With self-driving cars likely to hit the market in the next few years, many are wondering what effect they will have on product liability cases. As Attorney James Stengel points out in a recent article for Entrepreneur , Waymo is just the latest company to be involved in a self-driving car crash, following incidents involving Uber and Tesla. Although self-driving car technology is supposed to make ...
The Center for Auto Safety is petitioning the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to investigate certain Hyundai and Kia models built in the U.S., following an unusually high number of complaints of spontaneous fires. In the petition filed with the NHTSA, the consumer watchdog group points to a high number of consumer complaints about four models, all from model years 2011 to 2014: the ...
Plaintiffs are suing Ford Motor Company for using defective lug nuts on the wheels of their vehicles. While they might look nice, the two-piece lug nuts on the wheels of millions of Ford automobiles can become swollen and nearly impossible to remove with a standard lug wrench. According to the firm that filed the lawsuit, Hagens Berman, millions of vehicles from many makes and models could be ...
Takata, a major car parts supplier, was responsible for one of the largest and most complex safety recalls in U.S. history after their airbags were found to be capable of deploying explosively and injuring people. The airbags have caused at least 11 deaths and about 180 injuries since they were first used, and the recall affected more than 42 million vehicles in the United States. However, ...
Product recalls are a request to return a product after the discovery of safety issues or product defects that could harm the consumer or put the manufacturer at risk of legal action. Recalls are usually an attempt by a company to limit the ruination of its image in connection with any cases of negligence. Likewise, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other government ...
Last month, Honda announced it recall nearly 1.2 million Accord vehicles made between 2013 and 2016. The company had received multiple reports of the cars’ battery sensors causing fires in the engine. According to Honda, the sensors may not be “sufficiently sealed” against moisture. As a result, substances such as road salt could enter the sensor and cause it to short, potentially causing a fire. ...
Just last month, Ford announced a safety recall that would impact around 400,000 vehicles manufactured in a Kansas City plant between 2014 and 2017. The recall was issued for the 2015 to 2017 Ford Transit van or bus vehicles. So far, no injuries or accidents have been caused by the vehicles; however, the affected vehicles might be operating with a cracked flexible coupling. This issue could create ...
Occasionally, manufacturers or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will find a defect in a car model that needs to be addressed. For example, Takata, the Japanese auto parts maker, filed for bankruptcy after they made one of the most massive safety recalls in automotive history. More than 100 million airbag inflators were recalled, and it affected 19 different auto ...
BMW has initiated a recall of more than 45,000 older 7-Series cars in the United States after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) asked the company about owner complaints regarding doors opening unexpectedly. The agency asked if a 2012 recall of around 7,500 7-Series cars manufactured from 2005 to 2007 should be expanded and if the remedy was sufficient. The recall covers ...
In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in the amount of auto recalls initiated by car manufacturers. But despite the increase in recalls, there have been fewer and fewer car owners responding to the notices. This lack of response is putting drivers at risk of dangerous defects , and can increase their chances of an accident. But why are owners not responding to recall notices? The ...
Ford Motor Company has issued a safety recall for 230,000 vehicles in North America due to a risk of engine fires. The following vehicles are included in the recall, and all have 1.6-liter GTDI engines: 2014 Escape 2014-2015 Fiesta ST 2013-2014 Ford Fusion 2013-2015 Ford Transit Connect According to Ford, company officials indicated that under-hood fires may occur as a result of a lack of coolant ...
Here at the Gilbert Law Group, we care deeply about the safety of drivers and passengers across the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimated that drivers drove more than 3.2 trillion miles in 2016. Since 2011, the yearly miles driven in the U.S. has increased steadily. Unfortunately, the number of vehicle recalls ...
Hyundai and Kia have announced the recall of approximately 1.5 million vehicles in the United States and in South Korea, after the discovery was made that debris was left behind in engines during the manufacturing process. This debris can restrict the flow of oil in the affected engines and can cause the engines to seize and stall while in operation. Drivers of vehicles affected by the recall are ...
Vehicle recalls are important in preserving vehicle safety, but oftentimes, they go unheeded. In fact, only about 25% of drivers with cars that need recall work actually get the work done, meaning three quarters of recalled vehicles are still out on the road! The thought of sharing the road with unsafe vehicles can be frightening, but what happens when you willingly ride in these vehicles? ...
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a recall of Nissan Altima 2015, 2016 and 2017 models because use of the rear seat window buttons can cause the car doors to unlatch and open. This can happen while the vehicle is in motion, which can pose a serious threat to passengers. The recall impacts more than 315,000 vehicles within these ...
Two separate issues found in Audi vehicles have sparked recalls which affect a total of 576,921 vehicles sold in the United States. The first issue concerns six Audi models and involves a coolant pump defect which poses a fire hazard. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reports were received in 2015 and 2016 of instances of overheating and smoldering the in the ...
Toyota has announced plans to recall about 79,000 Tundra pickup trucks sold in the United States, Canada, and Central America due to a defect that can cause the steps in the vehicles’ rear bumpers to break. The recall affects 2016 and 2017 model year Tundra trucks which were manufactured with steps and reinforcement brackets in the bumpers made of resin. According to Toyota, if the trucks are ...
In today’s difficult economy, buying a used car has become more popular than ever, with many buyers opting for certified used cars for the reassurance and confidence in their purchases. The lure of buying a certified used car is simple. Cars that are advertised as “certified” usually come with additional warranties, are fully inspected by the dealer, and usually have all their defects repaired ...
Honda Motors has announced a recall of its Honda Odyssey minivans in the United States due to the discovery of a faulty seat latch in the second-row seats. The affected minivans have a lever that allows the second row to slide forward, making room for passengers to move between the second and third rows. This lever is reported to have issues with not locking in place, which can increase the risk ...
In a recent announcement , Toyota has announced that it will recall more than half a million minivans due to an issue with the vehicles’ sliding doors. The issue, found in Toyota Sienna models manufactured from 2011 to 2016, involves a circuit issue which can cause the doors to not properly latch when closed and suddenly open while in motion, potentially leading to accidents. What Is the Issue? ...
Of all the various safety features and technologies included in modern cars, basic seatbelts still offer some of the most essential and life-saving protection in the event of a collision. That is, as long as they work properly. For Ford, the uncertainty of the proper function of their vehicles’ seatbelts has prompted a massive recall of more than 680,000 vehicles sold globally. The Michigan-based ...
If you have owned several cars, chances are good you have probably received a notice from your auto manufacturer at some point informing you that your vehicle is subject to a recall and is eligible for free repairs. While many are tempted to toss these notices out with the rest of their junk mail, this can be a major mistake. Your Life Could Be At Risk Automotive safety recalls are only issued ...
BMW USA has announced that it will recall as many as 154,000 vehicles due to an issue with the cars’ fuel pumps. According to Consumer Affairs, the cars’ loose wiring within the fuel pumps could cause a connector to melt over time, causing fuel to leak and possible vehicle stalling – a combination which can potentially lead to crashes. The recalled vehicles were manufactured between 2007 and 2012 ...
As if there were not enough auto defects consumers have to worry about, recent reports are coming in about randomly exploding sunroofs. Upwards of 400 complaints about self-shattering sunroofs have been filed so far, many of them with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While it seems that the problem could be prevalent in numerous makes and models, a noticeable portion of ...
Tesla is once again feeling the scrutiny of the skeptical public and safety associations after a string of news stories hit headlines regarding the safety, or lack thereof, of their “Autopilot” system. In Netherlands, a Tesla electric vehicle flew off the road and struck a tree, killing the driver. Although the crash is still being investigated, it would appear the self-driving feature had been ...