Is there a recall on your car? Check to be sure.

Is your car or truck safe to drive? Are you sure?

Many people who are hurt or killed by an automotive defect weren’t aware that their vehicle was under recall. Checking to see if your vehicle has been recalled is easy, it often costs nothing to have the defect fixed, and doing so can save your life and the lives of your loved ones.

The Takata airbag recall, the most extensive in U.S. automotive history, is of particular concern due to a large number of vehicles affected and the severity of the injuries caused by the defect. The Takata airbags in question have inflators made with ammonium nitrate, a propellant that can become unstable and cause the inflator to rupture, sending metal shards into the cabin. Ten people (nine in the U.S.) have been killed and more than 100 have been injured this way. […]

Volkswagen Recall Reveals Scam, Hurts Germany’s Reputation

Last week, we heard yet another story of a major automaker intentionally deceiving the public and the government.

Volkswagen has been ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency to recall nearly half a million diesel powered vehicles in the U.S. due to  a software designed to cheat emissions tests. The software in the vehicles detects when an emissions test is being performed, and will reduce smog emissions during the test, making the car appear to be more environmentally friendly than it actually is. During normal driving time, the vehicles can emit up to 40 times the amount of nitrous oxide allowed by the Clean Air Act.

For a year, VW claimed that this discrepancy was the result of technical errors, but last week they admitted that the software was designed to intentionally cheat the tests.

Affected models include: diesel versions of the Jetta, […]

Takata Recall hits 33.8 Million: Is your car safe to drive?

Takata Corp. expanded its recall to 33.8 million vehicles on Tuesday, May 19, finally acknowledging that its airbags are defective after months of resisting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This is the largest auto recall in U.S. history.

The defective airbags leave millions of American drivers in danger, especially because drivers  don’t yet know which makes and models are affected. The list of recalled vehicles has been growing since last year, and the number of vehicles affected doubled as of the announcement on May 19th. The NHTSA and automakers are still working to sort out the “definitive list” of unsafe makes and models. Meanwhile, drivers are in the dark,  and may be in danger and not yet know it. All they can do is check safercar.gov frequently for updates.

The defective airbags manufactured by Takata have been linked to six deaths and over 100 injuries caused by metal shrapnel that is released into the cabin when the airbags deploy.   […]

Honda hit with record-setting $70 million fee; drivers remain unfazed

Honda Motor Co. has been hit with a record-setting $70 million fine after failing to report more than 1,700 injuries, deaths, and warranty claims linked to their vehicles. While this is the largest penalty ever imposed on an automaker by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car-buyers seem unfazed.

Honda has agreed to pay two fines, each for $35 million, for underreporting the number of injuries and deaths in their vehicles, as well as for the number of warranty claims, from 2003-2014. The number of injuries and deaths related to Honda’s vehicles is more than double what the company had initially reported.

The fines imposed on Honda were the highest allowed by law. This reflects the government’s “tough stance” on auto safety issues, continuing the trend we have seen over the last year.  Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx says last that the NHTSA issued more fines last year than in the rest of its entire history put together. […]

Attention, coffee lovers: Keurig recall

Popular coffee machine reportedly causes burns, Keurig recalls 7 million units

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.,  a popular manufacturer of single-cup coffee brewing systems,  issued a recall this morning on approximately 7 million of its coffee brewing machines in the United States following about 90 reports of burn injuries and 200 reports of product defects. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the defect allows hot liquid to escape during the brewing process, and in some cases this has caused burns.

Specifically, it is the Keurig MINI Plus Brewing System that is affected. The company is offering a free repair kit to customers whose Keurig brewers have been recalled.

In the meantime, Keurig states that it is safe for consumers to continue to use the coffee maker. According to their representatives, the machines are more likely to overheat and spit hot liquid when brewing multiple cups in quick succession. […]