Issues
Ford’s Takata Airbag Settlement Promises Relief for Consumers
Ford’s class-action settlement agreement over Takata airbags promises to give consumers some relief as the massive recalls—affecting 37 million vehicles and 50 million airbags—drag into the fourth year. It’s the seventh such deal cut by the class-action attorneys handling claims against the 19 car companies involved in the largest and most complex automotive recall in…
AVs Don't Need to Be Regulated Yet, Car Safety Chief Says
The US federal government doesn’t need to impose autonomous vehicle regulations yet and continues to take a voluntary approach to their safety, the Transportation Department’s ranking safety official says. “A need to regulate has not yet been demonstrated with these nascent technologies,” because connected and autonomous vehicle technologies are still in testing or just emerging…
Growing concern over fire risk involving Kia vehicles
“Sadly, bring a fire extinguisher in your car. If you smell something burning, it’s probably your car.” —Jason Levine, Executive Director of the Center for Auto Safety Click here to view the full clip from NBC News. Learn more about Kia and Hyundai non-crash fires.
US agency urges automakers to speed up Takata recalls
DETROIT — The U.S. government’s road safety agency is urging automakers to speed up replacement of potentially dangerous Takata air bag inflators. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement Friday that Heidi King, it’s top official, has met with 19 affected companies urging them to accelerate the recalls and to post recall…
NHTSA: More than 400 Kia, Hyundai vehicle fires
ORLANDO, Fla. — A WESH 2 News investigation of vehicle fires now has the government revealing it’s received at least 402 complaints of fires in vehicles built by Kia and sister company, Hyundai. That’s according to complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and obtained by WESH 2 News. While the fires included…
Safety advocates renew call for Ford Explorer recall
Click here to watch the full clip from CBS News.
Arizona fatal self-driving Uber accident was avoidable, investigators say
Police say the safety driver in the vehicle was distracted and appeared to be looking down, watching a television show on her phone moments before the accident. Click here to watch the full clip from NBC Nightly News.
Column: Why is the Senate giving more rights to driverless cars than people?
Today the U.S. Senate is holding a hearing on how driverless cars will impact the nation’s infrastructure. Last month the Senate held a confirmation hearing for Administrator of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Both are important topics, but a timelier hearing would investigate why the rush to get robot cars on the road is…
'West Wing' actress calls out Tesla after husband's car bursts into flames
Actress Mary McCormark called out Tesla in a post on Twitter Saturday showing frightening video of her husband’s car bursting into flames in Los Angeles traffic. McCormack, who starred on TV shows “The West Wing” and “In Plain Sight,” tweeted at the car manufacturer after her husband was forced to bail from his car on Santa Monica…
CAS letter to the NHTSA in response to GM’s Third Petition for Inconsequentiality regarding Takata airbags
July 10, 2018 Docket Management Facility, M-30 U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE West Building, Room W12-140 Washington, DC 20590 Submitted electronically via www.regulations.gov RE: Docket No. NHTSA 2016-124, Notice 3. Notice of receipt of General Motors Third Petition for Inconsequentiality and decision denying request for deferral of determination. The Center for…