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Victims’ families sue Tesla over deadly Piedmont Cybertruck crash, blaming defective door handles
Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, says change needs to happen to save lives in the future. “What would really help is just a minimum safety standard,” said Brooks. “So that no matter what car you get into, it’s going to be obvious to you how to operate the manual release…
Rivian Plans EV Door Redesign to Address Safety Concerns
Michael Brooks, executive director for the Center for Auto Safety, said NHTSA should immediately establish standards for electric handles to “ensure ease of egress for vehicle occupants.” “The lack of federal safety regulations in this area means manufacturers aren’t required to standardize vehicle emergency exit functions, leaving the burden on consumers to study the various…
Tesla Doors Probed by US Regulator After Trapping Occupants
The latest NHTSA action focuses on “a very narrow segment of Tesla vehicles” and doesn’t adequately address issues faced by occupants inside, said Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, a Washington-based advocacy group. He called on the agency to propose rules to ensure manual releases are in standardized, easy-to-find locations. By…
A Strange Gas-Pumping Defect Is Making $100,000 Corvettes Go Up in Flames
Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, said one potential issue is that a driver might encounter a faulty gas pump that doesn’t automatically shut off but not realize it. “How do you know when it’s safe to drive off from a fuel pump if you’ve had one of these overpump incidents?”…
Man escapes car fire while driving, warns others about potentially deadly risk with recalls
So, what can you do? Brooks says, don’t wait for letters in the mail. Register with the manufacturer and they will send you email or text alerts. Also, check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website for recalls. You can put in your license plate number, VIN, or year, make and model. By Amy Hudak August 25,…
Driverless cars hit a regulator gap
“The design and construction of an autonomous vehicle, and driver competency is intertwined,” said Michael Brooks, executive director at the Center for Auto Safety. “You can’t really separate it into the traditional areas.” So when companies deploy a federally approved AV for a cross-country road trip, they don’t necessarily know whether they’re violating a patchwork…
What a Car Recall Notice Means and What to Do
“While NHTSA isn’t out there actively doing recalls, they’re influencing manufacturers behind the scenes and pushing them to take action,” says Michael Brooks, executive director for the Center for Auto Safety, a nonprofit advocacy group. By Keith Barry August 7, 2025 The white and red envelope bears the name and logo of the brand of…
Tesla Autopilot verdict sends a chill across the industry
“Right now, there are no regulations at all around this technology — no requirements for driver monitoring or to prevent driver disengagement,” says Michael Brooks, executive director for the Center for Auto Safety. By Joann Muller August 6, 2025 A stunning court verdict against Tesla last week exposed significant legal risks for every carmaker deploying vehicles that…
A Steep Mountain Drive, a Brake Failure and a Volvo Recall
Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, said he hasn’t traditionally seen a fix for one part of a car lead to a defect in another. But the Volvo situation is a concern as vehicles become more defined by software and electronics that use multiple systems inside a car, he said. “A…