Safety & Accident

WASHINGTON – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released the results of a new study in April that focused on the specific tire problems that contributed to collisions.

Tags: collision, NHTSA, SUV, tire pressure, tire tread

WASHINGTON – BMW of North America LLC is recalling 7,600 2012 model-year 3-Series vehicles in the U.S. because their front-seat head restraints exceed the downward movement limit of 25mm in the highest position.

Tags: BMW, BMW 3-Series, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

AUBURN HILLS, MI - Chrysler Group LLC is recalling approximately 471 2012 model-year Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans in the U.S. to inspect and, if necessary, replace the right-side power liftgate anti-pinch sensor.

Tags: Chrysler, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, minivan, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

SMYRNA, TN – As part of a safety recall, Nissan North America is replacing inaccurate certification labels affixed to 26,626 2012 model-year Armada and Titan vehicles. In violation of federal safety standards, the vehicles’ original “part 567 -- certification” labels fail to include rim size information.

Tags: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, Nissan, Nissan Armada, Nissan Titan, vehicle recall

WASHINGTON – The National Highway Traffic Safety Association will hold a technical symposium May 18 in Washington, D.C., to discuss regulatory and safety considerations for electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries.

Tags: electric vehicle, lithium-ion batteries, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle safety standards

WASHINGTON – BMW of North America LLC is recalling 2,846 2011 model-year 5 Series and 5 Series Gran Turismo vehicles, along with 2012 model-year 6 Series, 7 Series, X5 SAV and X6 SAV vehicles, because the circuit board for the electric auxiliary water pump might overheat.

Tags: BMW, BMW 5 Series, BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, BMW 6 Series, BMW 7 Series, BMW X5, BMW X6, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

WASHINGTON – General Motors is recalling 47,846 2011-2012 model-year Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia crossover SUVs that are currently registered in states known for harsh winter weather.

Tags: Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, crossover, General Motors Corp., GMC Acadia, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

WASHINGTON - The change proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is designed to reduce the risk of high-speed unintended acceleration and prevent crashes due to a stuck, or trapped, accelerator pedal.

Tags: brake throttle override, NHTSA, unintended acceleration, vehicle safety regulations

WASHINGTON – Altec Industries Inc. is recalling 1,222 1993-2004 model-year AA755 and AA755L bucket trucks because of a safety risk associated with the lower boom.

Tags: Altec Industries, bucket trucks, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

WASHINGTON – Chrysler Group is recalling 289 2012 model-year Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles because some of them may be equipped with right-rear hub and bearing assemblies that were not fully machined, reported the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Tags: Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

WASHINGTON – Chrysler Group is recalling 1,689 2012 model-year Jeep Patriot and Compass vehicles because some of them may have been built with a fuel tank assembly containing a damaged rollover valve, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported.

Tags: Chrysler Group LLC, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

WASHINGTON -- Ford Motor Co. is recalling 140,310 2012 model-year Focus vehicles because a missing seal may affect the passenger-side windshield wiper, putting driver visibility at risk.

Tags: Ford Focus, Ford Motor Co., National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

TORRANCE, CA – Fleet professionals wondering just how accurate vehicle safety ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety will have the opportunity to find out next month at the Fleet Safety Conference in Schaumburg, Ill.

Tags: 2012 Fleet Safety Conference, AALA, AFLA, IIHS, NHTSA, vehicle safety ratings

WASHINGTON – General Motors is recalling 6,159 2012 model-year Chevrolet Express, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Savana and GMC Yukon XL vehicles because of a potential steering problem.

Tags: Chevrolet Express, Chevrolet Suburban, General Motors Corp., GMC Savana, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

WASHINGTON – As the spring driving season gets under way, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is urging drivers of 15-passenger vans to take specific steps to keep safe — including buckling up every trip, every time.

Tags: 15-passenger vans, driver safety tips, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, rollover crashes

WASHINGTON – Subaru of America Inc. is recalling 275,000 2009-2012 model-year Forester SUVs because their rear seat belts fail to permit proper installation and attachment of a child restraint in the seat. There’s a problem with the automatic locking retractor in the seat belt assemblies located in the rear center seating.

Tags: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, seat belts, Subaru, Subaru Forester, vehicle recalls

WASHINGTON – Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center might recall 14,728 2011-2012 model-year Hyundai Sonata Hybrid vehicles because the center rear seat belt in these vehicles fails to meet all applicable federal safety standards, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported. However, the full recall is still in question.

Tags: hybrid vehicles, Hyundai, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

WASHINGTON -- Volvo Cars of North America is recalling 2,742 2012 model-year Volvo S60 and XC60 passenger vehicles because of a fuel leakage risk.

Tags: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls, Volvo, Volvo S60, Volvo XC60

WASHINGTON – Mack Trucks Inc. is recalling 240 Mack LEU and MRU trucks built to operate on compressed natural gas. On these vehicles, the alternator ground cable runs directly to the starter, which defeats the circuit protection.

Tags: Mack Trucks, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

WASHINGTON – Nissan North America is recalling 8,120 2003-2004 model-year Infiniti M45 vehicles because of a potential problem with the fuel gauge.

Tags: Infiniti, Infiniti M45, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, Nissan, vehicle recalls

WASHINGTON – Azure Dynamics is recalling 261 2010-2012 model-year Balance Hybrid vehicles manufactured on the Ford E-450 chassis. An electrical system issue may lead to engine stalling and failure to restart.

Tags: Azure Dynamics, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

WASHINGTON -– Ford Motor Co. is recalling 352 2011 model-year F-650 and F-750 trucks that were manufactured from Dec. 3, 2010 through Dec. 20, 2011 and equipped with Bendix ATR-6 antilock traction relay valves.

Tags: Ford F-650, Ford F-750, Ford Motor Co., National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

WASHINGTON – General Motors is recalling 3,633 2012 model-year Buick Regal vehicles because of a potential software error that can cause the parking lamps to malfunction.

Tags: Buick Regal, General Motors Corp., National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, vehicle recalls

WASHINGTON - The Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) released a report on progress in reducing the number of speeding-related deaths, finding that in 2010, 10,530 people lost their lives in speeding-related crashes in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Tags: driver behavior, driver safety, fatal accidents, GHSA, NHTSA, speeding