Issues
Honda Recalls 384,000 Vehicles Over a Familiar Problem
Honda is recalling an additional 384,000 2003-4 models after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation into whether two earlier recalls for the same problem covered all the defective vehicles.
The new recall covers some 2003 Accords and Civics as well as some 2003-4 Elements. The problem is that a defect in the shift interlock system could allow the vehicle to be turned off and the key removed without the vehicle’s automatic transmission being in Park. That could allow the vehicle to roll away.
Statement by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Regarding Ignition Switch Interlock Mechanism Recall: 2003 Accord, Civic, 2003/2004 Element Vehicles
08/09/2010 – TORRANCE, Calif. –
Honda will recall approximately 197,000 Accord and 117,000 Civic vehicles from the 2003 model year and roughly 69,000 Element vehicles from the 2003 and 2004 model years in the U.S. to prevent a malfunction of the ignition interlock feature of these vehicles. Honda has received several complaints about such failures in these vehicles and is aware of a small number of related incidents, including one that resulted in a minor injury.
FTC Enterprise Rental Car Recall Repair Petition
Click here to view the petition
Attachment A – Media
Attachment B – Recall
Attachment C – Matias Declaration
Attachment D – Gieseking Deposition
FTC Petitioned to Halt Enterprise’s Deadly Practice of Renting Defective Vehicles
Immediate Release: August 9, 2010
Two auto safety advocacy groups, joined by the mother of two girls killed in the crash of a defective vehicle knowingly rented to them by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, today petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to take action to stop Enterprise and its owner company from renting out recalled but unrepaired vehicles to customers.
Critics Say Auto Watchdog Agency Needs Real Teeth
A $100,000,000 settlement with General Motors involving Saturn transmission problems collapsed after the company declared bankruptcy last year. The money would have covered repairs on Saturn VUEs and Ions.
A Tougher Car Safety Agency
The United States has done a fairly good job so far of policing the safety of cars and trucks. The number of deaths in traffic accidents dropped to an estimated 34,000 last year — the least since the 1950s. But that is still too many deaths.
New Toyota Recall Involves About 400,000 Vehicles
Toyota, the Japanese automaker, said Thursday that it was recalling almost 373,000 of its 2000-4 Avalon sedans because of a steering problem that could cause a crash.
In addition the automaker said it was recalling about 39,000 2003-7 Lexus LX 470 sport utility vehicles for a different steering defect.
Click here to read the entire article from the New York Times