The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act was established in 1966 to give the Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) authority to issue and enforce vehicle safety standards. These standards set minimum performance requirements for those parts of the vehicle that affect its safe operation (brakes, tires, lighting) or that protect drivers and passengers from death or serious injury (air bags, safety belts, child restraints, energy absorbing steering columns, motorcycle helmets). Federal Standards are applicable to all vehicles and vehicle-related equipment manufactured or imported for sale in the United States and certified for use on public roads and highways. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Automobile Safety
GM Intermittent Audio Warnings
General Motors has decided that certain 2016 Chevrolet and GMC vehicles have a radio that may not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for theft protection, roll away prevention and/or occupant crash protection. The radio software feature that checks for an open driver’s door and requests a chime may end before the radio completes its “start-up” routine. Both the key reminder chime and seat belt reminder chime will not play if that occurs. An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury during an accident and a key left in the ignition increases the chance of theft. Continue reading
2015 Chevy Colorado & GMC Canyon Steering Defect
A defect affecting steering safety will have the owners of certain 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and 2015 GMC Canyon trucks returning to their dealerships for repairs. The vehicles involved may have a torque sensor harness connector that was damaged during testing and could result in loss of electrical connection to the steering gear connector. If loss of connection occurs, power steering assist will be lost, a malfunction indicator light displays on the instrument panel and a chime sounds to inform the driver. Continue reading
2006-2014 Subaru Tribeca Hood Latch Safety Issue
A possible malfunction of the hood safety system and hood lock system of certain 2006-2014 Subaru Tribeca vehicles, will have approximately 77,000owners returning to their dealerships for repairs. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, rusted parts and/or solidified grease within the springs inside of the hood safety system and/or the hood lock system may result in a latch open condition when the hood is closed. The hood could unexpectedly open while driving, interfering with the driver’s visibility and increasing the risk of an accident. Continue reading
NHTSA “Safe Cars Save Lives” Campaign Urges Drivers To Fix Recalls
The Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a new public awareness campaign this week called “Safe Cars Save Lives”. The program is focusing on ways to encourage drivers to regularly check for open recalls and to get them fixed as soon as possible. According to NHTSA statistics, last year there were close to 900 recalls affecting 51 million vehicles nationwide, with an average 25 percent of recalls left unrepaired. Continue reading
Mercedes 2016 GLE450 & GLE64 Power Train Issues
Mercedes Benz will be asking a small number of 2016 GLE450 4Matic Coupe and 2016 GLE63 AMG S 4Matic coupe owners to return to their dealerships to repair a problem affecting their vehicles powertrain. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, the rear drive shaft bolts may loosen and the rear drive shaft could separate from the transmission or the rear axle differential. The vehicle could unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Continue reading
Are Recall Delays Affecting Your Vehicles Safety?
With record recalls in the past few years, part shortages have owners concerned that they may be driving vehicles that could potentially harm them. Part of the challenge is that companies send defect notices to drivers before parts are available and will send a second notice when the parts are obtained, but according to consumer advocate Rosemary Shahan, even when parts do become available, limited repair facilities and a shortage of technicians are making it difficult to get the repairs done quickly. She says automobile manufacturers are not doing enough to help consumers.
In the above video, a CBS Sacramento investigation tells you what you can do if you have to wait for recall repairs.
Lawsuit Claims Keyless Ignitions Can Be Deadly
A suit filed in a Los Angeles Federal Court last month is prompting automakers to recall millions of vehicles with keyless ignitions because drivers failing to press the ignition start/stop button could be subject to deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. According to the suit, there have been at least 13 deaths and many close calls because drivers mistakenly believe that removing the Keyless Fob from the vehicle turns off the engine. It claims that Automakers have known about the deadly consequences but fail to install an Outo-Off feature on their vehicles or include warnings in manuals or sales brochures. Continue reading
