Big 4 Mobile Carriers Target Texting While Driving
The country's four biggest cellphone companies are set to begin their first joint advertising campaign against texting while driving.
safety
Cars Powered by Cheap, Safe Batteries Likely Years Away
Used in everything from laptops to electric cars, lithium-ion batteries nonetheless have an image problem following several high-profile incidents involving smoke and fire.
How the Chevy Volt Became a Political Punching Bag
GM CEO Dan Akerson is charged up about the politically manufactured controversy surrounding the Chevy Volt. "We did not engineer the car to become a political punching bag," he said. Tough words -- but rescuing the Volt's reputation will be a tough fight.
Cheap Knockoffs Can Be Hazardous to Your Health
We all know that buying a fake Fendi is "bad" to the degree that selling such goods is illegal, and they hurt the companies whose good are being copied, and the economy overall. But it turns out that knockoffs are problematic in many other ways as well: Buying them can put your health and your money at risk.
Ford Expands Recall of F-Series Trucks Over Faulty Airbags
Ford is expanding a recall of its popular F-Series truck line because of faulty airbags that can deploy unexpectedly and possibly lead to injuries, federal regulators said Thursday. The expanded action now includes some 1.2 million trucks from the 2004 through 2006 model years.
General Motors Recalls 10,000 Vehicles for Defroster Glitch
A software glitch in certain Buick Lacrosse sedans and Cadillac SRX crossovers could decrease a driver's visibility in fog or ice, prompting GM to recall 10,000 of the vehicles.
Toyota Issues Recall Over Faulty Tire Pressure Monitors
Toyota is recalling another 22,000 trucks and sport-utility vehicles, this time so that it can repair faulty tire pressure monitoring systems. Vehicles affected by the recall include the Toyota FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Tacoma and Tundra from the 2008 through 2011 model years.
Chrysler Recalls 250,000 Minivans, Crossovers to Fix Engine Stalling
Chrysler is recalling nearly half a million popular minivan and crossover models because the engines may unexpectedly turn off while driving, increasing the risk for a crash.
Ford Recalls 32,000 Vehicles to Fix Fuel Leaks, Electrical Shorts
Ford Motor is recalling nearly 32,000 recent-vintage pickup trucks and crossover vehicles in two separate actions to fix fuel leaks and electrical shorts that may lead to fires, according to a notice posted Wednesday on the National Highway Traffic Safety site.
Toyota Recalls 2.2 Million More Vehicles Over Floor Mats
Toyota is recalling nearly 2.2 million more cars to fix problems related to floor mats that can trap gas pedals and cause vehicles to accelerate uncontrollably. Among the models being recalled: The Toyota RAV4, 4-Runner and Highlander, and the Lexus LX 570, RX 330, RX 350 and and RX 400h.
Ford Reluctantly Recalls 144,000 F-150 Pickup Trucks
Ford is recalling 144,000 F-150 pickup trucks to repair airbags that may deploy without warning, a defect that has led to dozens of injuries, safety officials say. The federal government had pressed Ford to recall the pickups, but this recall isn't as broad as regulators wanted.
Vancouver Retains Title of World's Most Liveable City
For the fifth straight year, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, bested 139 other cities worldwide in ratings of "relative comfort" to hold onto the right to call itself the World's 'Most Liveable' City, according to new rankings by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
Electronics Didn't Cause Toyota Sudden Acceleration
In an affirmation of Toyota's claims, an exhaustive 10-month federal investigation has found no evidence of an electronic source for sudden unintended acceleration in companpy's vehicles. Indeed, human error was cited as the cause in many cases.
Ford Recalls 360,000 Pickup Trucks for Defective Door Handles
Faulty interior door handles may allow the doors to pop open during a crash. The recall involves F-150 pickups from the 2009-10 model years equipped with chrome interior door handles.
Ford Recalls 525,000 Windstar Minivans for Steering Issue
Ford is recalling more than half a million minivans to repair parts that could corrode and affect vehicle handling. The action involves Ford Windstar minivans from the 1999 to 2003 model years that were sold in cold-weather areas where salt is routinely used to de-ice roads.
New Toyota Recall: 1.7 Million Vehicles Worldwide to Fix Fuel Problems
Toyota's recall troubles seem never-ending. Just a few months after the car company's last recall, it has found defects involving the fueling systems of a variety of Lexus models. This won't help the company's beleaguered reputation.
Beyond Recalls: A Year Later, Toyota's Woes Continue
Last year's massive recalls -- and the resulting legal fallout -- have given Toyota's reputation a beating, cutting into its sales. But the company can't blame all of its problems on the recalls. Analysts also point to another issue: A lack of compelling new models.
Toyota Keeps Slim Lead Over GM Despite Recall Woes
Toyota managed to hold onto the title of world's No. 1 automaker last year, despite numerous safety recalls that took a toll on its sales. Toyota sold 8.42 million vehicles worldwide in 2010, enough to barely edge out resurgent General Motors, which rang up sales of 8.39 million.
2010: The Year of Automobile Recalls
Automakers recalled more vehicles last year than in any of the last six years. And while Toyota Motors accounted for much of the growth, with problems including unintended acceleration and glitchy brakes, many other car manufacturers also saw their recalls increase.
Ford and Toyota in Dead Heat Among Consumer Perceptions
Toyota's recent spate of quality woes have allowed competitors to steal sales from the beleaguered automaker. Ford is also catching up with Toyota in another important measure of auto industry success -- consumers' opinions of vehicle brands.
Chrysler and Ford Recall 160,000 Vehicles for Safety Defects
Chrysler Group is recalling more than 144,000 Dodge and Ram vehicles in three separate actions, and Ford Motor is recalling about 15,000 trucks and sport-utility vehicles that may catch fire. These actions add to what's been a near-record for auto recalls.
2010 Likely Busiest Year for Auto Recalls in Seven Years
2010 may be the year of the car recall, with the U.S.'s six-largest suppliers recalling more than 19 million vehicles over the last 12 months. Toyota, which recalled about 7 million cars this year, tops the list. General Motors, at about 4 million, came in second.
Feds Open Probe into Whether GM Should Recall Saturn Ion Models
The federal government is investigating whether some 384,000 Saturn Ion compact cars should have been included in a recall earlier this year. The recall was for more than one million General Motors models to repair power steering units that could fail.
Hyundai/Kia and VW Top Latest Safety Ratings
Who makes the safest cars? Hyundai Motor and its sister make, Kia Motors, along with Volkswagen and its luxury brand, Audi, garnered the most awards in the recent vehicle crash tests conducted by an insurance industry testing group.
General Motors Recalls 100,000 SUVs to Repair Seat Belts
Topping off a week in which Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, VW, Chrysler and Ford between them recalled hundreds of thousands of vehicles, General Motors today announced it is recalling 100,000 SUVs to repair front row seat belts that may come loose in a crash.