Issues
US probing Virginia fatal crash involving Tesla suspected of running on automated driving system
Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, said Autopilot is faulty and should be recalled. The recall “should be a slam dunk,” Brooks said. “That’s why I think it’s baffling why this is taking so long, and why we having to keep watching people die.” By Tom Krisher, AP August 10,…
Valley mom warns drivers after her Kia catches fire on freeway; “our life was turned upside down”
Michael Brooks (Center for Auto Safety) questions whether some of the recall fixes, like installing sensor software instead of replacing engines, fully address the safety hazard. “They’re not really addressing the underlying defect that’s causing the problems here, which is, you know, a poor engine design.” By Kristen Johnson August 9, 2023 Melissa Thompson and…
WESH 2 Investigates possible outdated auto safety recall information
“There appears to be a lack of communication between NHTSA and Kia,” Michael Brooks, the executive director of the auto safety watchdog group, the Center for Auto Safety, said. By Greg Fox July 25, 2023 A recent local non-crash fire involving a 2017 Kia Niro Hybrid is just one example of why an auto safety…
GM recalls nearly 900 vehicles with Takata air bag inflators, blames manufacturing problem
Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, said GM and NHTSA are leaving drivers to worry about what air bag inflators their vehicles have and whether they are safe to drive. “It’s kind of absurd that we’re left in the dark about what’s in our vehicles due to confidentiality provisions” granted…
Advocates Call On Congress to Put the Brakes On Reckless Autonomous Vehicle Rollouts
“It’s important to emphasize that future benefits of AVs remain speculative and have yet to be proven to us in any tangible form,” said Center for Auto Safety Executive Director Michael Brooks at a press conference Tuesday. By John Besche July 26, 2023 In advance of today’s congressional legislative hearing on robocar policy, safety advocates, academics,…
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…
Center for Auto Safety Statement on lack of Forced Arbitration Prohibition in proposed AV legislation
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 Contact: Michael Brooks (202) 328-7700 [email protected] Center for Auto Safety Statement on lack of Forced Arbitration Prohibition in proposed AV legislation The Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce will take up the issue of autonomous vehicles in a July 26th hearing entitled “Self-Driving Vehicle…
‘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…