, and motor coaches, there are several issues that may affect the every day driver. Below is a list of problems the NTSB hopes to improve.

  • Child Occupant Protection:
    • Review existing laws and bring in legislation that would require children up to 8 years old to wear child restraints and use booster seats.
  • Enforcement of Seat Belt Laws:
    • Strengthening the law by allowing officers to ticket drivers for not wearing seat belts without having to observe another offense first.
    • Implementing fines and driver’s license penalty points.
  • Eliminate Distractions for Young Drivers:
    • Prohibit the use of interactive wireless communications devices by young novice drivers.
    • Restrict the number of teen passengers traveling with young novice drivers.
    • Enact graduated driver licensing legislation.
  • Reduce Drinking and Driving:
    • Frequent, statewide sobriety checkpoints.
    • More effective measures for first time arrests with high blood alcohol concentration and repeat offenders.
    • Zero blood alcohol requirement for those already convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI).
    • Administrative license revocation for refusing to take or failing an evidential test for alcohol.
    • Vehicle sanctions for DWI offenders to separate drinking from driving.
    • Elimination of plea-bargaining DWI offenses and programs that divert offenders and purge offense records.
    • DWI offense records retention for at least 10 years to identify repeat offenders.
    • Special sanction court-based programs such as DWI courts for hard core DWI offenders.
  • Improve Motorcycle Safety:
    • Require that all persons shall wear a Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218-compliant motorcycle helmet while driving or as a passenger on any motorcycle.