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Some Kia owners question anti-theft software fix after cars were stolen following upgrade
Michael Brooks, with the Center for Auto Safety, says these solutions aren’t enough. He’s among those calling for the feds to take action. “Basically, they say there is a criminal act that has taken place that kind of lets Hyundai and Kia off the hook. We don’t agree with that,” Brooks said. By Susan Hogan,…
Woman’s recalled Jeep bursts into flames on Central Florida highway
“The consumer is basically forced to do their own risk assessment and analysis of the defect to determine whether or not they should be driving the car…” – Michael Brooks, Executive Director of the Center for Auto Safety. By Jeff Deal and Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com ORLANDO, Fla. — A Jeep Gladiator suddenly burst into flames…
‘It was horrible’: Spontaneous fire destroys Central Florida man’s Kia hybrid
The head of the Center For Auto Safety says vehicle fires are rare, but he isn’t surprised about the greater frequency of hybrid fires, given the combination of high-voltage batteries meshed with gas engines. “You’ve essentially got the fire risk of an electric vehicle and an internal combustion engine vehicle combined in some ways, so…
Three Top US Transportation Agencies Still Don’t Have Permanent Leaders
Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, said finalization of new regulations has “slowed significantly” and investigations have dragged on with no resolution since the agency last had stable leadership in January 2017. By Alan Levin June 28, 2023 Three of the major US transportation safety agencies are without permanent leaders as…
Kia & Hyundai thefts on the rise despite a security fix
Michael Brooks with the Center for Auto Safety said the manufacturers’ fix falls short. “They’ve had the software fix out for a few months now and we’re continuing to see rashes of thefts spread from city to city,” Brooks noted. By Jackie Callaway June 20, 2023 St. Petersburg Police showed up at Michele Austin’s condo…
‘It’s kind of scary’: Some Jeep owners claim to experience violent wobbles at high speeds
Michael Brooks with the Center for Auto Safety told Deal they’ve received complaints about this wobble issue going back two decades and have seen a lot more in the last few years. Brooks said, “Sometimes these conditions are caused by some of the custom lifts and things that are put on vehicles, but the great…
Department of Transportation Inspector General Audit of NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
“NHTSA’s ODI has made progress promoting a safer transportation system for the traveling public by restructuring its office, modernizing its data repository and analysis systems, and enhancing its risk-based investigative processes to assess safety-related defects. However, ODI did not meet its timeliness goals for the five types of investigations we examined, and the Agency did…
US turns up pressure on air bag inflator company that refuses a recall despite deaths, injuries
The company, he said, would have a hard time arguing that no more problems will occur. “I don’t know that this is something that they can legitimately assert, that there’s never going to be another inflator rupture,” Michael Brooks said. “There’s a high likelihood of another rupture of this type. There may not be a…
Phantom vehicles: Drivers don’t realize their headlights and tail lights are off
So why does this seem to be happening more often? Experts say vehicle dashboard lights which are on both day and night in newer model cars may be partially to blame. “It gives you the perception your headlights are on with some luminescence,” explained Brooks. By Cynthia Gould May 29, 2023 So called ‘phantom vehicles’…