National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Latest Death Tied to Takata Airbag Inflators Is US' 28th

Alabama fatality took place in 2004 Honda Civic that got into a high-speed crash

(Newser) - Another death has been linked to dangerous Takata airbag inflators by US regulators, the 28th in the United States. The driver was killed in 2018 in Alabama in a Honda vehicle, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said, without further details, per the AP . The agency says the death underscores...

Ford, Mazda: Stop Driving Old Cars With Takata Inflators

Warning affects 475K older vehicles in the US

(Newser) - Ford and Mazda are warning the owners of more than 475,000 older vehicles in the US not to drive them because they have dangerous Takata airbag inflators that haven't been replaced. The warning issued Tuesday covers more than 374,000 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles from the 2004...

NHTSA Seeks Info on Fatal, Fiery Cybertruck Crash

Victim couldn't immediately be identified due to burns

(Newser) - Federal safety authorities say they are seeking information on a crash and fire involving a Tesla Cybertruck that killed a driver of the futuristic new pickup in Texas, per the AP . The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday it is gathering information from Tesla. The agency did not send...

'Crisis in Roadway Deaths' Leads to Big Move by Feds

Automatic emergency braking will soon have to come standard on all new US passenger vehicles

(Newser) - In the not-too-distant future, automatic emergency braking will have to come standard on all new passenger vehicles in the US, a requirement the government says will save hundreds of lives and prevent thousands of injuries each year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration unveiled the new regulation on Monday, calling...

With 3 Dead, US Investigates Ford's Partially Automated Cars

Blue Cruise systems were involved in 2 separate crashes, and NHTSA is looking into it

(Newser) - Two fatal crashes involving Ford's Blue Cruise partially automated driving system are now subjects of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation of the crashes, both involving Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles on freeways in nighttime lighting conditions, the agency said Monday. The agency's initial investigation of the crashes,...

After Tesla Autopilot Updates, Crashes Continue

NHTSA to look at the effectiveness of software update meant to keep drivers' eyes on the road

(Newser) - The driver of a Tesla that struck and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle claims he was using the vehicle's Autopilot system, which experts say lacks adequate safety measures , even after a recent recall. The 56-year-old driver of the 2022 Tesla Model S told authorities he looked at his cellphone...

Ford Recalling 1.9M Explorers
Ford Recalling 1.9M Explorers

Ford Recalling 1.9M Explorers

2011-2019 SUVs have trim piece that can fly off

(Newser) - Ford is recalling nearly 1.9 million Explorer SUVs in the US because a trim piece can fly off and create a hazard for other drivers. As the AP reports, the recall covers Explorers from the 2011 through 2019 model years. Documents posted Wednesday by the US National Highway Traffic...

Toyota, Honda Announce Big Recalls
Honda, Toyota
Announce
Major Recalls

Honda, Toyota Announce Major Recalls

Recalls affect around 3.5M vehicles in US

(Newser) - Toyota and Honda have announced major recalls affecting a total of around 3.5 million vehicles in the US. Toyota said Wednesday it's recalling 1 million vehicles over a defect that could cause airbags not to deploy, increasing the risk of injury. The recall covers a range of Toyota...

NHTSA Takes Step Toward Mandatory Anti-DUI Tech

Law requires 'reasonable, practical' technology in new cars

(Newser) - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is moving toward getting drunk drivers off the road for good. The federal regulator said Tuesday that it is working on implementing a rule requiring new cars to have technology that prevents drunk or impaired driving, NPR reports. The NHTSA said it has issued...

Don't Put This on Your Steering Wheel, Regulators Warn
Don't Put This on Your Steering
Wheel, Regulators Warn
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Don't Put This on Your Steering Wheel, Regulators Warn

Decorative aftermarket decals can dislodge in crash, cause serious injury

(Newser) - US regulators are warning drivers to steer clear of aftermarket decals used to embellish a car's logo on the center of its steering wheel. Such metal or plastic emblems—which are typically adorned with rhinestones or other decorations and attached to the steering wheel with an adhesive back—can...

Another Massive Recall for Hyundai and Kia

3.4M vehicles recalled over fire risk; owners warned to park outside, away from structures

(Newser) - Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 3.4 million vehicles in the US and again telling owners to park them outside due to the risk of engine compartment fires. As the AP reports, the recalls cover multiple car and SUV models from the 2010 through 2019 model years, including Hyundai'...

Traffic Deaths Are Down, but It's Still a 'National Crisis'

Preliminary numbers show a 0.3% decrease

(Newser) - The number of people killed on US roadways decreased slightly last year, but government officials said the 42,795 people who died is still a national crisis, reports the AP . Estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that the number of fatalities dropped 0.3% from the 42,...

New Tesla Complaints: Steering Wheels Came Off While Driving

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration probe is underway on Model Y Long Range SUV

(Newser) - US auto safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla's Model Y SUV after getting two complaints that the steering wheels can come off while being driven. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the probe covers an estimated 120,000 vehicles from the 2023 model year. The agency...

Tesla Reluctantly Recalls 363K 'Full Self-Driving' Cars

Musk argues government agency's assessment on Twitter

(Newser) - US safety regulators have pressured Tesla into recalling nearly 363,000 vehicles with its "Full Self-Driving" system because it misbehaves around intersections and doesn't always follow speed limits. The recall, part of a larger investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into Tesla's automated driving systems,...

NTSB: Put a Booze Detector in Every New Car

Congress has already required NHTSA to make automakers install systems within 3 years

(Newser) - The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that all new vehicles in the US be equipped with blood alcohol monitoring systems that can stop an intoxicated person from driving. The recommendation, if enacted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, could reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes, one of the...

Vehicle Deaths on US Roads Climb for 7th Straight Quarter

Safety advocates suggest a change in focus

(Newser) - Many drivers fell into unsafe habits when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, such as taking advantage of less congested roads to increase speeds. "When everyday life came to a halt in March 2020, risky behaviors skyrocketed and traffic fatalities spiked," the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration...

Tesla Autopilot May Have a Motorcycle Problem

Authorities investigating two fatal crashes

(Newser) - Two crashes involving Teslas apparently running on Autopilot are drawing scrutiny from federal regulators and suggest a potential new hazard on US freeways: The partially automated vehicles may not stop for motorcycles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sent investigation teams to two crashes last month in which Teslas collided...

US Road Deaths Surged 10.5% Last Year

THe NHTSA says it was the deadlest year since 2005

(Newser) - Nearly 43,000 people were killed on US roads last year, the highest number in 16 years as Americans returned to the highways after the pandemic forced many to stay at home. The 10.5% jump over 2020 numbers was the largest percentage increase since the National Highway Traffic Safety...

DOT in 'Crisis' Mode Over New Stats on Road Fatalities

They've hit a 15-year high, with more than 20K dead in US during first half of 2021

(Newser) - With more people back in schools and offices, that means there are more people on the road. But time stuck at home apparently hasn't done any favors for our driving skills, based on new stats from the Department of Transportation that show the highest number of traffic fatalities in...

As We Get Back Behind the Wheel, a 'Terrible Situation'

8 states saw at least a 30% increase in driving deaths in first half of 2021

(Newser) - We're still in the midst of a pandemic, but over the past year, more of us headed back to in-person work, school, and other activities, meaning more of us were again driving. New data from two major safety groups, however, show that we could use some refresher courses behind...

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