The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into some 2007-2008 BMW Mini Cooper S vehicles after receiving twelve complaints of engine fires, including five which resulted in a total vehicle loss. Eight of the complaints alleged the the fires started while the vehicles were parked with the ignition off. Because the complaints have significantly increased in the last year, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) has decided to open a preliminary evaluation to assess the cause, scope and frequency of the alleged defect.
Mercedes Benz Leaking Fuel Filter Problems
Mercedes Benz is recalling certain 2011-2012 vehicles for a diesel fuel filter leak in the area around the fuel heating component. According to reports filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) diesel fuel may be deposited onto the highway creating a potential for an accident, or the fuel could ignite in the presence of an ignition source. The vehicles recalled include:
- 2011 E-Class (212 platform)
- 2011 R-Class (251 platform)
- 2011 ML-Class (W164 platform)
- 2011 GL-Class (X164 platform)
- 2012 S-Class (221 platform)
Owners wanting more information can contact Mercedes-Benz USA at 1-800-367-6372.
Cadillac Luxury With iPad Technology
Cadillac hopes to distinguish its luxury brand from others, by offering an in car data, navigation and media system with a touch screen tablet computer. According to Micky Bly, GM’s executive director of global electric systems and infotainment, “The Cadillac User Experience (CUE) will offer a broad range of data and applications beyond what our competitors offer. People have become accustomed to iPhone, iPad and Droid device navigation, that it only makes sense to offer it in our vehicles.”
CUE will pair entertainment and information data from up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, USBs, SD cards and MP3 players with the CUE system. The system reduces complexity through customized information, natural voice commands, fewer buttons and larger icons. Consumers can store those mobile devices as well as channel the information on those devices, along with your navigation tools, weather maps with Doppler radar, AM/FM and XM radio, instant messages and emails, through a central portal in your Cadillac. This system will allow the driver to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
To improve simplicity and connectivity for consumers, CUE will feature several auto industry firsts:
- Proximity Sensing: As the user’s hand approaches the elegant, uncluttered LCD screen, command icons appear. Icons can be customized and arranged by consumers to improve ease of use.
- Haptic Feedback: Buttons on the fully capacitive faceplate pulse when pressed to acknowledge the driver’s commands and keeps the driver’s eyes on the road.
- Multi-Touch Hand Gestures: interactive motions (tap, flick, swipe and spread) popularized by smartphones and tablets allow tasks on the LCD screen, such as scrolling lists, zooming maps and searching favorites to be easily accomplished.
- 12.3 in. LCD reconfigurable gauge cluster (on select models) offers four selectable displays – Simple, Enhanced, Balanced and Performance – that can mix traditional vehicle data such as a speedometer and fuel gauge with navigation, entertainment and 3D vehicle image.
- Natural Speech Recognition: lets consumers speak logically with fewer specific commands to recall stored media or input navigation destinations. CUE’s text-to-speech feature will also allow consumers to receive text messages by system voice and to send recorded text messages in return.
- Linux operating system, “open source” software platform and ARM 11 3-core processor, each operating at 400 million of instructions (mips) per second. This efficient hardware setup offers 3.5 times more processing power; than current infotainment systems, and allow developers to write applications to CUE that be downloaded by consumers.
CUE will debut in 2012 in the Cadillac XTS and ATS luxury sedans and SRX luxury crossover.
Carpool Lane Traffic Increases Congestion
On July 1, 2011 the state of California decided to revoked carpool privileges for hybrid and electric vehicles. They were hoping to decrease traffic congestion in these High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes as the amount of hybrid and electric vehicles on the roads increased. According to a study done by researchers at UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation, the additional vehicles in the regular traffic lanes has slowed all traffic substantially.
Using traffic flow theories and six months of data from roadway sensors measuring speed and congestion along all freeway carpool lanes in the San Francisco Bay Area, researchers found that the slower traffic in the regular lanes made it more difficult for the carpool drivers to migrate in and out of the HOV lanes. The result was an increase of traffic congestion in all lanes. The study suggests that the state should reconsider their decision, and allow the hybrid and electric vehicles back in the carpool lanes.
Corvette Rear Hatch Separation
General Motors (GM) has announced a recall for certain 2011-2012 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe sports cars for failing to comply with the federal motor vehicle safety standards for door locks and retention components. There have been no reports of incidents or customer complaints, but according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTA), the rear hatch hinges could separate from the vehicle during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Owners wanting more information about the recall can contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
Center Air Bag Protects Drivers In GM Vehicles
General Motors (GM) has announced a new safety feature designed to protect drivers and front passengers in side impact crashes. This front center air bag deploys from the right side of the driver’s seat and positions itself between the front row seats near the center of the vehicle. It acts as an energy absorbing cushion between the driver and front passenger in both driver and passenger side crashes. The front center airbag will be introduced standard on all 2013 Acadia and 2013 Traverse vehicles with power seats and on all 2013 Enclaves.
The front center air bag is expected to add to the vehicles’ record of third-party crash test performance. The 2012 model year editions of these crossovers vehicles have received five-star Overall and Side Crash safety ratings from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program, and 2011 Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The air bag also is expected to add extra protection during rollovers.
GM Pays Half Of Fuel Gauge Repairs
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has closed an investigation into faulty fuel gauges in some 2005-2007 GMC, Chevrolet, and Buick sport utility vehicles, after GM agreed to pay 50% of the repair fees. The investigation was started earlier this year after the NHTSA received 668 complaints of inaccurate fuel gauge readings. The repairs could affect up to 865,000 vehicles in the United States. According to the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) filed with the NHTSA, the vehicles involved include:
- 2005-2007 Buick Rainier
- 2005-2006 Chevrolet SSR
- 2005-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer
- 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT
- 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370
- 2005-2007 GMC Envoy
- 2006 GMC Envoy XL
- 2005 GMC Envoy XL 370
- 2005 GMC Envoy XUV
Volkswagen Fuel Leaks In Diesel Engines
Volkswagen has announced a recall for certain Volkswagen and Audi vehicles equipped with a 2.0L TDI common rail diesel engines. According to a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fuel injection pulses could create stress in the fuel line at the #2 injector. The stress could lead to cracks, fuel leaks and a potential fire in the presence of an ignition source. The vehicles involved in this recall include:
- 2009-2012 Volkswagen Golf
- 2009-2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
- 2010-2012 Volkswagen Jetta
- 2010-2012 Audi A3
Volkswagen will install an improved fuel injector line on the #2 cylinder as well as vibration dampers on all injector lines. Owners wanting more information can contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
