Following an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a recall has been initiated regarding a sport utility vehicle that poses a fire risk.
The automobile in question is the 2010 Jeep Wrangler. Around 68,000 units are affected by the recall. The issue was discovered by engineers at both the NHTSA and Chrysler. After careful study, it was determined by such persons that the vehicle’s skid plate is to blame for numerous complaints that had begun coming in about the Wranglers suddenly and without warning catching fire.
This plate is designed to shield the vehicle’s automatic transmission when the driver goes off-roading. However, it has been determined that debris can latch onto this plate while in use. This debris can then suddenly burst into flames, posing a threat to the occupants of the vehicle.
At some point this month, if it hasn’t happened already, affected consumers can expect to receive some sort of notification from Chrysler regarding the issue. Owners should then be able to bring their vehicles in to receive a repair that consists of the installation of a skid bar in place of the defective plate. Concerned persons are being advised to get in touch with the NHTSA or Chrysler.
Consumer Reports, who provided the details of this story, has rated the 2012 Wrangler lower than most other vehicles in terms of safety.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently looking into whether or not a recall might have to be initiated on a certain model of car.
The investigation by the agency was prompted by a complaint filed with the NHTSA regarding the 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The person making that complaint has alleged that their ear was badly cut when a crash caused the the driver’s side curtain air bag to inflate. They say that, when this happened, a metal bracket also shot outward, damaging the person’s ear and, if photos are to be believed, leaving a piece of metal jutting outward just above the vehicle operator’s seat.
Now, the NHTSA wants to figure out if this problem could be prevalent in the 123,000 other 2012 Elantras currently in customers’ hands or available for sale on the vehicle market. If a safety problem becomes apparent, then a recall might have to be initiated, although that has not yet happened at this time.
For their part, Hyundai has stated that this is the only such reported occurrence of this type of incident since the vehicle was made available for sale on or shortly before June of last year. They have also said that neither they nor the NHTSA has even gotten a chance to examine the auotomobile as of yet.
Potential defects surrounding electric car batteries have caused the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to convene a summit designed to look into the safety of such components.
This summit will take place in Washington on May 18. Announced today by the NHTSA, the meeting aims to bring together representatives from the automotive industries and battery industries as well as various government officials. The meeting will revolve around a discussion of safety considerations regarding lithium-ion battery powered vehicles such as the Chevy Volt.
Following a routine test at a Wisconsin NHTSA facility last June, a Chevy Volt caught fire, prompting many to question the safety of the electric vehicle and hindering confidence among consumers. This unfortunate turn of events transpired just as the current administration attempted to make the proliferation of electric vehicles a cornerstone of domestic policy.
Such vehicles were dealt another blow when A123 Systems recalled a number of electric batteries that had been installed in vehicles made by Fisker Automotive and others. This recall followed a study by Consumer Reports that uncovered a battery defect that could shut down the Fisker Karma automobile.
I’m sorry as a car accident attorney in San Jose to hear that these batteries might be unsafe. I know how important the production of such vehicles is to both the environment and the economy, and I truly hope as a San Jose personal injury lawyer that automakers and government officials can work the kinks out so as to preserve public safety.
Investigators are inching closer and closer to a potential recall of a series of BMW vehicles that endangered consumers.
In August of last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated an investigation into 122,000 BMW 7-series vehicles of model years between 2002 and 2008. This came about following 50 instances in which people reported their vehicle rolling away after it was supposed to be in the parked position, thus posing a serious crash hazard.
The NHTSA has now said that they are upgrading the investigation to an engineering analysis, which shows that there are further concerns that need to be dealt with. Five total injuries were had among those 50 complaints mentioned above, and 16 different incidents have been shown to be a result of the problem.
That problem comes about when the owner of a vehicle places the BMW in park. The automobile, which has a push button ignition and electron transmission control, is supposed to automatically shift into park when the ignition switch is pushed and the car is turned off. BMW, who is cooperating with the NHTSA probe, has yet to be able to figure out why the cars may suddenly shift into neutral and roll away.
I’m sorry to see this safety defect as a car accident lawyer in Long Beach. One would hope that people could at least avoid disaster when their car is parked, but this story shows that a defect could remove even that safety net. I hope as a Long Beach personal injury lawyer that investigators can quickly get to the bottom of this and initiate a recall if necessary.
According to news sources, General Motors is announcing an upgrade to its Chevrolet Volt models that addresses recent battery fire concerns arising from an ongoing investigation into the matter by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The upgrade focuses on reinforcing the structure of the underbody in order to spread the impact of side crashes, while adding a sensor to the coolant reservoir to monitor any drastic changes in the coolant level.
The fix comes after an initial report of the vehicle battery catching fire when involved in a crash. The incident led to the ongoing NHTSA investigation into the issue.
Vehicle owners can expect to be notified through mail by the company in February to bring in their vehicles to their local dealers for the fix. Loaner cars will also be given to vehicle owners while the process of upgrading the vehicle takes place.
As a San Bernardino personal injury lawyer, I understand the inherent dangers of defective products and the risks they entail. I hope this information can help raise awareness about this recalled product and keep consumers safe. If you or a loved one has been injured through the use or consumption of a defective product, speak with a personal injury attorney San Bernardino to learn about the legal options available to you.
According to news sources, a third-row seat anchor issue in 2004 Ford Freestyle and Mercury Monterey vans has prompted The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to open an investigation into the issue to explore whether or not a recall of the vehicle models is warranted.
The vehicles in question have seat anchors that reportedly fail to secure third-row seats in the 2004 Ford Freestyle and Mercury Monterey vehicle models. The NHTSA has reportedly received 7 reports regarding the seat anchor issue, with one of the reports claiming that the seat anchor allegedly separated completely.
States where chemicals are used for de-icing the roadways may have a higher number of affected vehicles since the chemicals may cause corrosion in the rear wheel wells, which are attached to the seat anchors.
The NHTSA is continuing its investigation in order to determine whether or not a recall of the vehicle models is necessary.
As a personal injury lawyer Los Angeles, I understand the inherent dangers of defective products and the risks they entail. I hope this information can help raise awareness about this recalled product and keep consumers safe. If you or a loved one has been injured through the use or consumption of a defective product, speak with a car accident lawyer Los Angeles to learn about the legal options available to you.
According to news sources, about 80,000 owners of Honda Civic 2006-2011 hybrid models will be given an extended warranty due to risks associated with the fuel tank leaking due to small cracks that can potentially form on the vehicle gas tank.
The announcement from Honda came today after a spokesman for the company said that the likelihood of fuel leaking was “very small”. In the case where a small fuel tank cracks it would reportedly take place in the compartment where the fuel-filler pipe is joined with the gas tank.
There has been one incident regarding the issue reported on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. Therefore the company is reportedly not required to announce a recall of the vehicle and will instead opt for extending warranties for consumers. The extended warranty would be valid for up to 10 years from the manufacturing date or up to 120,000 miles traveled.
The NHTSA will reportedly continue to monitor the problem.
As a Los Angeles personal injury attorney, I understand the inherent dangers of defective products and the risks they entail. I hope this information can help raise awareness about this recalled product and keep consumers safe. If you or a loved one has been injured through the use or consumption of a defective product, speak with a product liability lawyer Los Angeles to learn about the legal options available to you.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has stepped up an investigation involving the Chrysler Jeep Liberty after receiving more reports of rear lower control arm failures, according to news sources.
The investigation began last April and the NHTSA has received 13 total complaints about the defective lower control arm. Three of the drivers reported losing control of the vehicle, but no crashes occurred as a result. The agency is examining vehicles from the 2002-2005 model years. About 370,000 Jeeps are involved in the investigation.
All of the complaints were in regards to models from the 2004-2005 years in states that have extreme weather that requires road salt, according to the NHTSA. After Chrysler reported they made changes in 2004 to the rear suspension, the NHTSA has refocused their investigation on the 2004-2005 model years.
As a product liability lawyer in Los Angeles, I’m glad to hear that the government is investigating this issue and I hope they come to conclusions before anyone is injured. If you have ever been involved in a crash as a result of a faulty car part, I recommend you contact a personal injury lawyer to help you proceed with your case. Remember, the law limits the amount of time you can file a claim, so contact a product defect lawyer as soon as possible.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced an investigation of Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans after reports that several tire jacks had collapsed, posing a safety hazard, according to news reports.
About 206,000 total vehicles are involved in the investigation from the 2004-2005 model years. The NHTSA has received five total complaints from consumers about the jacks and one account from Ford itself about the jacks. Three injuries occurred and one man died when the minivan fell onto a man working beneath it.
After investigating the jacks, the NHTSA reported that the problem seems to be with the slotted hinge joints separating under the pressure of the weight of the vehicle.
Ford has announced that they intend to fully cooperate with the government agency as they investigate the issue, including the reported fatality.
As a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney, I am very sorry to hear of a fatality that was caused by a defective product. Even with all of the regulations that are imposed upon products, mistakes can still be made and often the consumer is the victim of such mistakes. If you or someone you know has been injured by a faulty car product, I recommend you contact a product defect lawyer as soon as possible to help you with your case. You many be entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering you have experienced.
