Autoblog

REPORT: Toyota execs deny cover-up after feds rebuke automaker over runaway car investigation

Chris Shunk — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Toyota

Remember Toyota's massive 3.8 million unit unintended acceleration recall that was attributed to pesky floor mats? It appears defective floor mats doesn't tell the whole story, as the Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared in a statement that "this (unintended acceleration) matter is not closed," adding "removal of the floor mats is simply an interim measure, not a remedy of the underlying defect in the vehicles."

Up to 2,000 Toyota customers claim to have experienced a sudden surge of acceleration, and some reportedly told ABC News that they didn't even have the recalled floor mats in their vehicles. Even more disturbing are the results of an ABC News investigation that reportedly found "hundreds" of accidents and up to 16 deaths as a result of unintended acceleration.

Four of those deaths occurred in August when an off-duty California Highway Patrol Officer, traveling with his wife, daughter and brother in-law, were killed after their Lexus accelerated uncontrollably. The driver's brother in-law called 911 and said that the brakes didn't work before the vehicle reached an intersection, struck another car, went into a ditch and caught fire. Some Toyota owners feel there is an electronic glitch in the system that controls the throttle and the ABC report shows that there is some anecdotal evidence which illustrates that incidents rose after the system was put into place in 2002, but so far, NHTSA has found no evidence to support those claims after six investigations.

ABC News caught up with Toyota Vice President Yukitoshi Funo (pictured second from left) and asked him if Toyota was covering anything up. Funo replied "It is not part of the Toyota culture and Toyota way to cover up anything," adding that the Japanese automaker is working with NHTSA to come up with an agreement on how to proceed going forward.

If you own a Toyota or Lexus and you are concerned about this issue, it appears that there is little that will be done in the short term other than tie down or remove the floor mats. If you do experience the acceleration issue, Consumer Reports suggests shifting your vehicle into neutral, pressing the brake and holding it down in an effort to bring your vehicle to a stop. This post and video from CR demonstrates how to effectively resolve the situation, and the risks of pumping the brakes. Turning off your vehicle could be a bad idea, as turning off the engine will also result in the loss of power steering and power brakes.

[Source: ABC News | Image: Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP/Getty]

REPORT: Toyota execs deny cover-up after feds rebuke automaker over runaway car investigation originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford unveils industry's first* production inflatable seat belts [w/VIDEO]

John Neff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Safety, Crossover, Ford

Ford's Inflatable Seat Belts - Click above for high-res image gallery

They started out in our steering wheels before taking up residence across the dash. They then migrated to the side of our vehicles and grew to be full-sized curtains. Automakers seem to stick them everywhere, so where else can airbags go to protect our fleshy, organic bodies when metal meets metal in an accident? Ford has the answer: seatbelts.

Today Ford is introducing the auto industry's first* inflatable seat belts, which are scheduled to enter production in 2010 on the next-generation Ford Explorer before being offered across its global lineup. They're designed for rear-seat occupants only (front passengers already have a plethora of airbags) and, in the event of a frontal or side impact, will inflate the belt across a passenger's chest in 40 milliseconds. When expanded, the belt cover five times more surface area of the body than a normal seat belt, which helps better distribute the forces of a crash.

The mechanics of Ford's inflatable belt system use cold compressed gas to inflate the bags, unlike traditional airbags that rely on a heat-generating chemical reaction. The seat belt bags also inflate slower and to a lower pressure than a traditional airbag, mainly because they don't have to cover the distance between the passenger and an object (steering wheel, dash).

This isn't the first time we've heard about Ford's inflatable seat belts. The automaker has been working on the idea for several years and revealed their intentions right before the 2006 Detroit Auto Show. Unfortunately, Ford may not be the first to market with the idea. The Lexus LFA, also set to enter production next year, features an SRS seatbelt airbag as well. We don't know if the next-gen Explorer will beat the LFA to dealer showrooms yet, but Ford can at least take pride in knowing that its technology will be protecting more than just 500 lives.

UPDATE: Videos added after the jump.

Gallery: Ford's Inflatable Seat Belts

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford unveils industry's first* production inflatable seat belts [w/VIDEO]

Ford unveils industry's first* production inflatable seat belts [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM recalling 53,000 Chevy Cobalt, Saturn Ion, and Pontiac G5 models over fuel leak concern

Chris Shunk — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:40:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Chevrolet, GM, Pontiac, Saturn

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS - Click above to view high-res image gallery

General Motors may have shed itself of much of its pre-bankruptcy problems, but the automaker still has to tend to its warranty and recall duties. As such, GM is recalling 53,000 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5 and Saturn Ion models for a potential fuel leak problem that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says could lead to a fire. The problem involves 2006 Cobalt and Ion model models sold or registered in Arizona and Nevada and 2007 Cobalt, G5 and Ion models sold or registered in Arizona, California, Texas, Florida and Nevada.

NHTSA says the plastic supply or return port on the cars' modular reservoir assembly may crack, potentially leading to a fuel leak that could cause cause decreased efficiency and performance. Worse, if that leaking gasoline comes into contact with an ignition source of any kind, you could be looking at a Delta platform car-b-que.

To fix the fuel leak problem, company dealers will replace the fuel pump module of affected vehicles free of charge. GM is also providing a special coverage for 2006 and 2007 Cobalt, G5 and Ion models in other warm weather states, and you can hit the jump to read over the NHTSA press release to see if you live in a participating location. GM hasn't yet provided a time frame for owner notification, but if you have questions you can read the official press release after the jump or call 1-800-630-2438 (Cobalt), 1-800-972-8876 (Ion) or 1-800-620-7668 (G5).

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading GM recalling 53,000 Chevy Cobalt, Saturn Ion, and Pontiac G5 models over fuel leak concern

GM recalling 53,000 Chevy Cobalt, Saturn Ion, and Pontiac G5 models over fuel leak concern originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: 30% of you are genetically predisposed to drive poorly

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety

Well, this explains everything. Scientists scientifically studied the brains of 29 people. Of those, 22 had normal brains while the other seven had a genetic variant that stops their brain from secreting something called a neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Without the BDNF, new memories aren't formed properly. And people with this gene variant also can't drive.

Those 29 people were placed in cars on a closed-circuit course with lots of difficult turns. Then they repeated the test four days later. Results? Not only did the gene variant-brained people do worse on the first day of testing, they did worse on the second day, too.

And now the kicker - 30% of Americans have this genetic variant. Said the scientist in charge, "I'd be curious to know the genetics of people who get into car crashes. I wonder if the accident rate is higher for drivers with the variant." As it stands now, there is no commercially available test to check for this variant. In other words, be careful out there.

[Source: CNN | Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images]

STUDY: 30% of you are genetically predisposed to drive poorly originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda recalls nearly 40,000 B-Series pickups over cruise control issues

Michael Harley — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Mazda

Last month, Ford widened its cruise control switch recall to 4.5 million vehicles. Included in the growing list of cars and trucks was the Ford Ranger pickup - the mechanical twin to the now-discontinued Mazda B-Series pickup. Not surprisingly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has now widened its recall to encompass 39,600 of Mazda's 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 trucks for the exact same fault.

According to the recall, trucks equipped with a Texas Instruments speed control deactivation switch (SCDS) and/or anti-lock brake system (ABS) manufactured on or before December 5, 2002, may encounter a vehicle fire if the switch deteriorates and leaks. As in the Ford recall, Mazda dealers will install a universal fused jumper harness on the cruise control deactivation switch at no charge.

Owners of the recalled vehicles may contact Mazda at 800-222-5500 (option #6), contact the NHTSA's Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, or go to www.safercar.gov. Recall information after the jump.

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading Mazda recalls nearly 40,000 B-Series pickups over cruise control issues

Mazda recalls nearly 40,000 B-Series pickups over cruise control issues originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota plans to trim trucks, focus on hybrids, improve quality

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Safety, Toyota

Stick with what you know. That seems to be Toyota's new mantra going forward, as the Japanese automaker has reportedly diverted its attention away from large trucks like the largely unsuccessful and slow-selling Tundra pickup and back on hybrid vehicles - possibly all wearing the Prius badge, including a minivan and something smaller than the current Prius - and returning to its previous levels of unquestionable quality.

Atsushi Niimi, executive vice president for North America and global manufacturing, tells Automotive News that Toyota will try to build more longevity into its current lineup, addressing issues such as excessive rust and corrosion and introducing new "fail-safe functions" designed to minimize the possibility of "tragic accidents." We suspect that means push-button ignitions that can more easily shut down the car and floor mats that can't bunch up under the accelerator pedal.

In addition, Toyota will focus on the North American market, giving U.S. engineers a larger say when it comes to new vehicle design and the choices of which models make the overseas trek. To speed up the new model renaissance, Toyota will hold back on mid-cycle refreshes, instead working to get more substantial updates ready in less time.

On the manufacturing side, Toyota believes that it expanded too rapidly over the last decade and will attempt to slow down and restore the trust that customers had in the brand. Apparently, that slowdown will indeed affect the recently-built and still-idle plant in Blue Springs, Mississippi.

[Source: Automotive News (products, manufacturing) (quality) - sub. req'd]

Toyota plans to trim trucks, focus on hybrids, improve quality originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Seattle earthquake viaduct simulation released; timing politically motivated?

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Technology, Videos

Alaskan Way Viaduct earthquake simulation -- Click above to watch video

The Alaskan Way Viaduct (AWV) is an elevated roadway running along the Elliot Bay Waterway in Seattle. An earthquake in 2001 damaged the viaduct, and the structural degradation has only gotten worse over the years. To forestall the possibility of having the conduit collapse in another natural disaster, the city and Port of Seattle, King County, and the state government agreed earlier this year to dig a deep-bore tunnel to go under the waterway and eventually shut down the viaduct.

According to the Seattle Times, the tunnel is a contentious issue, with residents fervently pro and against. Two years ago, though, the state commissioned a video to show what would happen to the AWV if another serious earthquake hit. The six-minute CGI video that resulted could be a clip right out of the disaster movie 2012, and because of its sensationalism, it was never shown. Seattle resident Elizabeth Campbell doesn't want the tunnel and recently requested to have the video released. After saying that Campbell wouldn't get it for eight months, the city put the video on a local news show - and Campbell still hasn't received her copy.

Naturally, there's some political intrigue to accompany everything. The problem is that there's a mayoral race happening right now, with the current mayor siding for the tunnel and his opponent is against it. It has therefore been suggested that the video has been released in order to help that current mayor's campaign - you would not want to be anywhere near the AWV and phrases like "liquefied soil" if the video is anywhere close to reality. Whether it will affect votes remains to be seen. Either way, you can check out the video footage for yourself after the jump.

[Source: Seattle Times]

Continue reading VIDEO: Seattle earthquake viaduct simulation released; timing politically motivated?

VIDEO: Seattle earthquake viaduct simulation released; timing politically motivated? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan recalls 163,000+ 2008-2009 Rogue crossovers over potential steering fault

Chris Shunk — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:39:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Crossover, Nissan

Nissan Rogue - Click above for high-res image gallery

On Sunday, we brought you word of a Nissan recall affecting 2009-2010 Altima sedans, and today, we bring you word of an even larger safety issue impacting its CUV lineup. The Japanese automaker is recalling 163,659 2008 and 2009 model year Rogue crossovers due to a potentially serious safety issue involving the crossover's steering gear housing cover. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reporting that a screw could loosen, potentially causing the steering response to be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the screw could come out completely, and if large steering inputs are made, the pinion shaft could come out, resulting in total loss of steering.

Affected Rogue owners will be contacted by Nissan to have the repair scheduled at the local Nissan dealer. The dealers will re-tighten the screw and install a cover plate to prevent the screw from loosening in the future. The recall is scheduled to begin in November, but if you're currently experiencing steering issues (or if this sort of thing keeps you up at night) you should stop by the local dealer right away. Hit the jump to read over NHTSA's press release, and if you have any questions, you can call Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Gallery: Nissan Rogue

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading Nissan recalls 163,000+ 2008-2009 Rogue crossovers over potential steering fault

Nissan recalls 163,000+ 2008-2009 Rogue crossovers over potential steering fault originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: NHTSA upgrading investigation into Honda Odyssey brakes

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:59:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Safety, Honda

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has upgraded their preliminary probe into an issue with the Honda Odyssey to an engineering analysis. The agency has received more than 500 complaints about a braking problem, with drivers saying the pedal gets soft or spongy. According to reports on ten crashes that have been submitted, the van in some cases hasn't stopped as it should.

The years in question are the 2006-2008 Odysseys. The problem being looked at is whether air entering the brake lines is degrading brake performance. Honda says air might enter the lines, but that wouldn't change the operation of the brakes. This is not a recall, merely an analysis, and there is no indication yet that a recall will be necessary. Later model vans are being looked at most closely, and NHTSA should release its findings soon.

[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: NHTSA upgrading investigation into Honda Odyssey brakes originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHTSA releases new info about crash that prompted Toyota floormat recall

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Safety

Contrary to previous reports, the death of a four people and the largest recall in Toyota's history was caused by a compound of errors. The initial buzz/word on the virtual street suggested that it was simply an improperly placed floor mat that doomed CHP officer Mark Saylor and three family members when the Lexus ES350 they were traveling in got jammed open at over 100 MPH before crashing and bursting into flames. But it turns out it was more than just a floor mat.

First of all, the floor mat in question didn't belong to the ES350 (actually, the ES350 didn't belong to Officer Saylor -- it was a dealer loaner while his car was being worked on). The mats in the ES350 that crashed were from a RX400h. Not only that, they were those thick, all-weather hard rubber mats. Regardless, because the dealer had placed the wrong mats into the wrong car, there was no way to properly mount them. Also, it seems that the pedal design of the ES350 also played a role. The NHTSA discovered that, "Beyond the main pivot, the lever is not hinged and has no means for relieving forces caused by interferences." We think that means it can easily get stuck.

But that's not all. The NHTSA had also learned from a previous ES350 investigation that, "the Lexus ES braking system loses power-assist when the throttle is fully opened, increasing braking distance fivefold." That's not good. And the brakes had signs of heavy wear and damage, "Rotors were discolored and heated, had very rough surfaces, had substantial deposits of brake pad material, and showed signs of bright orange oxidation on the cooling fins consistent with endured braking."

Additionally, because the Lexus has push button start, the operator must push the button for three seconds before the engine will shut off. A piece of info obviously and sadly not known by Officer Saylor. The San Diego County Sheriff's office is leading the investigation and has not yet released their final report. We'll keep you posted on that, but as they say in plane crashes, looks like the holes in the swiss cheese all lined up.

[Source: LA Times]

NHTSA releases new info about crash that prompted Toyota floormat recall originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Tata investigating as Nano owners report steering column fires

Noah Joseph — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, India, Tata

Tata Nano - Click above for high-res image gallery

If we weren't car guys, we could understand the attraction of a bare-bones car with a sticker price coming in at a fraction of a conventional car's. Heck, we still do. But we know as well as you do that in order to get the pricing that low, corners probably have to be cut somewhere. And when you're dealing with a metal cage in which you sit surrounded by glass, propelled by a controlled series of explosions and managed by a complex mess of wires and electronics, you don't want to be cutting corners.

So we can't say we're entirely surprised with news of early problems with the Tata Nano. The vehicle that's anticipated to mobilize India has been launched in its domestic market prior to being exported overseas, but three customers have already reported small fires spontaneously igniting inside the vehicle, causing the automaker to launch an investigation.

The problem reportedly stems from faulty wiring in the ignition switch that has, in these three cases reported so far, caused smoke and certain parts around the steering column to melt. Two of the customers have returned their Nanos to their respective dealerships, which have repaired the problem at no charge. One buyer, however, has yet to bring his car in for repairs and has lodged a complaint with law enforcement officials.

So far, Tata isn't issuing a recall notice, but it is conducting a "pre-delivery audit" of the car's electrical systems for those still in their possession and offering to inspect those units it has already sold.

Gallery: Tata Nano

[Source: The Times of India]

REPORT: Tata investigating as Nano owners report steering column fires originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan recalls 26,000+ 2009-2010 Altima and Maxima models over strut issue

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Nissan

2010 Nissan Altima -- Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2009 and 2010 Nissan Altima and Maxima are being recalled over a suspension issue. The problem is the upper front strut insulators on some cars, which might not meet specified tolerances and therefore crack. Nissan is notifying owners this month and the repair will be taken care of by dealers, who will replace the strut insulators on both sides. Follow the jump to read the notice from the NHTSA. Hat tip to Art G

Gallery: 2010 Nissan Altima Sedan

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading Nissan recalls 26,000+ 2009-2010 Altima and Maxima models over strut issue

Nissan recalls 26,000+ 2009-2010 Altima and Maxima models over strut issue originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Man misses runaway bus in Russia by inches

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Videos, Russia

Bus nearly hits pedestrian in Russia - Click above to watch the video after the break

Driving is dangerous. We know that, yet the vast majority of us seem willing to take the risks inherent with strapping ourselves inside a two-ton projectile to share the road with other human-piloted objects of mass destruction. With all of these behemoth chunks of metal flying around at high rates of speed, it's not all that surprising that merely walking can also prove to be life threatening from time to time.

Such is the case with a video that's recently been making the rounds on the internet that shows a pedestrian crossing a street in Russia who just barely escapes certain death at the ~~hands~~ headlights of a runaway bus. Click past the break to see what we mean... whew, close call! Then again, trains can also be extremely dangerous, as can be testified by at least one young mother in Melbourne, Australia, who's occupied baby carriage fell onto the tracks just ahead of an oncoming train.

So too can riding a bicycle be unsafe, and London Mayor Boris Johnson found that to be an undeniable truth the hard way. Finally, as automotive enthusiasts, we love racing. But it sure can be unpredictable at times, whether it's because of another rogue driver or, um, a wayward kangaroo.

So, to sum it all up succinctly, living life can be hazardous to your health. Video evidence can be seen in the five near-miss videos pasted after the break. Amazingly, nobody was seriously hurt in any of these instances.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Man misses runaway bus in Russia by inches

VIDEO: Man misses runaway bus in Russia by inches originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Autoblog tries out Volvo City Safety on boss's BMW

John Neff — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Videos, Crossover, Volvo, Luxury

Autoblog tries Volvo City Safety on XC60 - Click above to watch video after the jump

A number of bloggers on our team actually have real jobs, those crazy 9-5 things we full-time bloggers hear so much about. Sure, an actual 40-hour work week can tie one arm behind your back when trying to be a power blogger, but our own Dan Roth gets around this by incorporating his two incomes to achieve a task we set out for him.

The charge was simple: Try out Volvo's City Safety technology that comes on the new XC60. City Safety is Volvo's new active safety technology that uses an optical radar mounted at the top of the windshield to measure the speed and distance of any objects in front of the car. It does these calculations around 50 times per second, and in the event of an imminent collision with said objects, will automatically apply the brakes. It only works when the XC60 is traveling between 2-18 mph, though.

Dan's response: "Great, I'll set up some cardboard boxes and we'll see if it stops."

Our response: "Lame."

Dan went back to the drawing board and wound up producing the video after the jump. We expected him to up the ante beyond sacrificial boxes somehow, but he gets our mad respect for going this far. Oh, and in case you think we set up multiple cameras to shoot all those angles, think again. Dan got so comfortable with this test that he ran it five times to get all the angles.

Continue reading VIDEO: Autoblog tries out Volvo City Safety on boss's BMW

VIDEO: Autoblog tries out Volvo City Safety on boss's BMW originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OnStar prevents its first high-speed chase

Chris Shunk — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Technology, GM

We were wondering how long it would take before OnStar's Stolen Vehicle Slowdown service was used to prevent a high speed chase. Though announced nearly two years ago, the service that allows OnStar to remotely disable a vehicle's gas pedal is still not yet available on all GM models - for 2010, about 18 of 30 vehicles in the lineup have the capability. Early Sunday morning, however, police in Visalia, California were the first to work with OnStar to remotely disable the engine of a stolen 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe and prevent what would have certainly been a high-speed chase. The vehicle in question was allegedly carjacked by a 21-year-old armed with a sawed off shotgun.

The Associated Press reports that the armed assailant pointed a sawed off shotgun at vehicle owner Jose Ruiz and his cousin and demanded their money. After robbing the men, the unwitting thief made off with the Tahoe. Ruiz then found a police officer who called OnStar and had the vehicle tracked, but only after Ruiz gave his permission to do so. OnStar then worked with police to ensure officers were in place to make an arrest, and when the robber made a turn the massive SUV harmlessly came to a stop. OnStar President Walt Dorfstatter told the AP it only took 16 minutes to disable the vehicle. The arrested suspect in the case has been charged with carjacking, robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest.

Visalia police told the AP that OnStar likely averted a high speed chase, potentially saving lives since most chases end in a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says there were 334 fatalities stemming from high speed chases, with 77 of those deaths of people not directly involved in the chase and five officer fatalities.

[Source: Associated Press]

OnStar prevents its first high-speed chase originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: NY cracking down on cabbies using cell phones - only took 10 years

Michael Harley — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, UAW/Unions

It's hard to believe, but cab drivers in New York City are prohibited by law from talking on cell phones, with or without headsets. That doesn't seem to stop them, says the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission. Citing phone-related accident statistics, the commission is now proposing more stringent rules that would raise fines and even keep cabbies from using hands-free devices to chat. "We've tried everything else; there's no other way we can make this work," says Matthew W. Daus, the taxi commissioner.

In the first six months of 2009, only one ticket was issued for every 500,000 cab rides. Cabbies escape prosecution because they claim they were only wearing the hands-free devices, not using them. "Judges have been dismissing summonses because there's no proof of conversation," says Daus. Under the proposed rules, the wearing of a headset merits an infraction. Under the current rules, cab drivers are allowed to talk on cell phones while stopped at a red light. The new rules would require drivers to pull over to answer the phone.

Without a doubt, the cabbies are riled. Calling the proposed rules inhumane, they claim mobile phones are crucial in emergencies and the only way they are able to keep in touch with relatives during their 12-hour shifts. While the drafted rules are subject to public hearings next month, the drivers point out the absurdity of some of the proposals. When one organizer at the New York Taxi Workers Alliance was told that he'd have to pull over to answer a ringing phone, his amusing answer was rather succinct: "Where do you get space to put your car?"

[Source: NY Times | Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty]

REPORT: NY cracking down on cabbies using cell phones - only took 10 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consumer Reports sees what happens when your floor mat sticks

Michael Harley — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Technology

In the wake of Toyota's huge floor mat recall, theorists have come up with several survival strategies designed to overcome a throttle that's stuck wide-open. Putting some of these theories to the test - and debunking several myths in the process - is the team over at Consumer Reports.

With a large test track and a fleet of vehicles at their disposal, the magazine's engineers initially focused on the "just step hard on the brakes" method of bringing the car to a halt. Interestingly enough, CR tested a Mercedes-Benz E350 and a Volkswagen Jetta Wagon - both fitted with drive-by-wire "smart throttles" that are designed to ignore conflicting inputs (throttle and brake at the same time). CR reports that these cars simply shut down to idle and came safety to a stop. The story was a bit different with a Toyota Venza and Chevrolet HHR, however. When the brakes on those vehicles were firmly applied at 20 mph, their transmissions downshifted to fight the deceleration. The vehicles were both eventually brought to a stop after the first test. However, when the test was repeated at 60 mph on brakes that had been cooled since the earlier run, both vehicles quickly suffered fade from their overheated brakes and were unable to come to a complete stop.

As is the general rule, a vehicle's braking system is stronger than the engine when the car is standing still. However, the tests conducted by Consumer Reports demonstrate that the power of the engine combined with the momentum of a car at highway speed is often enough to overtax the braking system's ability to bring the car to a stop (the brakes overheat and fade). Their suggestion is to simply slide the transmission lever to neutral - removing the engine's power from the equation - and apply the brakes firmly to bring the car to a stop. Once stopped, shut the engine off and then shift safely into Park. This "shift-to-neutral" action was equally effective on all four vehicles. The CR team also explored shutting off the engine (turn the key or hold the Start/Stop button down for more than a few seconds). This method also worked well, but it does present some danger. Switching off the engine disables power steering on most vehicles, eliminates brake boost, and may lock the steering wheel if the key is turned back too far - making a safe stop nearly impossible.

[Source: Consumer Reports | Image: George Heyer/Getty]]

Consumer Reports sees what happens when your floor mat sticks originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Ford widens cruise control recall by 4.5M vehicles - now biggest in company history

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, SUV, Truck, Recalls, Safety, Ford

For the past ten years, Ford has been doing a dance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and consumers over the issue of leaking cruise control switches in certain company vehicles. As of 2008, it had recalled some 9.6 million vehicles to repair a faulty Texas Instruments cruise-control deactivation switch, and now after a NHTSA investigation, the Blue Oval has added 4.5 million more Ford and Mercury vehicles to the recall.

The latest action covers these vehicles:

1992-2003 Ford Econoline
2000-2003 Ford Excursion
1995-2002 Ford Explorer
1993-1997, 1999-2003 Ford F-Series Super Duty
1994 Ford F-53 chassis
1995-1997, 2001-2003 Ford Ranger
1995-2003 Ford Windstar
1995-2002 Mercury Mountaineer

According to NHTSA, the switch can leak and overheat, which can lead to smoking and, in some cases, fire. In fact, The Detroit News notes that the switches have been faulted in more than 550 fires - some of which led to fatalities - many of which have led to lawsuits. A Ford statement declared, "Aside from the Windstar, the additional vehicles addressed in this action have different system parameters and do not pose an unreasonable risk to safety. However, Ford is taking this action on all of these vehicles to address possible ongoing customer lack of confidence in vehicles with the affected switch."

The recall begins on October 26. Anyone with an affected vehicle can take it to a Ford dealer and have the switch repaired with a fused harness. Owners can get more information directly from NHTSA by calling the government agency's hotline at 1-888-327-4236. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Source: The Detroit News]

REPORT: Ford widens cruise control recall by 4.5M vehicles - now biggest in company history originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Chrysler retiree saves two men in fiery pickup crash with his power washer

Chris Shunk — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Safety, Ford, Canada

Retired Chrysler worker Stipe Botica is a hero today after putting out an engine fire after a single-vehicle accident, likely saving the life of the passenger. The accident occurred at 4 am when two men in a Ford Ranger crashed into a vacant house next door to Botica's residence at Forest Glade in Windsor, Ontario.

When Botica went outside, he found the two men crying for help, so he helped pull the driver out of the vehicle. He then discovered that the passenger was wedged against the dashboard and unable to move while a fire was brewing in the Ranger's engine compartment. Botica ran into his backyard and grabbed a power washer that he'd been using to clean his pool and returned to the wreck, where he doused the engine bay and the passenger. Botica claims it took about five minutes to extinguish the fire, and it later took about an hour to remove the passenger from the wrecked Ranger. Botica told the Windsor Star that the area around the vehicle smelled of alcohol and there were no obvious signs of braking in the area around the incident.

We weren't at the scene of the accident, but we're thinking that two young men were mighty lucky Botica was home, alert and had a power washer handy when they crashed in the middle of the night. Who knows, perhaps Chrysler could fly Botica and his power washer to Auburn Hills to put out some fires at his former employer!

[Source: Windsor Star | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

REPORT: Chrysler retiree saves two men in fiery pickup crash with his power washer originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viper app allows remote start of your car with iPhone

John Neff — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology

Click above to watch videos after the jump

As the iPhone continues to introduce apps both silly and indispensable, it should come as no surprise that there's now an app for starting your car remotely. Introduced by car alarm company Viper, the SmartStart app comes in two flavors: a $299 package if you already have a compatible Viper alarm system or a $499 deal for a stand alone unit that comes with everything you need to start operating your car with Apple's Jesus phone. In addition to remote start, the SmartStart app can also lock and unlock your car, open the trunk and sound your panic alarm.

Previously we've seen the ZipCar app for the iPhone tout lock/unlocking capabilities, but this is the first time an app has enabled your iPhone to actually turn on a car. What's next? Well, we're going to start holding our breath for an app that's lets us drive our cars using the iPhone, just like James Bond did with his 7 Series in Tomorrow Never Dies. Big breath, big breath...

Follow the jump for a video of how the system works and what it can do.

[Source: Viper, Engadget]

Continue reading Viper app allows remote start of your car with iPhone

Viper app allows remote start of your car with iPhone originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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