NHTSA

,

NHTSA proposes voluntary ban on drivers' use of 'distracting devices'

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed voluntary guidelines for manufacturers that would automatically disable hand-held and factory installed devices in vehicles that distract from driving. The proposal recommends that devices including GPS systems would not functional unless the vehicle is stopped and the transmission is in park. Carmakers will review the guidelines and will have 60-day period to comment, according to a car industry spokeswoman. GPS and other navigation devices that provide directions would also be permitted while driving, but the safety administration is asking that the systems be designed so that drivers can't manually enter a destination unless the car is in park. Other dashboard technologies recommended for automatic disabling include text-messaging, Internet browsing, social media

Read more

General Motors investigated for Saturn shifting woes

Seven crashes involving automatic shift levers on used Saturn Aura model have prompted federal safety regulators to investigate General Motors cars with the inquirty possibly also including the Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6. The investigation began with complaints in the Saturn Aura (2007-2008) affecting about 89,000 vehicles. The Chevrolet Malibu (2004-2008) and Pontiac G6 (2005-2008) have similar shifting systems. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), the protective jacket around cables connecting the floor shift lever to the transmission can deteriorate, exposing the cables to the elements. Cables can corrode and weaken, and the shift lever position may not match the car's gear. That means a driver could put the car in park but the transmission could be

Read more

Ford, Volkswagen cooperating with feds on safety concerns

Ford and Volkswagen are cooperating with safety regulators conducting preliminary investigations into issues with two of the manufacturers’ most popular vehicles, the Mustang and Jetta. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is examining the Ford Mustang for possible manual transmissions for possible shifting problems and diesel Volkswagen Jetta sedans for possible fuel leaks. Spokesmen for both automakers said they were not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issues. A preliminary investigation is the first step in a process that could lead to a recall if regulators determine a manufacturer needs to address a safety issue. The NHTSA reported it opened a preliminary investigation into an estimated 26,000 Ford Mustangs from model years 2011-2012 over potential problems with

Read more

Scion tC 2011 gets top NHTSA safety rating

The Scion tC sports coupe is the latest 2011 vehicle car to receive a top five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), a consumer information program created by NHTSA, rates vehicles to determine crash and rollover safety. The test ratings are gathered during controlled crash and rollover tests conducted at the NHTSA research facilities.   All Scion models meet or exceed safety requirements of the federal government and NHTSA. The Scion tC features include: 180 horsepower, 6-speed transmission, 18-inch alloy wheels and a 300-watt 8-speaker audio system. Also standard are eight supplemental restraint system (SRS) airbags including driver and front passenger airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, driver and front-passenger knee airbag

Read more

Cellphone use while driving youthful 'deadly epidemic'

Texting, talking and other cellphone use is particularly common among drivers under age 30 and is now being described as a “deadly epidemic” by U.S. Department of Transportation officials. A new poll conducted by the magazine Consumer Reports details 63 percent of drivers under age 30 used a handheld phone while driving in the past 30 days. Thirty percent of those drivers have also recently texted from behind the wheel, U.S. Transportation officials said. The survey had 1,026 respondents. Ray LaHood, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, called distracted driving “a deadly epidemic.” Consumer Reports is working with the U.S. Transportation Dept. officials on creating an increased awareness about the dangers of cell phone use while driving. Among drivers over age 30

Read more

Kia Optima joins elite club with top NHSTA safety rating

The 2011 Kia Optima has just joined an exclusive automotive fraternity. It’s the first Korean car and among only 13 vehicles awarded in 2011 a five-star rating under the recently revamped crash safety testing system conducted the National Highway Transportation Safety Administation (NHSTA). The midsize Optima, redesigned for 2011, achieved an overall five-star rating after attaining five stars in each of the ratings categories. Earlier this year, the Optima was a recipient of a “Top Safety Pick” award by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The additional 12 vehicles earning five-star NHTSA ratings for 2011: Acura MDX, BMW 5 Series, Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, GMC Sierra, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Volvo XC60 and

Read more

Toyota cleared of sticky accelerator mess, civil claims remain

The long-awaited results of the Obama administration’s review of the Toyota Motor Corp’s unintended acceleration of electronic throttles and faulty floormats and the subsequent recall of more than eight million vehicles, revealed no systemic flaws in the software driven systems of Toyota or Lexus vehicles. Federal safety regulators investigated reports that as many as 89 U.S. crash deaths since 2000 may have been linked to unintended acceleration in Toyotas and Lexus vehicles. “There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. The recalls, government scrutiny, which included testimony by Chief Executive Akio Toyoda at congressional hearings a year ago, and more than $30 million in fines, damaged Toyota’s reputation.

Read more

Honda sees the light, announces 1.35 million Fit recall

Honda Motor Co. is recalling more than 1.35 million Fit subcompacts because of wiring issues that could lead to failure in the vehicles’ low-beam headlights. The recall includes 143,083 Fit vehicles in the United States from 2007 and 2008 model years, 734,392 Fits in Japan and about 380,000 similar Honda Jazz models in Europe, according to a Honda spokeswoman. Honda detailed in a news release that a connector on a wiring harness could corrode and fail, which would extinguish the low beams. However, the high beams would still work. No accidents or injuries relating to the problem have been reported. The recall follows an investigation begun in September by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after it received eight complaints

Read more
Previous