Dodge Calibers Experience Sticky Gas Pedals

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating a sticky gas pedal problem in the 2007 Dodge Caliber sport utility vehicles. About 10,000 Caliber vehicles built between March and April of 2006 are the suspect of this investigation, but so far there has not been a recall issued. Only five complaints have been made, and no accidents have been reported. Chrysler said the Caliber is equipped with a safety system that would cut engine power if the brake and gas pedals are pressed at the same time.

Chrysler said the pedals on the vehicle were made by CTS Corp. of Elkhart, Indiana, the same company that manufactured pedals for Toyota. The automaker says the problem is mechanical and is not an electronic or design issue. Four of the Caliber drivers reported they found small parts of the gas pedal known as bushings on the driver side floor. Without the bushings, it is possible for the pedals to become stuck, according to NHTSA.

Anyone who owns a 2007 Caliber built from March through April of 2006 can visit their Dodge dealer for a free inspection or they can call 1-800-992-1997 for more information.

Moter Vehicle Safety Act of 2010

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Legislation drafted by House committee representatives Henry Waxman and Bobby Rush is one of the biggest overhauls of federal motor vehicle safety regulations in over a decade. The bill, called the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010, hopes to reshape auto safety regulations and significantly boost potential fines against automakers for violation of safety laws. The installation of black boxes (also known as event data recorders) and brake override systems are only a couple of the half a dozen new safety standard rules that will be included.

Removal of the existing $16.4 million cap on civil penalties, raising individual violation fines from $6,000 to $25,000, a $250 million fine for executive who knowingly provide false information, and a new tax of $9 per new vehicle after three years to help fund the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and some of the new requirements of the law, are sure to face opposition from automakers.

Beyond fines and taxes, the bill would dramatically overhaul the federal government’s ability to oversee rapidly advancing electronics technology by creating a center for vehicle electronics and emerging technologies.

The proposed law will be introduced in a hearing on May 6 by the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on commerce, trade and consumer protection.

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.