Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[NHTSA closes rollaway investigation into 1.56M Ford SUVs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/11/nhtsa-closes-rollaway-investigation-into-1-56m-ford-suvs/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/11/nhtsa-closes-rollaway-investigation-into-1-56m-ford-suvs/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/11/nhtsa-closes-rollaway-investigation-into-1-56m-ford-suvs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2002 Ford Explorer - front three-quarter view, maroon

It's taken four years of study, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has finally closed the books on its investigation into rollaway accusations surrounding 1.56-million Ford SUV models.

The probe, which centered on the 2002-2005 Ford Explorer, 2002-2005 Mercury Mountaineer and 2003-2005 Lincoln Aviator, ends without the federal agency calling for a recall. According to The Detroit News, the investigation was closed due to a "low number of complaints" - NHTSA documented 180 such complaints that resulted in 14 crashes and six minor injuries, but the number of incidents have been slowing. The suspected defect rate for the trucks' automatic transmissions was found to be 4.4 per 100,000 units, and the brake-shift interlock mechanism failure rate was judged to be even lower at 3.4 per 100k.

NHTSA closes rollaway investigation into 1.56M Ford SUVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2002 ford explorer2002 mercury mountaineer2003 lincoln aviatoraviatorexplorerfordlincolnmercurymountaineernational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsarollawayMon, 11 Mar 2013 14:17:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20497058/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/11/nhtsa-closes-rollaway-investigation-into-1-56m-ford-suvs/20497058/article-detail.xml 20497058 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2002-ford-explorer-maroon_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2002-ford-explorer-maroon.jpg <![CDATA[Top 10 most-stolen vehicles of 2011 released by NICB [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/top-10-most-stolen-vehicles-of-2011-released-by-nicb-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/top-10-most-stolen-vehicles-of-2011-released-by-nicb-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/top-10-most-stolen-vehicles-of-2011-released-by-nicb-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



There are plenty of lists on which consumers love to see their vehicles, but the National Insurance Crime Bureau annual "Hot Wheels" roster is likely not be one of them. The Illinois-based NICB has just released its annual top 10 list of stolen vehicles using 2011 data submitted by law enforcement agencies. The good news that comes out of this report is that the NICB says car theft has dropped by 3.3 percent compared to 2010, and last year was the lowest for vehicles thefts since 1967.

For the most part, this list has been dominated by pre-1997 cars that lack smart key technology, but as crooks get more high tech, thefts of late-model cars have been on the rise. Smart keys have a chip in the key or fob for improved theft protection, and with dealerships having access to the code for vehicle transponder keys, the NICB says that some thieves are getting around that by cajoling a dealership employee into handing over a car's key code. The bogus keymaking scheme is apparently only a fraction of theft scenarios, though: the organization tracked some 531,031 key code transactions (read: key replacement instances) in the first quarter of this year, and apparently, 277 vehicles related to those instances were stolen within a week of the transaction.

In 2011, the top 10 most-stolen vehicles as indicated by the NICB Hot Wheels lists were:
  1. 1994 Honda Accord
  2. 1998 Honda Civic
  3. 2006 Ford F-Series
  4. 1991 Toyota Camry
  5. 2000 Dodge Caravan
  6. 1994 Acura Integra
  7. 1999 Chevrolet Silverado
  8. 2004 Dodge Ram
  9. 2002 Ford Explorer
  10. 1994 Nissan Sentra
Since 2008, the 1994 Honda Accord has topped the list of most-stolen vehicles, but for the most part, the list always contains many of these same makes and models with slight changes in the model year.

To protect yourself from having your vehicle stolen, the NICB recommends using common sense when parking your car and equipping your vehicle with an alarm and immobilizing device (ironically, this includes smart keys).

Scroll down for the video and press release.

Continue reading Top 10 most-stolen vehicles of 2011 released by NICB [w/video]

Top 10 most-stolen vehicles of 2011 released by NICB [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1994 acura integra1994 honda accord1994 nissan sentra1996 ford f-series1998 honda civic1999 chevrolet silverado2000 dodge caravan2002 ford explorer2004 dodge ram2011 vehicle theftcars stolen in 2011Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:34:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20304774/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/20/top-10-most-stolen-vehicles-of-2011-released-by-nicb-w-video/20304774/article-detail.xml 20304774 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/1994-honda-accord_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/1994-honda-accord.jpg -1 2