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Tag: NHTSA

  • Tesla Recalls 362,758 Vehicles Over ‘Risk of a Crash’

    Tesla Recalls 362,758 Vehicles Over ‘Risk of a Crash’

    Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) just took a major hit, with the company recalling 362,758 vehicles.

    FSD is Tesla’s attempt at autonomous driving, but the system has been plagued with controversies and has generally failed to live up to expectations. Tesla has now filed a recall notice with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over “the risk of a crash.”

    The company’s recall notice describes the problem:

    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver’s adjustment of the vehicle’s speed to exceed posted speed limits.

    Tesla says it will mail out owner notifications by April 15, 2023, and that an over-the-air update will address the problem.

  • GM Recalls Hummer and BrightDrop EV600 Over Battery Issue

    GM Recalls Hummer and BrightDrop EV600 Over Battery Issue

    General Motors (GM) is recalling two of its electric vehicles EVs) over an issue with their batteries.

    GM relaunched the Hummer as an EV in 2021. The SUV’s size — one of the things that led to it originally becoming the quintessential gas-guzzler — made it the ideal platform to host the necessary batteries that power all EVs.

    Unfortunately, according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), GM has a problem with the seal on some battery packs in both the Hummer EV and the BrightDrop EV600:

    General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2022 model year BrightDrop EV600 and 2022 to 2023 model year GMC Hummer vehicles. The high-voltage battery pack enclosure in some of these vehicles may not have been properly sealed. If the pack enclosure is not sealed, water can enter the pack.

    The report states that GM is aware of at least three instances of water entering the battery packs. In two such cases, the vehicles failed to start, while the third lost power while driving. The company is not aware of any accidents or injuries as a result of the issue.

    Owner notification is scheduled to begin next month.

    Dealers will be notified on October 13, 2022. Owner interim notification is estimated to begin on November 28, 2022. GM will provide an estimate for owner remedy notification when one is available.

  • NHTSA Ruling Opens Door to Fully Autonomous Vehicles

    NHTSA Ruling Opens Door to Fully Autonomous Vehicles

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a ruling that opens the door to fully autonomous vehicles in the US.

    Virtually every major automaker is working to develop and deploy autonomous vehicles, but regulations have been as much an impediment as the actual technology. The Department of Transportation’s NHTSA has taken a major step forward in addressing the regulatory issues with the first-of-its-kind safety standards, designed to protect passengers in vehicles with automated driving systems (ADS).

    “Through the 2020s, an important part of USDOT’s safety mission will be to ensure safety standards keep pace with the development of automated driving and driver assistance systems,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This new rule is an important step, establishing robust safety standards for ADS-equipped vehicles.”

    “As the driver changes from a person to a machine in ADS-equipped vehicles, the need to keep the humans safe remains the same and must be integrated from the beginning,” said Dr. Steven Cliff, NHTSA’s Deputy Administrator. “With this rule, we ensure that manufacturers put safety first.”

    In particular, the new standard stipulates that occupants of ADS-equipped vehicles must be afforded the same level of safety as a traditional vehicle provides.

    The full content of the new rule can be accessed here.

  • Tesla Recalling 135,000 Vehicles Over Failing Center Display

    Tesla Recalling 135,000 Vehicles Over Failing Center Display

    Tesla has agreed to recall some 134,951 Model S and Model X vehicles under pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

    The issue involves the center display in Tesla models, a display that is central to a number of functions.

    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions.

    When the center display fails, it can impact several convenience and safety features.

    The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

    According to the NHTSA, Tesla will notify impacted owner and perform the necessary repair for free.

  • GM Recalls Chevrolet Bolts Over Fire Risk

    GM Recalls Chevrolet Bolts Over Fire Risk

    General Motors has issued a recall for nearly 51,000 Chevrolet Bolts over fire risks.

    The Chevy Bolt is one of the more popular electric vehicles, and has consistently received good reviews for its combination of features and price. Despite its success, however, GM is now recalling 50,932 of the vehicles due to fire risks.

    According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “GM has issued a recall of 50,932 Chevrolet Bolt vehicles for the potential of an unattended fire in the high-voltage battery pack underneath the back seat’s bottom cushion. The affected vehicles’ cell packs have the potential to smoke and ignite internally, which could spread to the rest of the vehicle and cause a structure fire if parked inside a garage or near a house.”

    GM says the issue impacts 2017-2019 models and “may pose a risk of fire when charged to full, or very close to full, capacity.” In 2017 and 2018 models, GM recommends changing the charge settings “to use the Hill Top Reserve option,” and recommends changing the 2019 charge settings “to enable Target Charge Level at 90%.” Starting November 17, GM will be rolling out a software update that dealers can apply to limit charging to 90% while the company works on a permanent solution.

    In the meantime, until the charge settings are modified, GM and the NHTSA recommend vehicles be parked outside and away from dwellings.

  • Tesla Says No ‘Unintended Acceleration’ In Vehicles

    Tesla Says No ‘Unintended Acceleration’ In Vehicles

    Following a petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to recall Tesla vehicles for “unintended acceleration,” Tesla has responded saying there is no evidence to support the claim.

    Brian Sparks originally filed the request on September 30, 2019 and said “it appears ​Tesla vehicles have a Sudden Unintended Acceleration Problem​ and ​Tesla must know about this problem.”

    In their response today, Tesla calls the petition “completely false” and says Sparks is a Tesla stock short-seller. CNBC confirms that Sparks “is currently shorting Tesla stock,” calling into question his motivations.

    In the meantime, after going into the technical details as to why unintended acceleration should not be possible, Tesla highlighted their ongoing cooperation with the NHTSA:

    “We are transparent with NHTSA, and routinely review customer complaints of unintended acceleration with them,” says the blog post. “Over the past several years, we discussed with NHTSA the majority of the complaints alleged in the petition. In every case we reviewed with them, the data proved the vehicle functioned properly.”

  • Hyundai Recalls Elantra Touring Vehicles Due To Airbag Support Bracket Defects

    Hyundai Motor Co. said that they will be recalling 35,000 2010-12 Elantra Touring vehicles in the U.S. and 23,600 vehicles in Canada due to faulty support brackets for airbags. According to them, the support bracket of the airbag can come loose and the airbag can be unintentionally deployed causing injury.

    According to the company’s spokesman Jim Trainor, there have been no injuries reported as of yet. However, Hyundai decided to recall the vehicles based on results from laboratory testing of the car models. The two vehicles use different types of brackets for holding the airbag to the headliner, but they are similar.

    During an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, they found one Elantra Touring car in a salvage yard with a dislodged metal bracket. Hyundai conducted an investigation and testing with the NHTSA and found that the support bracket indeed came loose.

    The loose support bracket is a serious risk, as it can cause major injury during a side impact collision. In one investigation, the NHTSA found out that a driver was injured due to a part of the bracket that was dislodged during airbag deployment. The person sustained a laceration on the left ear.

    Furthermore, they received warranty claims that say the headliner rattles. Reports say that the recall will start by mid-August.

    In a statement, the company said, “Hyundai is voluntarily initiating this action to ensure the safety and quality of vehicles and the continued satisfaction of its customers.”

    To fix the problem, Hyundai dealers will be placing adhesive strips to keep the brackets in place. The adhesives will be available free of charge. Until the recall starts, people who drive a Hyundai Elantra can contact the company’s customer service hotline for assistance.

    Hyundai isn’t the only car company with airbag-related recalls. Just last month Honda recalled three million of its cars due to faulty airbags.

    Image via YouTube

  • Mercedes-Benz Recall Affects 284,000 Cars

    Mercedes-Benz will recall approximately 284,000 C-class cars in the U.S. and Canada due to a problem with the rear tail lamps.

    The recall involves nearly 253,000 cars sold in the U.S., specifically the 2008-2011 C300, C300 4Matic, C350, and C63 AMG vehicles that were manufactured between January 26, 2007 and July 13, 2011.

    The problem with the rear tail lamps, according to a report, is that “in the affected vehicles, a poor electrical ground connection may result in the dimming or the failure of the tail lights.”

    The detailed description of the problem, according to a scanned email sent from Mercedes-Benz USA to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that was posted as part of the overall report, states that corrosion on the ground pin connector for the rear tail lamps is the source of the problem.

    Consequences of the dimming or failure of the tail lights include reducing “the ability to warn other motorists of the driver’s intentions of stopping or turning, increasing the risk of a crash.”

    So far, no accidents or injuries associated with the problem have been recorded. Mercedes will notify affected car owners and dealers will replace bulbs and any corroded connectors free of charge. Because parts are not currently available, Mercedes will send an interim notification to owners in June 2014, and when parts are available—likely in August or September 2014—a second letter will be mailed.

    According to the Christian Science Monitor, usually a recall of a quarter-million cars would be a big deal but because in 2014 in the U.S. already 13 million cars have been recalled, the Mercedes-Benz recall hardly raises an eyebrow. Total cars recalled for 2014 is on pace to break the 2004 record of 30.8 million vehicles.

    To date in 2014, General Motors has recalled about 6 million vehicles, while several other companies including Nissan, Honda, and Toyota have recalled nearly 1 million vehicles each.

    Those with questions about the Mercedes-Benz recall can call Mercedes at 1-800-367-6372 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • General Motors Being Fined For Unanswered Questions

    General Motors is now facing a crisis over its inaction with regards to important safety recalls over the past decade.

    Last week GM CEO Mary Barra testified before a U.S. congressional subcommittee hearing on the company’s ignition switch recall. The recall involves numerous GM models with a defect that could shut the engine off while in operation. At least 13 people have died in crashes related to the defect. The defect was originally identified by GM in 2005 but a recall was not issued until just this year.

    Now, according to a Los Angeles Times report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is fining GM daily over the company’s failure to answer questions about the recall.

    On March 4 he NHTSA had reportedly given GM until April 3 to respond to 107 questions regarding the ignition switch recall. According to the LA Times report the questions cover everything from specifics about the defect to consumer complaints and why GM did not issue a recall sooner. The company did respond to some of the questions, but has not answered all of them.

    The NHTSA is fining GM $7,000 per day that its full request for documentation goes unanswered. The fines could eventually max out at $35 million.

    The NHTSA has sent a letter to GM making it clear that it believes the company has only partially complied with the order. The letter also states that GM has deflected important questions posed by the agency. The NHTSA has stated that it may also involve the U.S. Justice Department to force GM to turn over documents.

    For GM’s part, the company claims that it is fully cooperating with the investigation. GM has stated that it has already provided over 21,000 documents to the NHTSA. The company claims that it will quickly hand over documentation as it becomes available.

    In addition to the ignition switch recall, GM last week recalled more than 1.3 million Chevy, Saturn, and Pontiac vehicles. That recall involved a defect that could sudden loss of power steering.

  • Texting and Driving Targeted in DoT’s First National Anti-Distracted Driving Ads

    Everyone can agree that any deaths that stem from distracted driving are tragic, but 3,328 in a single year? That’s just staggering. In light of these shocking numbers, the U.S. Department of Transportation is doing something they’ve never done before–run a national ad campaign about distracted driving, and most specifically, texting while driving.

    Starting today and running for a week, the DOT will air TV, radio, and web advertisements all bearing the message: U Drive, U, Text, U Pay.

    Ok, maybe the slogan is a little tired. But holy hell, this is a jarring ad (the first one they’ll air):

    “This campaign puts distracted driving on par with our efforts to fight drunk driving or to encourage seatbelt use,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Secretary Foxx. “Across the country, we’re putting distracted drivers on notice: If you’re caught texting while driving, the message you receive won’t be from your cell phone, but from law enforcement – U Drive. U Text. U Pay.”

    The campaign is costing the DOT $8.5 million, and coincides with a “national distracted driving high-visibility enforcement crackdown,” which is taking place later this week.

    NHTSA data suggests that advertising plus enforcement has had a positive effect on texting and driving in some states.

    Image via Thinkstock

  • Graco Recall: Graco Children’s Products Expands Car Seat Recall to 4.2M

    Graco Children’s Products has expanded its recall list adding an additional 403,000 child car seats to its original recall. According to the Associated Press, the American baby products company originally recalled an estimated 3.8 million car safety seats last month due to a defect in the harness buckles.

    The voluntary recall cited that the harness buckle “can become progressively more difficult to open over time.” As a result of the defect, children could become trapped as there is a possibility that the buckle will not unlatch.

    The recall is in reference to 11 different car seat models that have been released between 2009 and 2013. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration also cited another issue that could arise from the defect. The NHTSA purports that the car seat could make it “difficult to remove the child from the restraint, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a vehicle crash, fire or other emergency.”

    The press release includes a list of the car seat models that have been recalled. The child car seat models affected by the initial recall are: Toddler Convertible Car Seats: Cozy Cline, Comfort Sport, Classic Ride 50, My Ride 65, My Ride 70, My Ride 65 with Safety Surround, Size4Me 70, My Size 70, Head Wise 70 and Smart Seat. Three harnessed booster seats, Nautilus 3-in-1, Nautilus Elite and Argos, were also listed.

    (image)

    However, the number of recalled car seats may not end there. The NHTSA is also looking to add an additional 1.8 million more car safety seats to already-staggering amount. The additional seats are comprised of infant car safety seats.

    “Buckles can get gummed up by food and drinks, making it difficult to remove children. In some cases parents have had to cut harnesses to get their children out,” the NHTSA purported. “The problem increases the risk of injuries in emergencies.”

    Graco’s letter to the NHTSA explained why they opted not to include the number of infant car safety seats in the recall. Most infant seats are used differently as adults can remove the entire seat as opposed to simply unbuckling the latch. However, the NHTSA feels otherwise.

    “Graco looks forward to further discussions with the agency to resolve any remaining issues relating to those additional car seats,” the letter said. The press release also offered an image new and improved harness buckle to give consumers.

    (image)

    The recall, which has expanded to a staggering 4.2 million car seats, is the fourth-largest child car seat recall in American history. If the NHTSA opts to include the additional 1.8 million infant car seats, the recall will become the largest of its kind.

    Image via Graco Children’s Products, Facebook
    Image via Graco Children’s Products, Facebook
    Image via Graco Children’s Products (Press Release)

  • 2014 Acura RDX And MDX Earn “Best Car For The Money”

    One for the money, two for the road – two superior SUV crossovers, that is.

    With its sleek appearance and spacious interior, Acura’s 2014 RDX earned the “Best Luxury Compact SUV For The Money” award, while its equally appealing MDX luxury SUV earned the “Best Luxury 3-Row Midsize SUV For The Money” title for itself.

    “The MDX and RDX continue to win accolades for their outstanding combination of exhilarating, performance, great fuel efficiency, and outstanding value on a luxury scale,” explains Jeff Conrad, vice president and general manager of Acura sales.

    To earn the “Best Car for the Money” moniker, the vehicles had to outdo competitors by way of a ranking that considers both quality and value data. While quality gets determined by scores in U.S. News car rankings (that grade them on safety, reliability, and industry expert opinions), value is determined collectively by five-year total cost in addition to the average price consumers pay for it at the time the awards are given.

    From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, both crossovers received five-star safety ratings. This will likely help them maintain their spot as most popular for patrons of Acura.

    For frontal and side impact tests, both the 2014 MDX and RDX landed five-star scores from the NHTSA. For the rollover resistance test, each got four stars.

    The standard features of the 2014 Acura RDX include new 5-spoke 18-inch wheels, as well as advanced 4-wheel disc brakes including Anti-lock Braking scheme (ABS) with electrical devices Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. With improved functionality, the new brakes offer less brake pull to decrease revolving resistance and increase fuel economy.

    Reviewers claim the RDX is one of the most versatile SUVs in its class – attributable to a combination of features like its innovative and user-friendly technology, roomy interior, and a fuel-efficient V6 that can take it from 0 to 60 in 6.5 seconds.

    The 2014 Acura MDX also demonstrates enhanced efficiency by about 16%, compared to preceding models. Also powered by a 3.5 litre V6, the 2014 MDX has improved exterior aerodynamic features, a larger wheelbase, a better insulated cabin, and redesigned front and rear suspensions. According to Acura, the MDX even beats its predecessor around the Nurburgring by eight seconds.

    Variable Cylinder Management technology also accentuates the fuel efficiency of Acura’s SUVs, as it automatically adjusts how many cylinders function at a given time – depending on how much power is required.

    Conrad confidently claims: “With the five-passenger RDX and new seven-passenger MDX, Acura has unquestionably two of the most competitive luxury SUVs in the market.”

    Image via Youtube

  • Elon Musk Calls Media Coverage of Tesla Unreasonable

    Elon Musk Calls Media Coverage of Tesla Unreasonable

    In the past couple of months, several fires have broken out as a result of accidents involving Tesla Model S cars and multiple purchasers. As the company fought to repair the damage, their stock price zig-zagged as if it were riding a rollercoaster; this week, USNews.com reports CEO Elon Musk condemning the media coverage of the car fires as “extremely unreasonable.”

    When Tesla went public in June 2010, a share sold for $17. Prices were booming as high as $176 earlier this month, but the numbers plummeted as the media circulated news of the fires, the first of which happened on Oct. 1. Acknowledging his awareness of his investors’ expectations, Musk said “I don’t believe in talking up the stock… I think the stock is a good deal where it is right now.”

    When questioned about whether a regulator has examined the car fires and if the Model S will be changed to prevent them, Musk reiterated that he considered himself a “perfectionist” when it comes to safety, and that nobody has yet been seriously injured while driving a Tesla.

    Musk asserts the car is just as safe as every other car on the road, and that the fire reports are exaggerated. “The headlines are extremely misleading,” he said. Confronting reports from the National Fire Protection Organization that 2010 saw 184,500 vehicle fires in the United States, Musk quipped “How many times have you read about that?”

    An unnamed spokesperson for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a statement that read “The NHTSA is in close communication with Tesla and local authorities gathering information about the incident to determine if additional action is necessary.”

    Tesla has sold roughly 18,000 cars since launching its first model in 2008; by the end of 2013, Tesla expects to have constructed an additional 20,000 Model S cars.

    The fires may have been caused by the car failing to protect its battery pack, but analyst Thilo Koslowski with the Garter automotive technology research firm explained that it’s too early to conclude the fires will be a frequent problem with the Model S.

    Max Wolff, chief economist with the ZT Wealth investment firm, said that while the car fires are less of a problem than the media says, they are a huge problem for company perception.

    “Tesla is a good company with a good product,” he said. “But Tesla stock is priced as though it is going to take over the automotive industry, and it’s not going to… Tesla is showing there is a demand for these vehicles. They are going to be in pole position on that for the near future. Other boutique makers are going to enter the market. Not so boutique car makers are also going to expand into the electric market, like Ford.”

    [Image via TeslaMotors.com]

  • Tesla Model S Gets the Highest Safety Rating…Ever

    Tesla Model S Gets the Highest Safety Rating…Ever

    In terms of U.S. automobile safety testing, the Tesla Model S has just set a new record.

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has just awarded Tesla’s full-sized luxury sedan a 5-star safety rating – both overall and across the board, in every single category tested. The car also received a 5.4 star Vehicle Safety Score, the highest ever given by the agency.

    Around 1% of cars tested by the NHTSA ever receive 5-star ratings across the board.

    You have to know that Tesla just loves this little tidbit. Apparently, the Model S broke the test rig:

    Of note, during validation of Model S roof crush protection at an independent commercial facility, the testing machine failed at just above 4 g’s. While the exact number is uncertain due to Model S breaking the testing machine, what this means is that at least four additional fully loaded Model S vehicles could be placed on top of an owner’s car without the roof caving in. This is achieved primarily through a center (B) pillar reinforcement attached via aerospace grade bolts.

    Oh, and they ain’t no cheaters either:

    “The above results do not tell the full story. It is possible to game the regulatory testing score to some degree by strengthening a car at the exact locations used by the regulatory testing machines. After verifying through internal testing that the Model S would achieve a NHTSA 5-star rating, Tesla then analyzed the Model S to determine the weakest points in the car and retested at those locations until the car achieved 5 stars no matter how the test equipment was configured.”

    Back in June, Tesla issued its first-ever recall on the Model S, citing a weakened mounting bracket that affected around 1,300 cars. Elon Musk assured customers that there had been no adverse incident yet, and Tesla received praise for getting out in front of the issue and tackling even the tiniest of defects.

  • Hyundai Issues Recall for 260,000 Vehicles

    Hyundai Issues Recall for 260,000 Vehicles

    If you are the proud owner of a Hyundai Sonata or Azera manufactured between 2005 and 2011, or a 2013 Sante Fe, then you should pay very close attention to this story.

    The company announced a massive recall for the vehicles in hopes of avoiding injuries caused by a peculiar issue with the cars axle. The National HighwayTraffic and Safety Administration has said that the recall is due to corrosion of the axle that can lead it to separating from the car. It is believed that salt placed on roads during the winter months is to blame for the issue.

    The recall only technically applies to cars sold in certain states, which include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana,Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont,West Virginia, and Wisconsin. However, cars tend to get around and many could have been sold used in states outside of this area. For this reason Hyundai will be contacting owners who may be at risk.

    Along with the aforementioned vehicles, the company’s Kia Motors affiliate also recalled over 9,000 Sorento Crossover models for the same axle issue. Hyundai dealers will be inspecting vehicles and repairing whatever damage they find with no charge to the owner.

  • Google Snags a New Self-Driving Car Safety Chief

    Google Snags a New Self-Driving Car Safety Chief

    Google, who has been working very hard to get their self-driving cars on the road, has just made another leap forward for the initiative. Just a couple months after having driverless cars legalized in California, Google has made a significant hire and created a new position inside the company.

    Wired reports that Google has snatched up Ron Medford to be the new Director of Safety for Self-Driving Cars. Ron Medford is the current Deputy Director of the National highway Traffic Safety Administration.

    According to the report, Medford will resign his position at the NHTSA on November 30th, and officially take the position within Google on January 7th. Serving closely with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Medford used his position to shine a light on the prevalence of distracted driving, as well as push the new fuel economy guidelines set to go into effect in the next decade or so.

    Back in September, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1298 at Google HQ in Mountain View. That law forces the state to start adopting rules and regulation for the implementation of driverless cars, while also making their operation legal on public roads. California isn’t the only state making significant strides in brining driverless technology to their roadways. Nevada has legalized self-driving cars, begun developing regulations, and issued Google an autonomous vehicle license.

    Google, who has logged well over 300,000 miles without incident with their driverless cars initiative, is clearly on the fast track to making all of this a reality. With this new hire, they find a way into the dark, cavernous void of federal governmental policy. Some analysts have predicted that self-driving cars could account for 75% of the traffic on the road by 2040. Maybe that’s not such a far-fetched idea after all.

  • Volvo Recall: Car Manufacturer Fined $1.5 Million

    Volvo recall: Although the car manufacturer is thought to produce some of the safest automobiles money can buy, apparently even they are prone to making mistakes. Between 2010 and 2012, the company recalled roughly 32,000 vehicles for a variety of issues, including incorrect tire-pressure labeling, defective airbag deployments, and stalling engines. Although the company eventually alerted consumers about the recalls, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration thought Volvo’s handling of the situation was a little on the slow side. At the end of the day, the company will have to fork over $1.5 million in fines.

    Of course, Volvo isn’t admitting that it did anything wrong. In fact, the reason they decided to pay the fine was to “avoid a protracted dispute and possible litigation”. In other words, spending $1.5 million is quite a bit cheaper than fighting the allegations in court. Lawyers are, after all, a tad expensive, especially when you can just pay a small amount of money to make the problem go away. When you make as much money as Volvo does on a yearly basis, $1.5 million is practically chump change. They’ll make that much back in a heartbeat.

    According to federal law, car manufacturers have five business days to inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about an impending recall. If they fail to do so, fines will be issued. This, of course, is why Volvo was staring down a multi-million dollar penalty in the first place. They failed to take the proper steps when the threat of a recall was looming on the horizon, and they ultimately paid the price for their actions.

    So did the company walk away with a head full of lessons learned? According to a statement, Volvo said that “dedication to quality and consumer safety is paramount. After several conversations with NHTSA about its reporting rules, Volvo Car Corp. has taken steps to improve the review process and analysis of potential quality and safety issues with our vehicles. We are in agreement with NHTSA’s objective to communicate with the agency and consumers in a timely manner. It’s important to note that, in each of the subject cases, a voluntary recall had been conducted and no injuries, fatalities or property damage claims were reported.”

    In short, probably not. Unless, of course, the lesson was to not get caught doing anything wrong. However, the settlement did say that Volvo has “streamlined the internal investigation and recall decision-making process to improve the timeliness of necessary notifications to NHTSA.”