The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Chrysler have announced a recall of 242,780 Ram pickup trucks because of a steering problem that can result in car accidents at slow speeds when the wheel is sharply turned, as in parking lots. The steering problem, called “a loss of directional stability,” can occur because the [...]
This August, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will launch a series of clinics to test exciting new “Connected Vehicles” technology in which vehicles warn drivers of approaching hazards. The Driver Acceptance Clinics, to be held in six cities, will test how drivers react to the technology which makes it possible for vehicles to communicate [...]
To protect unsuspecting pedestrians, bike riders and the visually impaired, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has taken steps towards requiring hybrid and electric vehicles to have artificial noise generators. The NHTSA, which made the announcement on July 7, was mandated to create the regulations by the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010. Unlike [...]
Is it a car? Is it a plane? It’s both. The Transition® Roadable Aircraft, made by the Woburn, Massachusetts, company Terrafugia, has overcome some hurdles preventing it from going into production, now that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has made it the first flying car to receive several special exemptions. The Transition needed [...]
As the legal use of marijuana rises across the U.S., many states have failed to write laws that prohibit driving while high, and, some authorities argue the number of pot-related auto accidents is growing as a result. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that, based on random roadside checks, 16.3% of nighttime drivers [...]
It looks like a government probe into the recurring issues with Ford’s F-150 trucks has just expanded to close to three million vehicles. Zack’s Equity Research covered the probe in great detail. Since the F-150 is Ford’s main moneymaker, the possible repercussions of the probe and the associated publicity could have quite an impact: The [...]
Yesterday I wondered if we would see the used car industry taking heat over auto recalls in the same way that car rental agencies have been in recent weeks. Let’s start with this news report from NBC Action News in Kansas (please excuse the 9-second ad). This investigative report has already had repercussions that included [...]
I recently wrote about the subject of rental cars and recalls on this blog [Part 1, Part 2]. The basic problem is that rental companies are allowed to keep recalled cars on the road without having done the work required by the manufacturer. When you rent a car, you assume you are renting a safe [...]
If you’re anything like me, you’re desperately addicted to your morning coffee. In my case, several cups of it. As a matter of fact, many people drink their coffee during their morning commutes. If you drive a Hyundai Elantra that could very well be a problem. Mihnea Radu, a writer for Auto Evolution, brings us [...]
John Crawley reports for Reuters: Safety legislation born out of the Toyota Motor Corp recall saga and opposed by automakers will be revived in the Senate this year, the chairman of the Commerce Committee said on Tuesday. John Rockefeller of West Virginia said after a budget hearing that he was determined to see the measure [...]
