Issues
2002-06 Audi A4, A6 CVT Transmission Class Action Settlement
A federal judge has given preliminary approval to settling a class-action suit over transmission problems on about 64,000 of Audi’s most popular models.
The settlement covers anyone in the United States who leased or bought from Audi a 2002-6 A4 or A6 model with a continuously variable automatic transmission.
Federal investigators end probe into stuck throttles in Ford Escapes after ABC15 Investigation – 2/28/13
After seven months, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) closed its investigation into a safety defect and recall involving stuck throttles in 2001-2004 model year Ford Escapes and 2001-2008 Mazda Tributes.
Despite three reported deaths related to the defect and pressure from auto safety advocates, the agency is not pursuing any civil fines against the automakers for failing to recall the SUVs years earlier.
Petition by Owner Prompts Recall of 183,000 Honda Vehicles
Honda’s recall of about 183,000 vehicles that might apply the brakes on their own was prompted by a woman who was frightened by having that problem in her own Honda and angry that there wasn’t a recall.
Carrie Carvalho of Arlington, Mass., used a little-known tactic: Filing a formal defect petition with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, requiring the agency to review her concern.
Changed auto recall accounting methods raise questions – 2/25/13
Federal auto safety regulators are counting what used to be considered multiple recalls as one, undercutting their boast that defect investigations are leading to record nu
Auto safety concerns often stay secret – 2/25/13
Herman Ray Evans was killed when the tread separated on his 2001 Ford Explorer’s tire, the vehicle rolled over into the median and he was ejected, according to the Daphne, Ala,.
Statistical Change Skews Auto Recall Figures – 2/27/13
A recent article in USA Today discussed a small but important change made by federal regulators who are in charge of issuing and keeping track of crucial auto safety recalls. The data reveals that a change in how they count recalls has cut into their supposed triumph of having a smaller number of investigations lead to a bigger number of recalls.
Exemplary Equipment Queries
The table below lists the largest number of recalls arising from NHTSA Equipment Queries (EQs)
NHTSA limping along, some say – 2/23/13
Published: Feb. 23, 2013 at 10:51 AM
U.S. Inquiries Over Safety Dragging On for Years – 2/22/13
By Christopher Jensen
Last year, owners of about 16.2 million cars and trucks received letters saying their vehicles had safety problems and were being recalled. But millions more were left in recall limbo because some of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s investigations into possible safety problems have been taking years longer than the agency’s self-imposed goal.
Auto safety concerns often stay secret – 2/22/13
Herman Ray Evans was killed when the tread separated on his 2001 Ford Explorer’s tire, the vehicle rolled over into the median and he was ejected, according to the Daphne, Ala,. police crash report.