Not recalling 50 million ARC airbag inflators for now
Safety regulators had previously hoped to recall 50 million airbag inflators following deaths/injuries. December 20, 2024 — Exploding air bag inflators are still affecting automakers, vehicles, occupants and safety regulators who are trying to determine whether millions of inflators and vehicles should be recalled. The entire ordeal involves ARC Automotive, Delphi Automotive and a federal safety investigation launched in 2015 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The investigation was upgraded in 2016 after a Canadian woman died when a 2009 Hyundai Elantra ARC airbag inflator ruptured. NHTSA estimates there are more than 50 million suspect air bag inflators in vehicles produced by 13 automakers. Safety regulators said in 2023 that a recall should be considered due to the dangers posed by the inflators. This has caused concern among airbag inflator manufacturers and automakers. GM did announce a recall of about 1 million vehicles in May 2023, but ARC automatically rejected any talk of a recall. All companies agree that…
Lawsuit filed after Kia Carnival sliding door sensor recall
Kia Carnival sliding door sensors allegedly fail to prevent automatic doors from closing. October 26, 2024 — Kia Carnival sliding door sensor lawsuit claims power sliding doors were never fixed during previous recalls. West Virginia plaintiffs Rachel Langerhans and Andrew Langerhans filed a class action lawsuit alleging dangerous and defective power sliding doors on 2022-2023 Kia Carnivals. Most automotive class action lawsuits are not filed until a recall is announced or a formal government investigation is launched. The Kia Carnival lawsuit is a good example, as the lawsuit wasn't filed until after the minivans were both under investigation and recalled. According to the class action lawsuit, 2022-2023 Kia Carnival power sliding doors are equipped with a defective squeeze sensor that does not cause the power sliding door to automatically reverse. Kia Carnival sliding doors are supposed to automatically stop closing if an obstacle blocks the path, but the lawsuit says children or people could be injured if the sensors malfunction.…
Fiat 124 Spider recalled due to powerful front airbags
More than 17,000 vehicles are equipped with front airbags that can harm occupants. October 1, 2024 — A recall has been announced for the Fiat 124 Spider because the front airbags may injure occupants rather than protect them. The recall involves the 2017-2020 Fiat 124 Spider, which has a software error in the airbag control module. This could cause the front airbags to deploy with too much force during a collision. About 17,400 vehicles are being recalled not only because the problem is dangerous, but also because they violate federal safety standards regarding neck injuries. Chrysler learned about the airbag control module problem from Mazda in July. In a collision, dual-stage airbag deployment may occur instead of the intended single-stage airbag deployment. About 1,600 Fiat 124 Spider vehicles are being recalled in Canada. Once the recall letter is mailed on November 7, 2024, Fiat Chrysler dealers will update the air bag control module software. Fiat 124 Spider owners can call…
Motion to Dismiss Ford Super Duty Roof Collapse Class Action Lawsuit
Ford says no Ford Super Truck owners have reported their roofs collapsed or were crushed. September 29, 2024 — The Ford Super Duty roof collapse class action lawsuit alleges that all 1999-2016 Ford F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty roofs are fragile and dangerous. The Ford truck owners who filed the lawsuit call their trucks "ticking time bombs," which Ford says is ridiculous. Georgia jury returns $1.7 billion verdict against Ford in 2014 deaths of Melvin Hill, 74, and his wife Voncile Hill, 62 , subsequently triggering multiple class-action lawsuits. The couple was killed in a crash in their 2002 Ford F-250 Super Duty when an incorrect-sized tire blew out. The tire was installed by a Pep Boys service center and when the tire blew, the Ford Super Duty truck rolled violently two and a half times and landed on its roof. (Hill’s truck is pictured above) Ford said that in the Hill case, "the jury was forced to…
Cause of Jeep power steering pump fire under investigation
The fires in the engine compartment of both the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator occurred at the power steering pump. September 10, 2024 — A Jeep power steering pump can cause a fire in the engine compartment of 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler and 2021-2023 Gladiator vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into the Jeep fires after receiving at least nine complaints, multiple field reports and "one report of death and injury." NHTSA contacted Fiat Chrysler about the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator fires and determined that several "thermal events" had occurred that started at the power steering pump electrical connector. Jeep owners report that the fire started on the front passenger side of the engine compartment, in the same location as the power steering pump connector. According to Jeep fire complaints, most engine compartment fires occur when the ignition is turned off. CarComplaints.com will update the findings on our website. The Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Wrangler…
Need to tow trailer side underrun protection
The petitioners asked, the law requires rear underrun trailer guards, so why not the sides? August 29, 2024 — The lack of federal law requiring all vans and semitrailers to be equipped with side underrun protection should be examined because of the dangers of driving under the side of a trailer, it was said. Federal law requires trailers to have underrun protection on the rear, but not on the sides. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that it has received a petition to investigate the impact of trailers that are not equipped with side underrun protection. In addition to vehicles that could hit and slide under the trailer, the federal petition for investigation also argues that pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists are also at risk. No specific equipment or trailer manufacturers are named in the petition. In 2021, safety regulators also received a request to investigate the impact of trailer side underrun guards and the lack of federal regulations. However,…
Cruise self-driving car recall ends emergency braking
Cruise control autopilot systems can cause sudden emergency braking accidents. August 23, 2024 — The federal investigation into the Cruise Automated Driving System (ADS) recall has concluded. The Cruise self-driving car also stopped in the middle of traffic. In December 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation after a Cruise self-driving car with a human supervisor on board was rear-ended in traffic. Multiple reports also state that unattended Cruise vehicles (with no one on board) have stopped moving in autonomous mode. NHTSA found that Cruise's automated driving system issued 7,632 emergency braking commands based on deceleration rates, resulting in 10 accidents. The government said four of the accidents "involved vulnerable road users and resulted in injuries." In August this year, Cruise announced a recall of its autonomous driving system because "unexpected braking maneuvers may occur if the ADS cannot accurately predict the near-term path of the vehicle following it, or if the sensor accuracy is reduced due…
Kia EV9 SUV recalled over headliner defect
Kia says the headliner on 2024 EV9 vehicles may not protect occupants in a crash. June 21, 2024 — Kia's EV9 recall affects more than 2,400 SUVs because of a defect in the headliner that may not adequately protect occupants in a crash. The recalled 2024 Kia EV9 headliner issue also violates federal safety standards. "If a collision occurs and the passenger's head contacts the headliner, the headliner may not be able to absorb enough impact force." - hurry up In May, Kia received notice that the 2025 EV9 vehicles scheduled to begin production on May 30, 2024 at Kia's Georgia plant had issues during pre-production testing. This has prompted the automaker to begin focusing on the 2024 EV9 SUV to be produced in South Korea. Kia found that the SUVs did not meet performance standards due to the headliner issue, but no accidents or injuries have been reported. Kia expects to mail out the EV9 headliner recall letter on…
2014 Ford F-150 recalls 647,000 vehicles over downshift issue
Ford says the downshift problem in 2014 F-150s has led to warranty claims, accidents and reports of injuries. June 25, 2024 — A 2014 Ford F-150 downshift problem has led to the recall of more than 647,000 trucks, which can cause the trucks to suddenly downshift to first gear while in motion, regardless of speed. In the United States, the 2014 Ford F-150 downshift problem has resulted in more than 300 warranty reports, 96 field reports and 124 customer complaints. The downshift problem also caused nearly 100 2014 Ford F-150 trucks to experience rear wheel locking and dangerous control issues. Additionally, there were two reports of injuries resulting from sudden downshifts and one complaint that the issue caused a collision. "A loss of signal between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module may cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed." - Ford The 2014 Ford F-150 downshift problem triggered a…
Lexus NX and Lexus RX front headrests must be replaced
Lexus is recalling 12,000 SUVs because of a possible malfunction in the front driver and passenger headrests. June 27, 2024 — Lexus NX and Lexus RX are recalling more than 12,000 SUVs in Canada and the U.S. due to head restraint issues. The recalled models are 2024 Lexus RX and 2024-2025 Lexus NX SUVs, both of which have front driver and passenger headrests that can be removed without pressing a release button. Despite the limited information, Lexus said the head restraint issue increased the risk of injury to passengers and also violated safety standards. More than 1,000 SUVs are being recalled in Canada. Lexus dealers will replace the front driver and passenger head restraints. Lexus RX and Lexus NX owners should be on the lookout for a head restraint recall letter before the end of August 2024. Lexus NX and RX customers with questions should call Lexus at 800-255-3987.
BMW owner fined $1.9 million for car accident
New York plaintiff Godwin Boateng claims the loss of his thumb tip will cost him $3 million. July 3, 2024 — A New York BMW owner was awarded $1.9 million for losing the tip of his thumb when it was pinched while closing the soft-close door of his 2013 BMW X5. Plaintiff Godwin Boateng filed the lawsuit after he exited his 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35i Sport in July 2016, placed his right hand on the driver's side door pillar, and faced away from the vehicle with the door open about a foot. The car is equipped with BMW's soft-close door function. "In tight parking spaces or when you need to close the door gently, the automatic soft-close function can help: Simply push the door almost to the closed position. When the door is approximately 6 millimeters from the lock, the sensor activates the electric motor, which pulls the door up firmly and quietly and locks it. The door lock components…
BMW owner fined $1.9 million for car accident
New York plaintiff Godwin Boateng claims the loss of his thumb tip will cost him $3 million. July 3, 2024 — A New York BMW owner was awarded $1.9 million for losing the tip of his thumb when it was pinched while closing the soft-close door of his 2013 BMW X5. Plaintiff Godwin Boateng filed the lawsuit after he exited his 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35i Sport in July 2016, placed his right hand on the driver's side door pillar, and faced away from the vehicle with the door open about a foot. The car is equipped with BMW's soft-close door function. "In tight parking spaces or when you need to close the door gently, the automatic soft-close function can help: Simply push the door almost to the closed position. When the door is approximately 6 millimeters from the lock, the sensor activates the electric motor, which pulls the door up firmly and quietly and locks it. The door lock components…
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