Issues
U.S. too slow to require rear seat belt warnings, lawsuit says
A new lawsuit accuses the U.S. government of being too slow to implement rules requiring that rear seat vehicle passengers be warned when they fail to buckle their seat belts. In a complaint filed on Wednesday, two nonprofits said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has done nothing to implement legislation signed in July…
At Center for Auto Safety, a New Leader for a New Era
Since 1970 the tiny Center for Auto Safety has wielded enormous influence through its campaigns to recall vehicles for safety-related defects and to push states to enact consumer protections such as lemon laws. But consumer advocates say the Washington, D.C.,-based nonprofit is entering a new and perhaps more challenging environment under the Trump administration. And, for the…
Auto safety group names new director
The Center for Auto Safety has named a new executive director. Jason K. Levine succeeds the late Clarence M. Ditlow III, who headed the organization for decades prior to his death last November. Levine, a consumer protection attorney, has held leadership positions in three federal agencies, including Chief of Staff at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and…
The Car Book 2017
The 2017 Car Book is better than ever – and it’s loaded with all the latest information for you about … …crash tests, …rollover ratings …maintenance costs, …fuel economy, insurance costs, and …lemon ratings & reliability by make and model. … insights on the best new electronic safety features to order. … update reviews…
General Motors Recalls 800,000 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra Trucks Worldwide Over Power Steering Defect
General Motors has issued a recall order for about 800,000 units of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, as the pickup trucks have a potential issue with their power steering systems. General Motors has not had a good year so far, and this vehicle recall continues the automobile manufacturer’s bad luck. The vehicle recall that…
VW executive pleads guilty in emissions scandal
A German Volkswagen executive pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy and fraud charges in Detroit in a scheme to cheat emission rules on nearly 600,000 diesel vehicles. Shackled at the wrists and ankles and wearing red prison garb, Oliver Schmidt appeared before U.S. District Judge Sean Cox as part of the U.S. government’s case involving the…
Self-Driving Cars are Confusing Drivers – and Spooking Insurers
The great promise of autonomous vehicles, aside from saving you from the tyranny of commuting, is their ability to save lives by replacing stupid humans with intelligent computers. But these cars, at least in the short-term, could make driving riskier because people don’t yet understand the technology or just how it works. British auto insurance companies call…
Unbelted Rider in the Back Could Kill Someone in the Front
by Cheryl Jensen FairWarning.org People who don’t buckle up when they ride in the rear seat because they think it’s safer back there are wrong. Instead, they pose a serious danger to themselves and those riding up front, according to a new study and crash test video by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The video of that…
Rolling back rules could backfire on automakers
by Dan Becker and James Gerstenzang, Safe Climate Campaign U.S. automakers are lobbying President Donald Trump and Congress to roll back rules that cut auto pollution and deliver better gas mileage, putting short-term profits ahead of long-term competitive interests. They’ve driven their gas hogs down this pot-holed road before. It led to their near-death experience…
Takata Update: Deadly Incidents Continue as Automakers Struggle to Meet Takata Recall Repair Deadlines
Despite fast-approaching government deadlines to replace deadly and defective Takata airbag inflators, automakers have yet to achieve acceptable recall completion rates. The Center for Auto Safety recommends that all consumers check the NHTSA VIN Recall Lookup to determine whether their vehicle is subject to these recalls. RECENT NEWS Ford urges 2,900 pickup owners to stop…