May Is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

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May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and California’s traffic safety partners and their supporters are encouraging riders and vehicle drivers to be aware of motorcycle safety issues.

Home to more than 1.2 million licensed motorcyclists, California has seen an increase in the number of victims killed or injured in motorcycle collisions. According to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), a record of almost 600 victims were killed and another 13,000 people were injured in motorcycle-involved crashes throughout the state.

Motorcycling is not just for recreation anymore. It is a means of transportation and a way of life for many. Because motorcycles are harder to see and offer less protection for the rider, motorcyclists are more likely to die in a crash than someone in an automobile, therefore, you should always be alert and watch out for them, especially when turning and changing lanes.

As with any motor vehicle, speeding and/or impairment due to alcohol and other drugs is never a good combination on the roads. By encouraging safe riding and cooperation between all motorists and motorcyclists, we can reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our nation’s highways.

Another Safety Probe For Toyota

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As Transportation chief Ray LaHood met with president of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, another safety probe is on the horizon. This time, Federal regulators are examining whether Toyota delayed disclosing a defect in the steering system in 4Runner SUVs and T100 trucks. The probe was launched when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received documents Friday indicating that Toyota had potentially misled the government in 2005 over problems with steering linkages in its 1989-95 4Runner and the 1993-98 T100 vehicles.

Toyota said it had recalled HiLux trucks sold in Japan but no recall was necessary in the U.S., because there had not been any complaints. But four lawsuits filed in 2009 in Los Angeles, showed that there had been complaints as far back as 2000 on models using the same linkages. It wasn’t until 2005 that the automaker recalled vehicles in the U.S. to replace the steering relay rods.

In addition to the new investigation, NHTSA is examining whether the company’s recalls for floor mats and sticky pedals that could cause sudden acceleration were timely. In addition to investigating sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles, the stability control system in the Sequoia SUV, stalling problems in the Corolla and Matrix, steering wander in the Corolla and Matrix and braking performance in the Prius.

But NHTSA has also come under fire for its handling of the Toyota defect scandal. In the last eight years, the agency closed multiple investigations involving Toyota despite thousands of complaints and allegations of several dozen deaths caused by sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles.

Chevrolet Corvette Recall

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GM will be recalling about 40,000, 2005-2006 Chevy Corvettes equipped with tilt and telescopic steering. The company said that repeated movement of the steering column could cause a signal interruption in the active handling system, which could cause unintended braking, possibly leading to a crash.

Owners can contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 about recall number N100118 or contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or at www.safercar.gov.

Lexus “Don’t Buy” Recommendation Lifted

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Consumer Reports magazine is lifting their “Don’t Buy” recommendation for the 2010 Lexus GX460 after dealerships updated the electronic stability control software.

In April, Toyota recalled about 10,000 of the Lexus SUVs and stopped selling them after Consumer Reports testers went into a sideways skid during a high speed turn on the magazines test track. Under normal circumstances, the electronic stability control should quickly correct the loss of control and keep the SUV on its intended path. But with the GX 460, the stability control took too long to react, the magazine’s engineers said.

While the fix made the GX 460’s handling secure, Consumer Reports said it is still “ponderous and ungainly,” which is typical of SUVs. Crossover vehicles are probably a better choice since they are built on car underpinnings, and they are smaller, so you get better gas mileage.

California Lemon Laws When Buying Out Of State

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With the cost of buying, insuring and maintaining a new vehicle going up every year consumers are always trying to find a way to save a dollar. In California and other highly taxed states, the price of sales taxes adds considerably to the cost of buying a new vehicle, so many consumers buy the vehicle out of state to save on their purchase.

A recent court ruling by the California Supreme Court states that the California lemon law applies only to vehicles purchased within the state. Californians, who enjoy one of the most powerful lemon laws in the United States, but who buy their vehicles out of state may find out that they have no protection under California law if they purchase a lemon. Worse, they may have no protection under any law. Most state lemon laws require that the vehicles be purchased in that state. In addition, most lemon laws require that anyone filing a claim under the law must also be a resident of that state. This may leave buyers who purchase a vehicle and drive it to another state out of luck. Attorneys for the state of California called the ruling fair, pointing out that enforcing the statute costs money, and that it doesn’t seem reasonable for the law to represent buyers who don’t pay the sales taxes that support it.

Vehicle warranties will still apply and if the problems with the vehicle can be repaired under warranty then they will be covered. They are not, however, entitled to replacement or refund should the repairs be unable to permanently resolve the problem.

GM Recalls Hummer H3s

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GM is recalling about 150,000 Hummer H3s and H3Ts built between 2006-2010. GM filed the recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) saying that the clips that hold the hood louver, the vent mounted on the hood of the H3, could detach while driving. GM has received two complaints in the U.S. and three in Japan in regards to this problem. The repair involves applying an adhesive to refasten the louver to the hood.

GM plans to send a bulletin to dealers outlining the fix this week, followed by a letter to Hummer owners next week on the recall.

Nissan Recalls Infiniti G35s For Airbags

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Nissan will be recalling as many as 140,000 Infiniti G35 sedans built between 2005-2006 and G35 coupes from 2005-2007 because of faulty airbags. Though there have been no reports of accidents or injuries related to this problem, Nissan found that the wire harness for the airbags may become warn, preventing the bags from deploying during an accident. The automaker says Infiniti owners who see the red air bag light come on should get to a dealer right away. Recall notices will be mailed out next month to Infinity car owners.

Acura Recall For Power Steering Hose On TSX Models

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Acura will be recalling almost 170,000 entry level TSX models from 2004-2008 in the United States with the 2.4L inline 4-cylinder engine. The recall is due to the premature deterioration of the power steering hose from prolonged exposure to high temperatures in the engine compartment. The hose could crack allowing power steering fluid to spray on hot engine parts which could lead to a fire. Acura has received one complaint which resulting in a fire.

Owners of affected vehicles will be informed by mail starting at the end of May. In addition, TSX owners can go to owners.acura.com/recalls or may call (800) 382-2238 for more information.