Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[NHTSA investigating Chevy TrailBlazer models over door fires]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/nhtsa-investigating-chevy-trailblazer-models-over-door-fires/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/nhtsa-investigating-chevy-trailblazer-models-over-door-fires/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/nhtsa-investigating-chevy-trailblazer-models-over-door-fires/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation concerning door fires on 2006-07 Chevrolet TrailBlazer models. The inquiry affects over 309,000 of the Chevy SUVs, with NHTSA stating that the door fires were caused by problems with the power window switches or some related electrical parts.

As of this writing, NHTSA has received 12 complaints from TrailBlazer owners about smoke or fires inside the vehicles, and thankfully, no injuries have been reported. According to The Detroit News, General Motors has stated that none of the TrailBlazers in question have been destroyed because of the fires, though some interior parts were melted and some seats were singed.

If this story sounds familiar, it's because NHTSA recently began investigating Toyota Camry and RAV4 models for this exact same reason, with some 830,000 Toyota vehicles possibly affected. Because of this, NHTSA is looking to see if General Motors and Toyota sourced the power window switches from the same parts supplier. If that's the case, other vehicles may be affected.

The Chevrolet TrailBlazer shares its power window switches with three other GM vehicles - the GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier and Saab 9-7X - though NHTSA has not received any complaints from owners of those vehicles, The Detroit News reports. A spokesperson from GM says these other vehicles have different door configurations, and thus, may not have any problems.

GM has said it intends to fully cooperate with NHTSA on the investigation. Of course, it's important to note that this isn't an official recall yet, but one may be issued pending the results of NHTSA's inquiry. In the meantime, owners experiencing any problems should contact their local dealership.

NHTSA investigating Chevy TrailBlazer models over door fires originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevroletnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsasafetytrailblazerMon, 13 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20170911/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/13/nhtsa-investigating-chevy-trailblazer-models-over-door-fires/20170911/article-detail.xml 20170911 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/01-chevrolet-trailblazer_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/01-chevrolet-trailblazer.jpg <![CDATA[Nearly 10,000 Dodge Charger police cars recalled]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/nearly-10-000-dodge-charger-police-cars-recalled/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/nearly-10-000-dodge-charger-police-cars-recalled/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/nearly-10-000-dodge-charger-police-cars-recalled/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2012 Dodge Charger Pursuit police car - front three-quarter view

With the era of Ford's dominant Crown Victoria finally drawing to a close, automakers are working harder than ever to court law enforcement with more modern police cruisers. Key among their tactics? Facilitate easier fleet ordering by making common police equipment upgrades available from the car companies themselves instead of forcing precincts to seek out aftermarket specialists. Instead of sending their new cruisers off to third party vendors, those in charge of ordering new police cars can get them fitted with items like heavy-duty secondary batteries, special lighting, trunk coolers, laptop docking consoles and so on - all from the factory.

An unintended consequence of this shift in strategy is that the police cruisers are now more complex than ever, particularly in the area of wiring. Just ask Chrysler, which is now facing the recall of nearly 10,000 Dodge Charger police cruisers from 2011 and 2012 model years.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Chrysler will recall 9,688 cop specials because some vehicles could incur an overheated lighting harness connector that could cause the cruiser's low beams to fail. In addition, some Chargers may also suffer from an overheated power distribution center that could result in a loss of the vehicle's anti-lock braking and stability control systems. Just as they would with a car sold to the general public, Chrysler will notify owners covered in the recall and inspect and replace the affected parts free of charge.

Click through to the jump to read over NHTSA's official recall notice... and be safe out there.

Continue reading Nearly 10,000 Dodge Charger police cars recalled

Nearly 10,000 Dodge Charger police cars recalled originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 dodge chargerchargercharger pursuitdodgelaw enforcementnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsapolice carpolice car recallrecallMon, 13 Feb 2012 09:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20170047/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/13/nearly-10-000-dodge-charger-police-cars-recalled/20170047/article-detail.xml 20170047 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/01-dodge-charger-pursuit628opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/01-dodge-charger-pursuit628opt.jpg <![CDATA[BMW agrees to pay $3M fine for late reporting of recalls]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/bmw-agrees-to-pay-3m-fine-for-late-reporting-of-recalls/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/bmw-agrees-to-pay-3m-fine-for-late-reporting-of-recalls/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/bmw-agrees-to-pay-3m-fine-for-late-reporting-of-recalls/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

BMW logoBMW is handing over $3 million in fines to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over the way it has handled recalls. NHTSA began an investigation of BMW's practices in 2010, looking at 16 recalls that covered more than 300,000 of the company's cars and motorcycles going back in some cases to 2002.

In levying the fine, NHTSA found that "BMW appears to maintain a practice, by design or habit, in which it provides little information in its initial (recall) filings." Of the instances which garnered fines, however, BMW said all but one of them concerned its motorcycles, not its cars. The NHTSA said that BMW would eventually provide the information but only after what the NHTSA termed an "inordinate amount of time."

To address the issue, BMW is changing its methods for how it provides information to the government and how it deals with recalls.

BMW agrees to pay $3M fine for late reporting of recalls originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbmw motorradbmw recallfinesNational Highway Traffic Safety Administrationnhtsanhtsa finenhtsa finesMon, 13 Feb 2012 07:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20169611/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/13/bmw-agrees-to-pay-3m-fine-for-late-reporting-of-recalls/20169611/article-detail.xml 20169611 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/nhtsabmwfines_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/nhtsabmwfines.jpg <![CDATA[Feds investigating Toyota Camry and RAV4 over door fires]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/feds-investigating-toyota-camry-and-rav4-over-door-fires/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/feds-investigating-toyota-camry-and-rav4-over-door-fires/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/feds-investigating-toyota-camry-and-rav4-over-door-fires/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2007 Toyota Camry

According to a report from The Associated Press, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a probe into possible driver-side door fires in 2007 Toyota Camry sedans and RAV4 crossovers. A total of 830,000 vehicles may be affected.

Six fires have been reported to NHTSA, all stemming from the door-mounted power window switch. Five of the fires are said to have been minor, with one resulting in the total loss of a Camry that burnt to a crisp before firefighters were able to respond.

It's important to note that this is not (yet) a recall. NHTSA opened an investigation on Monday, February 6, and a recall could potentially be announced depending on NHTSA's findings. Toyota has said in a statement that it is cooperating fully with the investigation.

Feds investigating Toyota Camry and RAV4 over door fires originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camrycamry firenational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsarav4rav4 firerecalltoyotatoyota fireFri, 10 Feb 2012 16:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20169398/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/10/feds-investigating-toyota-camry-and-rav4-over-door-fires/20169398/article-detail.xml 20169398 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/2007-toyota-camry_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/2007-toyota-camry.jpg <![CDATA[New Nissan Versa recalled for problem with shifter]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/new-nissan-versa-recalled-for-problem-with-shifter/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/new-nissan-versa-recalled-for-problem-with-shifter/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/new-nissan-versa-recalled-for-problem-with-shifter/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2012 Nissan Versa

Some 36,000 Versa owners will soon be getting mail from Nissan. Automatic transmission-equipped 2012 Versas built between June 9, 2011, and January 13, 2012, may have defective shifter knobs or shifter assemblies, which could allow the car to be shifted out of park without first pressing the brake pedal.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report says that the defect increases the risk of crash or injury to pedestrians. The recall campaign is scheduled to begin on February 20, and concerned owners can call Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

To read the full recall report, click past the jump.

Continue reading New Nissan Versa recalled for problem with shifter

New Nissan Versa recalled for problem with shifter originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 nissan versanational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsanissannissan recallrecallversaversa recallFri, 10 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20169095/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/10/new-nissan-versa-recalled-for-problem-with-shifter/20169095/article-detail.xml 20169095 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/01-2012-nissan-versa-sedan-review-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/01-2012-nissan-versa-sedan-review-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Maserati recalls 2008-10 Granturismo over potential taillamp failures]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/06/maserati-recalls-2008-10-granturismo-over-potential-taillamp-fai/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/06/maserati-recalls-2008-10-granturismo-over-potential-taillamp-fai/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/06/maserati-recalls-2008-10-granturismo-over-potential-taillamp-fai/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2008 Maserati Granturismo

Maserati has announced a recall of certain 2008-2010 Granturismo models over faulty tail lamps. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the coupes may have been assembled with a defective rear lamp assembly. The lights could then fail to illuminated, potentially causing an accident. NHTSA says Maserati will replace the units free of charge once the campaign begins this month. The recall covers 1,768 Granturismo models.

Last year, Maserati recalled 763 Quattraporte and Granturismo models over faulty tie-rod ends, which could have led to a total loss of vehicle control. Click past the jump for the full NHTSA recall report. Owners may contact Maserati or NHTSA for more information.

Continue reading Maserati recalls 2008-10 Granturismo over potential taillamp failures

Maserati recalls 2008-10 Granturismo over potential taillamp failures originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>granturismomaseratinational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsarecallMon, 06 Feb 2012 08:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20164729/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/06/maserati-recalls-2008-10-granturismo-over-potential-taillamp-fai/20164729/article-detail.xml 20164729 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/granturismo-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/granturismo-628.jpg <![CDATA[Feds escalate Jeep Liberty airbag investigation]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/30/feds-escalate-jeep-liberty-airbag-investigation/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/30/feds-escalate-jeep-liberty-airbag-investigation/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/30/feds-escalate-jeep-liberty-airbag-investigation/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2003 Jeep Liberty front three-quarter view

In September, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began a probe of 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty models. Owners were reporting that airbags were deploying when there hadn't been an accident. At the time, there were 39 complaints filed: seven to NHTSA and 32 field reports from Chrysler. Ten of those complaints resulted in injuries.

A report by The Detroit News says the probe has been upgraded - there have now been 87 complaints, with 50 of them resulting in injury. Chrysler hasn't been able to nail down a single cause of, or even a single protocol for the problem; the airbags have deployed on startup and when the car is running - sometimes it's just the driver's side unit and sometimes it's both driver and passenger bags.

There are 386,873 Liberty vehicles included in the probe from those two model years. Chrysler says it is cooperating fully with the investigation and trying to find the source of the issue, with one suggestion being "a transient voltage spike" in a circuit.

Feds escalate Jeep Liberty airbag investigation originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2002 jeep liberty2003 jeep libertyair bagairbagjeep libertyjeep liberty airbagjeep liberty investigationlibertynational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsaMon, 30 Jan 2012 15:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20159257/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/30/feds-escalate-jeep-liberty-airbag-investigation/20159257/article-detail.xml 20159257 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/2002jeeplibertyairbag_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/2002jeeplibertyairbag.jpg <![CDATA[Mazda recalls over 52,000 Tribute crossovers, warns owners to park outside]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/28/mazda-recalls-over-52-000-tribute-crossovers-warns-owners-to-pa/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/28/mazda-recalls-over-52-000-tribute-crossovers-warns-owners-to-pa/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/28/mazda-recalls-over-52-000-tribute-crossovers-warns-owners-to-pa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2002 Mazda Tribute front three-quarter view

Mazda is recalling has issued a recall of the 2001- and 2002-model-year Mazda Tribute crossover for a possible brake fluid leak. It's been found that fluid leaking from the reservoir cap on the master cylinder might come into contact with the ABS wiring harness connector, leading to potential corrosion and/or fire.

We've been waiting on this action for the better part of a month, as its mechanical twin, the Ford Escape, was the subject of a similar NHTSA recall announced on January 11. The Blue Oval recall covered some 244,000 units for the same problem.

There are 52,390 Tributes affected in total, and Mazda is taking the unusual step of advising that if you have one, you should park it outside until a dealer has made the necessary repairs. You can find a release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the matter after the jump.

Continue reading Mazda recalls over 52,000 Tribute crossovers, warns owners to park outside

Mazda recalls over 52,000 Tribute crossovers, warns owners to park outside originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2001 mazda tribute2002 mazda tributemazda recallmazda tributemazda tribute recallnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsarecalltributetribute recallSat, 28 Jan 2012 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20159112/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/28/mazda-recalls-over-52-000-tribute-crossovers-warns-owners-to-pa/20159112/article-detail.xml 20159112 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/2001mazdatributerecall_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/2001mazdatributerecall.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo S60 becomes second car to ace all NHTSA safety tests [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/volvo-s60-becomes-second-car-to-ace-all-nhtsa-safety-tests-w-vi/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/volvo-s60-becomes-second-car-to-ace-all-nhtsa-safety-tests-w-vi/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/volvo-s60-becomes-second-car-to-ace-all-nhtsa-safety-tests-w-vi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

post crash test 2012 Volvo S60

The 2012 Volvo S60 isn't likely to be mentioned in the same breath as the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, but these two cars share a unique distinction. No, Volvo has not made a mid-year change to rear-wheel drive and V8 power, but it is joining the Camaro as a crash test ace. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cranked up its crash-test rigor in 2011, and the Camaro has been the only car to completely ace all of the revised tests' categories. Until now.

The 2012 Volvo S60 demonstrates the brand's long held reputation for safety by becoming the second car to return perfect ratings in every category of NHTSA crash testing. That means this premium Swedish sedan stands up to a 35 mph frontal collision, 38.5 mph side-impact, and 20 mph simulation of a side crash into a pole better than other vehicles NHTSA has run through its gauntlet. There are a lot of vehicles out there with five-star ratings for this test or that, but only the Camaro and S60 have registered five stars in every evaluation, so far. Check out the videos of the tests, posted after the jump.

Continue reading Volvo S60 becomes second car to ace all NHTSA safety tests [w/video]

Volvo S60 becomes second car to ace all NHTSA safety tests [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 volvo s602012 volvo s60 crash testcrash testcrash test videonational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsas60volvoThu, 26 Jan 2012 15:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20157033/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/26/volvo-s60-becomes-second-car-to-ace-all-nhtsa-safety-tests-w-vi/20157033/article-detail.xml 20157033 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/2012-volvo-s60-crash-test_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/2012-volvo-s60-crash-test.jpg <![CDATA[GM CEO stands up for Chevy Volt in D.C. hearing; Issa tells NHTSA: "I don't believe you"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/gm-ceo-stands-up-for-chevy-volt-in-dc-hearing-issa-tells-nhtsa/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/gm-ceo-stands-up-for-chevy-volt-in-dc-hearing-issa-tells-nhtsa/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/gm-ceo-stands-up-for-chevy-volt-in-dc-hearing-issa-tells-nhtsa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



What a surprise. Today's Congressional hearing over the Chevrolet Volt fire and the resulting investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration turned out to be contentious.

The hearing took place in the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending. Just from the title of the event - "Volt Vehicle Fire: What did NHTSA Know and When Did They Know It?" - it was plain to see that chairman Darrell Issa was not looking to mess around. Issa had General Motors CEO Dan Akerson, NHTSA Administrator David Strickland and John German (Senior Fellow and Program Director at the International Council on Clean Transportation) at his disposal, but he clearly didn't always like what they had to say. Issa and other Republicans questioned the "unnatural relationship" between the Obama Administration and GM as well as why it took NHTSA so many months to reveal the fire in November when it happened in June.

GM's Akerson stood up for the Volt, saying that the fire that's caused so much commotion only happened "after putting the battery through lab conditions that no driver would experience in the real world," according to his prepared remarks. Strickland said NHTSA "pulled no punches" in the Volt fire investigation - which recently ended after finding the Volt to be a safe car - but Issa was having none of it. He told Strickland: "I hear you, I don't believe you."

You can find the official Congressional website about the hearing (which includes a video of the entire session) here. The subcommittee's staff report, "Government Motors: A Preliminary Report on the Effects of Bailouts and Politics on the Obama Administration's Ability to Protect American Consumers" is available as a PDF. Be careful when reading it, though, as it starts by subtly misleading the reader. The report says:

Moreover, in the case of GM, the [Obama] Administration has offered substantial taxpayer funded subsidies to encourage production of the Volt. ... It has also extended a significant subsidy to encourage consumers to purchase the vehicle, offering buyers of the Volt a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 per vehicle.

A bit of research shows that the $7,500 tax credit was first put into law in the 2007-2008 Congress with the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, well before there was an Obama Administration.

Continue reading GM CEO stands up for Chevy Volt in D.C. hearing; Issa tells NHTSA: "I don't believe you"

GM CEO stands up for Chevy Volt in D.C. hearing; Issa tells NHTSA: "I don't believe you" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 chevrolet voltakersonchevroletchevrolet voltchevychevy voltdan akersondarrell issageneral motorsgmissanhtsaplug-in hybridvoltvolt fireWed, 25 Jan 2012 13:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20156446/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/25/gm-ceo-stands-up-for-chevy-volt-in-dc-hearing-issa-tells-nhtsa/20156446/article-detail.xml 20156446 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/gm-ceo-akerson-at-volt-fire-hearing_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/gm-ceo-akerson-at-volt-fire-hearing.png <![CDATA[NHTSA concludes investigation into Chevrolet Volt fires, no defect found]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/21/nhtsa-concludes-investigation-into-chevrolet-volt-fires-no-defe/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/21/nhtsa-concludes-investigation-into-chevrolet-volt-fires-no-defe/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/21/nhtsa-concludes-investigation-into-chevrolet-volt-fires-no-defe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Chevy Volt

The National Higway Traffic Safety Administration has officially closed the book on its investigation into the Chevrolet Volt. The result finds that "no discernible defect trend exists" and "Based on the available data, NHTSA does not believe that Chevy Volts or other electric vehicles pose a greater risk of fire than gasoline-powered vehicles."

NHTSA supports the modifications developed by General Motors to address "specific attributes" particular to electric vehicles in the event of a crash. GM is retrofitting the nearly 8,000 Volts sold with additional side reinforcements and a sensor to detect coolant leaks, which was found to be the cause of the short-circuiting battery and resulting fires. The agency also issued guidelines for first responders and auto shops coming who encounter Volts that have been involved in accidents.

That means the safety fire has been put out, but a political fire still burns in Congress. General Motors CEO Dan Akerson and NHTSA head David Strickland will face a House panel in a few days to answer questions about the timeline of the investigation. Follow the jump to read NHTSA's statement on the investigation.

Continue reading NHTSA concludes investigation into Chevrolet Volt fires, no defect found

NHTSA concludes investigation into Chevrolet Volt fires, no defect found originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 chevrolet voltchevrolet voltchevynational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsavoltvolt fireSat, 21 Jan 2012 11:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20153684/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/21/nhtsa-concludes-investigation-into-chevrolet-volt-fires-no-defe/20153684/article-detail.xml 20153684 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/nhtsavoltinvestigfinish_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/nhtsavoltinvestigfinish.jpg <![CDATA[Kia recalls 145K Rondo, Optima models over airbag issues]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/20/kia-recalls-145k-rondo-optima-models-over-airbag-issues/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/20/kia-recalls-145k-rondo-optima-models-over-airbag-issues/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/20/kia-recalls-145k-rondo-optima-models-over-airbag-issues/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2007 Kia Rondo in motion

Kia has announced that it is recalling 145,000 vehicles to address faulty airbags. A total of 95,569 Optima sedans built between 2006 and 2008 and 50,186 Rondo MPVs built between 2007 and 2008 are included in the recall.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the vehicles may have been built with a clock spring in the steering column that may fatigue and break over time. As a result, the vehicles may illuminate the airbag warning light on the dash and the airbag may not deploy in the event of an accident. The automaker says that while it has received some warranty claims for the problem, no crashes or injuries have been reported as a result of the default.

Kia plans to notify affected Optima and Rondo owners in March. Those vehicles that currently have their airbag lights illuminated will be fixed first. Click past the jump for the full recall notification.

Continue reading Kia recalls 145K Rondo, Optima models over airbag issues

Kia recalls 145K Rondo, Optima models over airbag issues originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kiakia airbag recallkia optimakia recallnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsaoptimaoptima recallrecallrondorondo recallFri, 20 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20153011/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/20/kia-recalls-145k-rondo-optima-models-over-airbag-issues/20153011/article-detail.xml 20153011 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/2007-kia-rondo-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/2007-kia-rondo-628.jpg <![CDATA[GM CEO Akerson asked to testify at Volt hearing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/gm-ceo-akerson-asked-to-testify-at-volt-hearing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/gm-ceo-akerson-asked-to-testify-at-volt-hearing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/gm-ceo-akerson-asked-to-testify-at-volt-hearing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



It's a safe wager that no one expected the report of the Chevrolet Volt fire after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash test to turn into a Congressional dressing-down. The short story: NHTSA crash-tested a Volt in May, that car caught fire in June while in storage, and NHTSA alerted the public about the fire in November. Certain politicians have wondered if politics played a part in waiting until November to report the fire, and now a House panel is holding a hearing called "Volt Vehicle Fire: What did NHTSA know and when did they know it?" to find out.

According to The Detroit News, the proceedings have now drawn General Motors CEO Dan Akerson into its maw, Akerson agreeing to testify before the panel next week. Akerson's name hasn't come up so far as a Person of Interest, so it looks like the panel is looking to anyone who might have reason to know anything about what has been called "the silence."

NHTSA has already said, in response to questioning, that the White House had nothing to do with the timeline and we can't imagine that the NHTSA was taking its orders from Akerson. The group of pols headed by California Republican Darrell Issa believes that NHTSA has not adequately addressed the panel's concerns, so agency chief David Strickland will be there alongside Akerson to answer questions.

GM CEO Akerson asked to testify at Volt hearing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 chevrolet voltchevrolet voltchevrolet volt firechevydan akersondarrell issadavid stricklandnhtsavoltvolt fireThu, 19 Jan 2012 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20151647/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/19/gm-ceo-akerson-asked-to-testify-at-volt-hearing/20151647/article-detail.xml 20151647 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/volthearingsakerson_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/volthearingsakerson.jpg <![CDATA[National Academy of Sciences: Electronic glitches in cars untraceable, more oversight needed]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/national-academy-of-sciences-electronic-glitches-in-cars-untrac/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/national-academy-of-sciences-electronic-glitches-in-cars-untrac/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/national-academy-of-sciences-electronic-glitches-in-cars-untrac/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

crashed Toyota Camry

"We couldn't find anything, but we're still blaming the car." That's the gist of the statement from a National Academy of Sciences panel headed by New Jersey Institute of Technology physics professor Louis Lanzerotti. The NAS supports U.S. regulators shutting down investigation of Toyota unintended acceleration incidents without finding electronic faults that would cause the behavior. However, at the same time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is planning to call for further oversight and more study to attempt to rule out electronic causes.

About the only thing that's concrete is that crashes happened. To be fair, electronic faults can be tricky to pin down, even with far simpler systems than the networked-computing setups that modern cars universally employ. That's why event data recording is already part of many automotive systems, along with a high degree of redundancy and fault tolerance. Many carmakers also already program engine management to douse the throttle with brake application in certain situations. Few are more interested in catching intermittent, potentially catastrophic problems than the companies building the cars, and most have already implemented the systems these organs of the state are calling for. Even so, the NAS and NHTSA appear keen to write these tendencies into law. Read the NAS' press release after the jump.

Continue reading National Academy of Sciences: Electronic glitches in cars untraceable, more oversight needed

National Academy of Sciences: Electronic glitches in cars untraceable, more oversight needed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>national academy of sciencesnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsasudden accelerationtoyotatoyota recalltoyota recall acceleratortoyota safetytoyota sudden accelerationtoyota unintended acceleratonunintended accelerationThu, 19 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20151689/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/19/national-academy-of-sciences-electronic-glitches-in-cars-untrac/20151689/article-detail.xml 20151689 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/runawaycamry-utah_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/runawaycamry-utah.jpg <![CDATA[Mini recalling certain Cooper S and JCW models over water pump]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/16/mini-recalling-certain-cooper-s-and-jcw-models-over-water-pump/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/16/mini-recalling-certain-cooper-s-and-jcw-models-over-water-pump/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/16/mini-recalling-certain-cooper-s-and-jcw-models-over-water-pump/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2008 Mini Cooper S - front three-quarter view

Back in October, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating certain turbocharged Mini models for vehicle fires. The investigation came after reports of at least 12 vehicles lighting up, and now the investigation has officially lead to a recall.

NHTSA has announced on its website that Mini will recall 88,911 turbocharged models built between November 2006 and January 2011 for a water pump problem that could result in a fire. The government agency says on its website that "the electronic auxiliary water pump that cools the turbocharger has an electronic circuit board that can malfunction and overheat." If that happens, the board could smolder and result in a vehicle fire.

Affected models include the 2007-2011 Cooper S, the 2008-2011 Clubman S, the 2009-2011 Cooper S Convertible, the 2011 Countryman S and John Cooper Works models from 2009 to 2011.

Owners of recalled vehicles will be asked to bring their Mini model to the nearest dealer for a free water pump replacement. Hit the jump to read over the official NHTSA release.

Continue reading Mini recalling certain Cooper S and JCW models over water pump

Mini recalling certain Cooper S and JCW models over water pump originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cooper sjohn cooper worksmininhtsarecallturbowater pumpMon, 16 Jan 2012 10:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20148983/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/16/mini-recalling-certain-cooper-s-and-jcw-models-over-water-pump/20148983/article-detail.xml 20148983 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/2008-mini-cooper-s-jcw_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/2008-mini-cooper-s-jcw.jpg <![CDATA[NHTSA says White House didn't factor in Chevy Volt fire disclosure]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/16/nhtsa-says-white-house-didnt-factor-in-chevy-volt-fire-disclosu/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/16/nhtsa-says-white-house-didnt-factor-in-chevy-volt-fire-disclosu/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/16/nhtsa-says-white-house-didnt-factor-in-chevy-volt-fire-disclosu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2011 Chevrolet Volt

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has confirmed the Obama administration didn't ask the government agency to delay announcing potential safety issues with the Chevrolet Volt. According to The Detroit News, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was briefed about Volt fires that occurred after two crash tests in September, three months after the first extended-range hybrid began smoldering. According to the report, the office of the president was then informed of the fires shortly thereafter, as well as being notified of NHTSA's intent to investigate whether the results of the tests could be replicated.

The Detroit News quotes NHTSA administrator David Strickland as saying no one within the office of the president "requested or in any way suggested that NHTSA delay public release of information related to the Volt fire."

That seems to be a fairly definitive answer to the three house Republicans who asked General Motors and the Obama administration whether the White House had called for any delay in publicly disclosing the Volt fires. A House panel plans to undertake a hearing on the Volt controversy later this month.

NHTSA says White House didn't factor in Chevy Volt fire disclosure originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevroletchevrolet voltchevrolet volt firenational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsaobama administrationray lahoodvoltvolt fireMon, 16 Jan 2012 09:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20149080/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/16/nhtsa-says-white-house-didnt-factor-in-chevy-volt-fire-disclosu/20149080/article-detail.xml 20149080 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/chevrolet-volt-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/chevrolet-volt-628.jpg <![CDATA[NHTSA may add extra credit to 5-star crash rating system]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/13/nhtsa-may-add-extra-credit-to-5-star-crash-rating-system/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/13/nhtsa-may-add-extra-credit-to-5-star-crash-rating-system/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/13/nhtsa-may-add-extra-credit-to-5-star-crash-rating-system/#commentsFiled under: ,

nhtsa logo

Do the star-based safety ratings of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration work? We'd point out that automakers work hard to ensure the best ratings possible, and recent data shows that our roads are now safer.

NHTSA has made the five-star rating more difficult to obtain, and now Wards Automotive reports that the government agency is looking to advance the technology that helps avoid accidents altogether. The agency reportedly told attendees at a Society of Automotive Analysts event at the Detroit Auto Show that it is considering credits that reward safety avoidance tech, though NHTSA didn't detail what technologies would be highlighted.

Technologies that avoid accidents are likely to decrease the amount of accidents over time, and one technology NHTSA finds promising are vehicle-to-vehicle communications systems. V2V tech enables vehicles to "speak" to one another, and the agency feels it could drop fatalities from about 33,000 per year to 20,000. NHTSA is reportedly testing V2V communications, and several automakers are involved.

NHTSA may add extra credit to 5-star crash rating system originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5 starcrash safetydetroitdetroit 2012detroit auto showfive starnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsastability controltechnologyv2vvehicle-to-vehicleFri, 13 Jan 2012 09:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20146738/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/13/nhtsa-may-add-extra-credit-to-5-star-crash-rating-system/20146738/article-detail.xml 20146738 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/nhtsa-logo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/nhtsa-logo.jpg <![CDATA[Ford recalling 244k Escape models, 200,000+ Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/11/ford-recalling-244k-escape-models-200-000-freestar-and-mercury/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/11/ford-recalling-244k-escape-models-200-000-freestar-and-mercury/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/11/ford-recalling-244k-escape-models-200-000-freestar-and-mercury/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2001 Ford Escape front three-quarter view

Ford is recalling nearly half a million vehicles in two separate actions announced today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Just over 244,000 Ford Escape crossovers from model year 2001 and 2002 are being recalled for potentially leaky brake master cylinder reservoir caps, while nearly 206,000 2004 and 2005 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans may have defective torque converter output shafts.

NHTSA says that in the case of the Escape, leaking brake fluid could cause corrosion on an electrical connector in the antilock brake system wiring harness, leading to "melting, smoke or a fire." Ford will begin notifying owners the week of Jan. 23, although a parts delay is expected to postpone repairs. "Ford will instruct owners to park their vehicles outside until such time as parts become available," says NHTSA.

The minivan recall is scheduled for the second quarter of 2012, and will result in dealers inspecting and replacing the torque converter in affected vehicles.

Read the full NHTSA recall reports after the jump.

Continue reading Ford recalling 244k Escape models, 200,000+ Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans

Ford recalling 244k Escape models, 200,000+ Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Detroit News reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has concluded its investigations into both the Honda Accord Hybrid and the Kia Sorento without ordering either automaker to issue a recall. NHTSA began looking into Accord Hybrid models after a fatal traffic accident was initially attributed to unintended acceleration. The agency found no evidence of a mechanical or safety issue in the vehicles.

NHTSA had also received 18 complaints of fuel spilling from the filler port on certain 2003-2004 Kia Sorento models. Kia found the vehicles' fuel evaporation system featured a canister filter that could become clogged over time. As a result, excess pressure could build up in the fuel tank, causing gasoline to regurgitate back out of the filler neck. The canister requires regular service, but isn't mentioned in the owner's manual. According to The Detroit News, Kia has agreed to conduct a service campaign involving around 86,000 2003-2004 Sorento models.

NHTSA closes probes into Honda Accord Hybrid, Kia Sorento originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accordaccord hybridhondahonda accord hybridkiakia sorentonational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsaservice campaignsorentoWed, 11 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20143658/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/11/nhtsa-closes-probes-into-honda-accord-hybrid-kia-sorento/20143658/article-detail.xml 20143658 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/2005-honda-accord-hybrid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/2005-honda-accord-hybrid.jpg <![CDATA[Chevy Volt will receive safety enhancements, but don't call it a recall]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/chevy-volt-will-receive-safety-enhancements-but-dont-call-it-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/chevy-volt-will-receive-safety-enhancements-but-dont-call-it-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/chevy-volt-will-receive-safety-enhancements-but-dont-call-it-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



The Chevrolet Volt is about to get safer. That's the big message from GM today as the company announced structural and cooling system "safety enhancements" that are intended to better distribute the car's energy load from a crash and, thus, better protect the battery from potential fires.

Mark Reuss, president of GM North America, said that GM is treating this as a voluntary customer satisfaction issue, and therefor it is not a recall. Still, the process to fix the cars does kind of smell like a recall, since all the Volts that have left the factory - roughly 8,000 already sold and another 4,400 at dealerships (every Ampera will need to get this fix as well) - will need to be changed, a process that takes roughly 2-3 hours, Reuss said. He would not hint at what this could cost GM.

Mary Barra, senior vice president of Global Product Development, said the repair parts should be ready and out to dealers in February. In a conference call with reporters, Barra explained the fix this way:

First, we're going to strengthen an existing portion of the vehicle safety structure that protects the battery pack in the event of a severe side collision. ... The current steel tunnel of the car acts as a safety cage surrounding the battery pack. The side pole test impacts the car directly in line with the cross car structure. ... The structural enhancements more evenly distribute the load to further protect the battery and coolant line in the event of a severe side crash. In addition to these structural modifications, we are going to make enhancements to the cooling system. First, we're going to be installing a sensor in the reservoir of the battery cooling system to monitor battery coolant levels. We're also adding a tamper-resistant bracket to the top of the battery coolant resevoir to prevent a potential coolant overfill.

Barra added that the LG Chem cell chemistry used in the Volt is safe and that, "We still believe liquid cooling is the right option for the Volt."

Since Volt production was shut down for the holidays (as is normal), Reuss said that when it is restarted "very shortly" the safety enhancements will be in place. As for the cars out in the wild, GM dealers can still sell them before the repairs are made because, Reuss said, "the car is safe."

Not everyone is so sure. Reuss said that around 250 Volt owners have requested either a loaner vehicle or a potential buyback, but he said this number may change following today's announcement. As for people who are still shopping, Reuss said, "To our potential customers, if you're in the market, we think you'll be missing an opportunity if you don't consider the Volt."

With that in mind, what does 2012 hold for the Volt? Reuss admitted that even though higher production numbers have been set for the coming year, GM is flexible and that, "We will match supply with demand."

Continue reading Chevy Volt will receive safety enhancements, but don't call it a recall

Chevy Volt will receive safety enhancements, but don't call it a recall originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery sarefychevroletchevyelectric vehiclemark reussmary barranhtsaplug-in hybridrecallsafety enhancementsvoltvolt firevolt recallThu, 05 Jan 2012 12:24:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20141233/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/05/chevy-volt-will-receive-safety-enhancements-but-dont-call-it-a/20141233/article-detail.xml 20141233 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/voltstructureenhancement-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/voltstructureenhancement-628.jpg -1 2