National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Feds Digging Into Tesla Car Fires

Elon Musk: There's 'no safer car on the road'

(Newser) - Tesla is facing more scrutiny following three car fires in six weeks. First, investors launched a lawsuit; now, the government is getting involved, USA Today reports. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now investigating two of the fires, both of which occurred after Model S undercarriages hit debris on...

Chrysler Refuses to Recall Jeeps Over Fuel Tank Fires

NHTSA urges automaker to recall 2.7M vehicles

(Newser) - Chrysler has rejected the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's request to recall 2.7 million older Jeeps, saying that it believes the agency's concerns about fuel tank fires are unfounded. The NHTSA asked Chrysler to recall 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-2007 Jeep Libertys after a probe into...

Honda Recalls 870K 'Runaway' Vehicles

SUVs, minivans roll away without key in ignition

(Newser) - Honda is recalling more than 870,000 minivans and SUVs worldwide because they can roll away even though drivers have removed the keys from the ignition. The recall announced today affects older-model vehicles sold mainly in the United States. They were big sellers with families because of their ample space...

Cyclists, Beware: Bike Deaths Take Big Jump

Rise 8.7% in 2011

(Newser) - Last year was a good year for road warriors—so long as they were on four wheels, not two. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today released its analysis of 2011 traffic deaths, and overall fatalities sank 1.9% to 32,367, outpacing the 1.2% drop in the number...

Traffic Deaths Jump Record 9%

First half of the year sees biggest increase on record

(Newser) - Traffic fatalities jumped 9% in the first half of the year, the highest first-half increase since the government began tracking the deaths, CNN reports. Motor vehicle crashes killed about 16,000 people between January and June, according to a statistical projection. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration didn't speculate...

Fire Hazard Forces GM, Isuzu to Recall 258K SUVs

Short-circuits in window cause fires

(Newser) - General Motors and Isuzu are recalling more than 258,000 SUVs after getting reports of 28 fires apparently caused by short-circuits in the cars' power windows and door locks. The recall covers many vehicle makes from the 2006 and 2007 model years, including the Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier,...

Feds Demand System to Ensure Brakes Work

Brake override proposal a response to Toyota, Lexus crashes

(Newser) - Are you terrified of your car suddenly and uncontrollably accelerating, Toyota-style ? Well, federal regulators are at last moving to put your mind at ease. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has put forward a proposal to require all new vehicles to include a brake override system , the LA Times...

GOP: Obama Hid Volt Fires
 GOP: Obama Hid Volt Fires 
Jan 25, 2012 11:17 AM CST

GOP: Obama Hid Volt Fires

They say NHTSA delayed announcing investigation

(Newser) - Congressional Republicans intend to accuse the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of purposely delaying an announcement about the Chevy Volt's battery fire troubles because President Obama is politically tied to General Motors, and the Volt in particular. The Volt experienced its first fire last June, but the NHTSA didn’...

Feds Probe 'Lunging' Ford Freestyle

Safety officials receive 238 complaints of lurches while idling, driving slowly

(Newser) - Federal safety officials are investigating the Ford Freestyle after getting 238 complaints that it can suddenly lunge forward when it’s supposed to be idling or moving slowly. Eighteen minor crashes were reported with one minor injury involving 2005 through 2007 Freestyles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the...

Traffic Deaths Hit 61-Year Low
 Traffic Deaths Hit 61-Year Low 
Apr 1, 2011 3:28 AM CDT

Traffic Deaths Hit 61-Year Low

2010 least deadly year on American roads since 1949

(Newser) - Some 32,788 people died on American roads in 2010, the smallest number since Harry Truman was in the White House—and there were a lot fewer people on the roads back then. Last year saw the fewest traffic accident deaths since 1949, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration...

Feds Open Inquiry Into Fusion, Milan Floor Mats

All-weather mats may trap accelerator pedal

(Newser) - Another automaker is under investigation for possible floor mat trouble. This time it's Ford, the subject of an NHTSA inquiry into its Fusion and Mercury Milan models. The agency has received complaints that the automaker's rubber, all-weather mats could trap accelerator pedals, reports the Detroit Free Press . Unlike previous incidents...

Toyota to Pay $16.4M US Fine
 Toyota to Pay $16.4M US Fine 

Apr 19, 2010 1:19 AM CDT

Toyota to Pay $16.4M US Fine

But automaker won't admit hiding defects from feds

(Newser) - Toyota is expected to agree today to pay a record $16.4 million US fine after a 4-month delay in reporting the "sticky pedal" defect that led to a massive recall. Toyota has decided not to challenge the government penalty, but will not admit it knowingly hid evidence of...

Feds Fine Toyota $16.4M

 Feds Fine Toyota $16.4M 
Apr 5, 2010 4:18 PM CDT

Feds Fine Toyota $16.4M

Automaker has the right to appeal penalty

(Newser) - Toyota is still paying for its decision to wait 4 months before announcing a recall and notifying federal regulators of the "sticky pedal" defect—and the automaker will pay even more: a $16.4 million fine imposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this afternoon. Toyota has 2...

Feds Question 'Runaway Prius' Driver's Story

Investigators can't replicate incident; brake-wear patterns inconsistent

(Newser) - Investigators have not been able to replicate the incident of uncontrolled acceleration a Prius driver says he experienced last week, and the condition of the car's brakes is raising suspicions with federal investigators and Toyota engineers, the Wall Street Journal reports. James Sikes said he lost control of his car...

Toyoda: 'We Pursued Growth' Over Safety
 Toyoda: 'We Pursued 
 Growth' Over Safety 
CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY
Feb 24, 2010 1:25 PM CST

Toyoda: 'We Pursued Growth' Over Safety

Toyota CEO is 'deeply sorry' for accidents that may have killed 39

(Newser) - Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda is on Capitol Hill today to make amends for the safety issues that have plagued his company’s cars and are tied to 39 traffic fatalities. Toyoda told the House Oversight Committee that the automaker’s priorities had become confused. “We pursued growth over the...

Toyotas Linked to 34 Deaths Since 2000

Total complaints grow by 1,000 in one week

(Newser) - Complaints of deaths connected to sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles has surged in recent weeks, with the alleged death toll since 2000 reaching 34, according to new data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the government typically receives a surge in complaints following a recall, reports about...

Ex-Regulators Hired by Toyota Staved Off Recalls

Former NHTSA officials helped end four probes into accelerators

(Newser) - Two former employees of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration helped Toyota end at least four investigations into issues with its accelerators, according to court and government documents. Toyota’s VP of regulatory affairs, Christopher Tinto, and one of his subordinates, Christopher Santucci, came to the automaker directly from the...

US Opens Inquiry Into Prius Brake Problem

Yet another recall may be coming, as customers report failures

(Newser) - Toyota has yet another problem on its hands; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is launching its own investigation into complaints of brake failures in the 2010 Prius. Toyota has already admitted there’s a “design flaw” in the model, and made changes to the braking system last month,...

Toyota Closes In on Gas Pedal Fix

Asks Traffic Safety Administration to approve spring

(Newser) - Toyota has nearly finished developing a fix for the sticking accelerators that forced the company to halt sales on eight models Tuesday. Toyota’s now awaiting approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the fix, which involves a “spacer” inserted into the pedal to increase tension, sources...

Senate Backs Product Safety Crackdown

Sweeping changes in consumer laws

(Newser) - The Senate has passed a tough new product safety measure covering toys, household appliances and thousands of other products. It would ban lead in toys, increase civil penalties for hazardous products tenfold, enable more state regulation and create a database of dangerous items on the market. It also sets up...

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