When GM installed engine block heaters in some of their trucks, they did not foresee the potential increased fire hazards as a result of this intended convenience. The engine block heaters were designed to warm the engine to allow for easier starting in very cold weather. This is allowed by plugging the engine block heaters into an external power outlet. However, recent reports have shown that the cord and block heater may short circuit resulting in a potential fire.
Airbag Problems Revealed in Millions of Vehicles
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed numerous documents indicating that up to 12.3 million vehicles in the United States may have airbag problems. It has been determined that the airbags may not inflate in a crash and the problem could be responsible for as many as eight deaths. Right now, the focus is on vehicles made by Toyota, Honda, Kia, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, and Fiat Chrysler from the years 2010 through 2019 model years. And the airbag control unit in question is made by ZF-TRW.
Hyundai and Kia Vehicles are Experiencing Fires Without Collisions
The Center for Auto Safety filed a petition with the federal government to have the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigate potential non-collision fires in 2.2 million Hyundai and Kia vehicles. Kia is an affiliate of Hyundai and together they are the world's 5th largest automobile-manufacturer.
Honda Recalls 1.4 Million Cars to Replace Takata Airbags
Honda is adding 1.4 million cars, SUVs, and trucks to its list of vehicles that should have their Takata airbags replaced. Included in the airbag recall list are vehicles branded as Acura, Honda's luxury brand, according to the automaker.
Kia Recalls Over 500,000 Vehicles
Following news in March that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was looking into reports of defective airbags in vehicles made by Kia and its affiliate Hyundai, Kia has announced it is recalling more than half a million vehicles in the U.S. because of the concern.
General Motors Recalls Over 1 Million Pickup Trucks
In order to save lives from vehicle collisions and improve the safety of innocent drivers, unsafe vehicles must be removed from roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 25,000 deaths have occurred on roadways in 2015. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reducing the amount of traffic fatalities by mandating manufacturers to recall the vehicles that do not follow the Federal safety standards or have defects.
Texas a Lead State in Unfixed Cars with Open Recalls
There are more than 46 million vehicles on U.S. roads, with Carfax reporting about 20%, or 1 in 5, that have open recalls. California was reported to have 4.9 million open recalls, Texas 4.1 million open recalls, and Florida only half as many recalls. The NHTSA said that in the first 9 months of 2015 there were about 26,000 fatal car accidents on U.S. roads, 9 % higher than the previous year and the highest since 2008. While 94% of all car accidents are credited to human error, with defects like shrapnel propelling airbags (Takata Honda recall), the problem becomes much clearer.
Toyota Recalls 6.5 Million Vehicles Worldwide
Toyota has announced that it is recalling 6.5 million cars worldwide because of a potentially harmful defect in the operating mechanism of the driver's side power window switch. The mechanism was supplied to Toyota by Rokai Rika Co. The recall represents approximately two-thirds of Toyota's annual production.
Automatic Braking System Issues
Around a dozen complaints have been filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from drivers of Honda, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, and General Motors Co. vehicles regarding their cars automated braking systems. The complaints were due to various vehicles' automated braking systems activating for no reason.
Auto Recalls Expected to Reach Record Numbers in 2015
The new head of the U.S. Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently stated that recent attention on defective automobiles will likely result in over 60 million vehicles being recalled in 2015.
