An investigation into certain 2011-2015 Dodge Journey crossover vehicles will have approximately 144,416 owners returning to their dealership for repairs. According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, under rough driving conditions, the engine cover could become displaced and contact the exhaust manifold. If this happens, drivers will experience an increased risk of a engine compartment fire. Continue reading

The owners of certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUV’s equipped with base radio and an internal amplifier, could experience problems that will leave drivers with no audible warning indicators. This “No Chime Condition” will require that the vehicle be returned to the nearest dealership to have the radio software updated. The defect could leave drivers with no audible warning if the key is left in the ignition, the driver’s door is opened, or if the front passenger seat belt is not buckled. (Radio and chime functions are not restored until the battery is disconnected and reconnected.) Continue reading

Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is an intelligent cruise control system that uses radar senors or lasers to automatically slow down and speeds up a vehicle to keep pace with surrounding traffic. When the system is working correctly, the technology can be a great tool for preventing accidents, but because it is relatively new, software glitches can leave drivers feeling unsafe. Continue reading

Santa Barbara Senator, Hannah-Beth Jackson is proposing a bill that will prohibit automobile dealers from selling, leasing, renting, or loaning used cars that are under recall until the problem can be repaired. Federal law already prohibits new cars from being sold when they have known recall defects, but Jackson’s bill would extend the ban to prevent unsafe automobiles from getting into the hands of unaware used car buyers. According to a poll carried out by Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS), a key supporter of the bill, almost 90% of Californian voters support the legislation. Continue reading

Certain 2011-2014 Hyundai Tucson vehicle may be affected by a manufacturing problem that could lead to the drivers side airbag inadvertently deploying or not deploy at all during an accident.

According to reports filed with the NHTSA, during assembly, it is possible that the bolts attaching the driver’s airbag module to the steering wheel assembly were not properly torqued. Over time, the bolts could loosen causing a rattling noise and could eventually detach from the steering wheel completely. There have been no reports of accidents or injury because of the problem. Continue reading

Caring for your tires is essential in keeping you safe, saving you money, and reducing your vehicles environmental impact. Most newer vehicles have a tire pressure monitoring system, but by the time the warning goes off, your tires are already significantly under inflated.

The above video is a great resource put out by the NHTSA during their TireWise campaign, as a way to help consumers make smart decisions when buying and maintaining tires. For more information, visit NHTSA’s TireWise website.