Car
Toyota Cited Electronic Throttle Unit in ’02 Memo to Dealers
Camry Owners Complained About Unintended Acceleration. A newly revealed Toyota document indicates that the automaker warned dealers in 2002 that some Camry owners had complained about unintended acceleration. To fix the problem, Toyota recommended an adjustment be made to an electronic throttle control unit. The 2002 Toyota memo … [Read more...] about Toyota Cited Electronic Throttle Unit in ’02 Memo to Dealers
Toyota Avoided Major Recall in 2007
Toyota Escape A Major Recall With Unintended Acceleration. Toyota used a “game plan” in 2007 to escape issuing a major recall of vehicles for problems with unintended acceleration. Instead, The Washington Post reports, Toyota was able to get away with a much more limited floor mat recall. According to the Post, the National … [Read more...] about Toyota Avoided Major Recall in 2007
Orange County DA Will File Suit Against Toyota
Suit Against Toyota Over Safety Problems. Toyota is facing yet another lawsuit over over its recent safety problems and recalls. According to The Associated Press, the Orange County District Attorney's Office has announced it will be filing a civil lawsuit against the automaker. Toyota has already been named 89 class … [Read more...] about Orange County DA Will File Suit Against Toyota
Toyota Woes Could Include Criminal Charges
Toyota Woes Include Criminal Charges. Toyota has come under a lot of heat because of its recent recalls for unintended acceleration. But more trouble could be on the horizon, because Toyota could end up facing criminal charges for the way it handled the speed control issues. Since last fall, Toyota has recalled more than 8 … [Read more...] about Toyota Woes Could Include Criminal Charges
Camrys Not Included in Toyota Recalls Under Scrutiny
NHTSA Investigating Toyota Recalls Acceleration Problems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering expanding its investigation of Toyota unintended acceleration problems to include pre-2007 Camrys. According to a New York Times report, Camrys made before 2007 have not been included in Toyota's recent … [Read more...] about Camrys Not Included in Toyota Recalls Under Scrutiny
Expanded Honda Recall Due to Potential Deadly Airbag Defect
Honda Announced A Recall Over Airbag Defect. The Honda Motor Company just announced that it expanded a previous recall from late last year and is now adding nearly a half-million—about 440,000—cars that could contain a dangerous and deadly airbag defect, CNN Money reported. The affected Honda models include the 2001-2002 Honda … [Read more...] about Expanded Honda Recall Due to Potential Deadly Airbag Defect
Floor Mats Linked in Car Accidents
Automobile Floor Mats Found To Be The Culprit In Car Accidents. More and more, automobile floor mats have been found to be the culprit in a number of car accidents. According to a new report in Newsday, at least one million vehicle recalls have been linked to floor mats “that are poorly designed, improperly used, or both” over the … [Read more...] about Floor Mats Linked in Car Accidents
Five Car Makers Issue Safety Recalls
Five Firms Issued Safety Recalls. Isuzu, Jaguar, Kia, Peugeot and Toyota recall cars. Biggest recall is for over 12,000 Isuzu Troopers Free checks and repairs for vehicles concerned Fuel leaks, fires, shattering sunroofs and a loss of steering are behind the latest round of safety recalls from car manufacturers. The … [Read more...] about Five Car Makers Issue Safety Recalls
State of Connecticut Outraged by Sale of Bogus Air Bag Covers
State Of Connecticut Stop Selling Of Fake Airbag Covers By Hick Air Bags. Just in case you thought you had heard about every sleazy way there is to make a buck, consider this one. The state of Connecticut is taking legal action to stop the selling of fake replacement air bag covers by Hicks Air Bag Covers of Alabama which markets … [Read more...] about State of Connecticut Outraged by Sale of Bogus Air Bag Covers
NHTSA Toughen Rules for Auto Roofs
NHTSA Propose New Auto Roof Standards. By the end of the month, the NHTSA will probably institute a new set of regulations requiring stronger roofs for cars, trucks, and especially larger SUVs. The need for such changes has been a matter of disagreement between the auto industry and safety groups. Automakers have argued that … [Read more...] about NHTSA Toughen Rules for Auto Roofs
Mobiles ‘Quadruple Crash Danger’
Drivers Using Mobile Phones Are More Likely To Crash. Drivers are four times more likely to crash when using mobile phones, even if they use hands-free kits, experts say. They reached their estimates by looking at the phone bill records of 456 drivers needing hospital treatment after road crashes in Perth, Australia. In the UK … [Read more...] about Mobiles ‘Quadruple Crash Danger’
Cars and Trucks ‘Smarter’ Are Threats to Privacy
Motor Vehicles Has Improved Immensely By Technological Advances. The crashworthiness of motor vehicles has improved immensely over the past several years. The addition of front, side, and overhead air bags, crumple zones, safety cages, reinforced door panels, and less vulnerable fuel tanks have significantly improved your chances of … [Read more...] about Cars and Trucks ‘Smarter’ Are Threats to Privacy
Saturn Recalls 300,000 Cars
GM Recalls Due To A Brake And Tail Light Problems. General Motors Corp. said Friday it would recall nearly 300,000 Saturn L Series sedans and wagons because of problems with brake and tail lights. The problem could make it difficult for the driver of another vehicle to realize the Saturn's brakes were being applied and lead to a … [Read more...] about Saturn Recalls 300,000 Cars
NHTSA Restates Rollover Warning For Users of 15-Passenger Vans
NHTSA Concerns About 15-Passenger Vans. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced new research that reinforces its existing concerns about 15-passenger vans. As a result, NHTSA reissued its consumer advisory for users of 15-passenger vans for the third time in the past four years. In a new research … [Read more...] about NHTSA Restates Rollover Warning For Users of 15-Passenger Vans
Stronger Car Roofs Could Save Lives In Rollovers, Safety Group Says
Safety Group Said Stronger Car Roofs Could Save Lives. A safety advocacy group, citing a report made public in a lawsuit involving Ford Motor Co., contended Wednesday that stronger car roofs and other design improvements could save lives in rollover accidents. Ford said it had not read the study by a professor of biomedical … [Read more...] about Stronger Car Roofs Could Save Lives In Rollovers, Safety Group Says
Automakers Misled Government About Roof Strength, Report Charges
Automakers Misled Government And Public Claiming Roof Strength And Deaths Are Unrelated. Auto industry data show that automakers have misled government regulators and the public for years by claiming that roof strength and injuries in rollover crashes are unrelated, a new report says. The report, written by a professor of … [Read more...] about Automakers Misled Government About Roof Strength, Report Charges
Warnings Sought for Vehicles Backing Up
A Woman Had Run Over Her Son. Dianne Anthony didn't know her toddler son had wandered out of the house one rainy morning in March 2003. She backed up the family van and felt a bump. Thinking she had run over her railroad ties lining the driveway, she pulled forward and backed up again. And again. Then she realized the horrible … [Read more...] about Warnings Sought for Vehicles Backing Up
Ford Focus, Ranger Have Rollover Risk
Ford Focus And Ranger Were The Worst In Crash And Rollover Tests. Two 2005 Ford vehicles, the two-door Focus and the Ranger 4x4 pickup, were the worst performers in new government crash and rollover tests, according to results released Tuesday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the rear passenger was at risk … [Read more...] about Ford Focus, Ranger Have Rollover Risk
Lawsuit Filed Over Van Rollover Deaths
5 Young People Killed In A Rollover Accident. The estates of five young people killed in a single-vehicle church van rollover accident last year have sued Ford Motor Co. and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, claiming Ford was negligent in manufacturing its Econoline E-350 15-passenger van, and Enterprise knew the vans were dangerous. Calling … [Read more...] about Lawsuit Filed Over Van Rollover Deaths
Feds Link Injuries to Weak Roofs
Vehicle Roof Strength Found A Link Between Fatalities. A new federal study that could have major implications in the growing debate over vehicle roof strength found a strong link between fatalities and injuries, and the severity of crushed roofs in rollover accidents. Automakers have contended for years that there’s no solid … [Read more...] about Feds Link Injuries to Weak Roofs
U.S. Expands Vehicle Rollover Ratings
NHTSA Introduce A New Rating System. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration introduced a new rating system Monday that predicts a vehicle's chance of rolling over in a severe crash and lets consumers compare a vehicle with other similar vehicles. A five-star rating is the highest, meaning the vehicle's chance of … [Read more...] about U.S. Expands Vehicle Rollover Ratings
Large Vans Focus Of Lawsuit
15 Passenger Ford Van Hit Black Ice On Highway. Tim and Frances Bardessono couldn't help but notice the large number of 15-passenger vans on the road as the Prosser couple drove to Seattle. Their daughter, Corinne Bardessono, 15, was killed in December when the 15-passenger Ford van she was riding in hit black ice on Highway 395 … [Read more...] about Large Vans Focus Of Lawsuit
Safety Issues Unseat Big Vans
Power Steering On The 15-Passenger Van Went Out. Thirteen young people from East Hill Foursquare Church rode in the back, eager to arrive at a Mexican college for the last day of their 1998 summer mission trip. As the group ascended a vaulting, dusty slope in Tijuana, Charlie Van Housen, the driver, looked to his right and … [Read more...] about Safety Issues Unseat Big Vans
Day Camp Van Flips On I-65, Injures 10
A Van Wreck On I-65 Injured 9 Children And 1 Adult. A van wreck on Interstate 65 near the Chilton-Shelby county line Friday sent nine children and one adult to area hospitals. Six were treated and released and four were being held overnight. Four of the children, ages 9 and 10, were taken to Children's Hospital and were listed in … [Read more...] about Day Camp Van Flips On I-65, Injures 10
Ga. Jury Awards Another $14M in Ford Suit
Ford Pay $14 Million In Punitive Damages. A Georgia jury ordered Ford Motor Co. to pay nearly $14 million in punitive damages Wednesday to the family of a young girl who was paralyzed during a 2000 crash they blamed on a faulty back seat latch in their sedan. The money is atop $33.9 million in compensatory damages the same jury … [Read more...] about Ga. Jury Awards Another $14M in Ford Suit
15-Passenger Van Widely Used Despite Risk
15 Passenger Vans Are Prone To Roll Over. Schools are not supposed to use them, but there's nothing to prevent anyone with a driver's license from renting or buying 15-passenger vans that are prone to roll over and kill or injure people. Thirteen family members and a friend traveling near Charleston on Sunday joined a growing … [Read more...] about 15-Passenger Van Widely Used Despite Risk
Jury Awards $3.3M In Air Bag Case
Jury Found Ford Negligent Over Defective Air Bags. A jury found Ford Motor Co. negligent and awarded $3.3 million to the 7-year-old son of a woman killed when the air bag of her Ford Taurus deployed in a low-speed accident. Mayling Semidey, 29, a single mother, hit a concrete retaining wall at about 9 mph in 2000. The air bag went … [Read more...] about Jury Awards $3.3M In Air Bag Case
NHTSA Examines Airbags On Taurus, Sable For Possible Defect
Officials Are Investigating Airbags In Ford Tauruses And Mercury Sables. Federal safety officials are intensifying an investigation of front-impact airbags in nearly 900,000 Ford Tauruses and Mercury Sables to see if a defect might keep the airbags from deploying in crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says … [Read more...] about NHTSA Examines Airbags On Taurus, Sable For Possible Defect
15-PASSENGER VANS
Many Day Cares, Churches, Businesses And Families Choice 15-Passenger Van. You'd ride one to shuttle from the airport to your hotel. Maybe your kids take one to camp or to little league games. For many day cares, churches, businesses and large families, a 15-passenger van is the vehicle of choice. That was the case on April 16, … [Read more...] about 15-PASSENGER VANS
VW Passat Airbags Investigated
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Are Reviewing Airbags Of VW Passat Sedans. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) is reviewing reports of VW Passat Airbags failures that could affect 350,000 Volkswagen AG Passat sedans. Passat is a mid size car and a good family car. The probe in VW Passat Airbag is … [Read more...] about VW Passat Airbags Investigated
Statistics and Controversy About Airbags
120 Million Vehicles Now Feature Airbags According To IIHS. More than 120 million vehicles now feature airbags, and another 1 million new vehicles with airbags are sold each month, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a division of the Department of … [Read more...] about Statistics and Controversy About Airbags
Suit Blames Ford For Crown Victoria Defect
A Group Filed A Lawsuit Claimed That Ford Failed To Fix Crown Victoria. A police group has filed a lawsuit claiming that Ford failed to fix a defect that can cause its Crown Victoria police cruisers to erupt in flames when hit from behind. The National Association of Police Organizations Inc., which represents more than 1,000 … [Read more...] about Suit Blames Ford For Crown Victoria Defect
Judge Fines Ford for Hiding Evidence
A Judge Ordered Ford To Turn Over Safety Data On Its Passenger Vans. A federal judge on Tuesday ordered Ford Motor Co. to turn over safety data on its 15-passenger vans information the company has claimed doesn't exist and fined the automaker for concealing evidence, a plaintiffs attorney said. The world's second-largest automaker … [Read more...] about Judge Fines Ford for Hiding Evidence
Ford Faces Sanctions
A Judge Will Decide Whether To Impose Sanctions On Ford. A federal judge won't decide until at least Tuesday whether to impose sanctions on Ford Motor Co. for allegedly withholding evidence in lawsuits involving testing of its 15-passenger vans. U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman in Chicago on Friday delayed a decision until … [Read more...] about Ford Faces Sanctions
Safety Groups Blast Ford Plan
Safety Groups Demanding Crown Victoria To Be Recalled. An agreement between Ford Motor Co. and Arizona's attorney general to investigate the safety of Ford Crown Victoria police cars is "woefully inadequate" and "highly diversionary," safety groups said Tuesday, demanding the cars be recalled. The location of the Crown Victoria's … [Read more...] about Safety Groups Blast Ford Plan
Ford Panels to Probe Cop Car Safety
Ford Create Panels To Look Into The Safety Of Police Cars. Ford Motor Co. is creating two panels to look into the safety of Ford Crown Victoria police cars as a result of discussions with state officials following an accident that killed a policeman in Arizona earlier this month. "This sets us on a concrete path to make these cars … [Read more...] about Ford Panels to Probe Cop Car Safety
Government Investigates Whether Gas and Brake Pedals Too Close on Taurus and Sable
Officials Are Investigating Break And Gas Pedals On Ford Taurus And Mercury Sable. Federal safety officials are investigating whether the brake and gas pedals on the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable are too close, causing some drivers to hit the accelerator accidentally when trying to slow down. The National Highway Traffic Safety … [Read more...] about Government Investigates Whether Gas and Brake Pedals Too Close on Taurus and Sable
Mother Gets $1.5 Million in Toddler’s Death in Van
Toddler’s Death In a Day-Care Center Van Settlement. Tekela Harris-Carter, whose 2½-year-old daughter died in August after being locked in a day-care center van, has received a $1.5 million settlement for the child's death. Harris got the payment in October from the Guideone Insurance Co., which holds the policies for … [Read more...] about Mother Gets $1.5 Million in Toddler’s Death in Van
Family Receives $54M in Crash Settlement
A Family Was Awarded In A Car Crash Settlement. A Carol Stream family was awarded more than $54 million for severe injuries suffered when their car was struck by a train a year ago. After deliberating about four hours, a Cook County jury on Friday ordered the Canadian National/Illinois Central Railroad to pay Fidel and Francisca … [Read more...] about Family Receives $54M in Crash Settlement
Opening Arguments Delivered In Air Bag Death Case
Death In A Crash Resulted From Aggressive Air Bag. A girl's death in a minivan crash resulted from "a terribly aggressive air bag" by an automaker more concerned about sales even the cost of test dummies than proper testing of the device, an attorney argued Friday. The family made the claim on behalf of Alison Sanders' family, … [Read more...] about Opening Arguments Delivered In Air Bag Death Case
$4.9-Billion Jury Award Slams GM
GM Was Slapped With The Largest Penalty In A Product Liability Case. General Motors Corp. was slapped Friday with the largest penalty ever handed out in a product-liability case, a $4.9-billion judgment a Los Angeles jury awarded to six passengers severely burned in a 1979 Chevrolet Malibu. On Christmas Eve 1993, a drunken … [Read more...] about $4.9-Billion Jury Award Slams GM
Drivers Detail Air Bag Horrors
Ross Kelley Was Parked When His Airbag Suddenly Burst Open. WASHINGTON (AP) - Ross Kelley was sitting in his 1994 Chrysler minivan, parked in a driveway with the motor on and waiting for a friend, when his air bag suddenly burst open with a bang. ``The air bag just blew up in my face,'' Kelley recalled. ``It felt like someone … [Read more...] about Drivers Detail Air Bag Horrors
Serious Eye Injuries from Air Bags
Air Bags Can Inflict Eye Injuries Even In Minor Accidents. Activated air bags can inflict severe eye injuries, including blindness, even in minor car accidents, a small-scale study shows. The research report, published in the March Journal of Ophthalmic Surgery and Lasers, describes the spectrum of air-bag-related eye injuries … [Read more...] about Serious Eye Injuries from Air Bags
Air Bag Injuries Plentiful
Research Painted A Grim Picture Of Airbag Injuries. Anyone looking for reassurance that air bags are good for you won't find much in injury studies recounted this week at the Society of Automotive Engineers Congress in Detroit. Heads nearly torn from necks. Brain trauma. Multiple rib fractures. Facial abrasions. Eyelid, shoulder … [Read more...] about Air Bag Injuries Plentiful
