Chrysler is recalling more than 450,000 vehicles with improperly designed trailer tow modules whose trailer lights may not work and that have trailer brakes that could fail, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says.
The vehicles involved are the 2024-2026 Jeep Wagoneer S, 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 4500 Cab Chassis, Ram 5500 Cab Chassis and 2026 Jeep Cherokee.
The NHTSA says dealers will replace the trailer tow module for free, and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 24.
In addition, the federal agency says Chrysler is calling back certain Mopar tow trailer modules that also have trailer tow modules with trailer lights that may not light up and trailer brakes that may fail.
“If installed in a vehicle, dealers will replace the trailer tow module, free of charge,” the NHTSA says, adding that if the trailer tow module isn’t installed in a vehicle, “dealers will repurchase it.” Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 24, 2026.
Waymo said one of its robotaxis struck a child, who sustained minor injuries. The incident took place in Santa Monica, California, on January 23. The company reported it to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which has opened an investigation.
The agency said the incident occurred close to a school within regular drop-off hours, with other children and a crossing guard nearby. The child ran from behind a double-parked SUV into the path of a Waymo Driver. Waymo said its vehicle detected the child immediately as they emerged and that the robotaxi braked hard to lower its speed from around 17 mph to under 6 mph at the time of impact.
Waymo said the child stood up immediately and moved to the sidewalk. The company contacted emergency services and the vehicle remained stationary at the side of the road until law enforcement allowed it to leave.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation will examine whether the Waymo Driver used appropriate caution given that it was close to a school during drop-off hours and children were close by. The probe is expected to look at the intended behavior of the vehicle’s automated driving systems around schools (particularly during regular pick-up and drop-off times) and Waymo’s response to the incident.
On the day that the incident took place, the National Transportation Safety Board opened an investigation into Waymo over its vehicles improperly passing school buses in Austin, Texas. Last month, the company carried out a voluntary software recall (i.e. it updated its systems) after the NHTSA opened an investigation into Waymo vehicles allegedly driving past stationary school buses in both Austin and Atlanta.
Waymo has caught the attention of the National Transportation Safety Board as the federal agency launched an official investigation into the company for its robotaxis improperly passing school buses in Austin, Texas. The NTSB said on X that it would “examine the interaction between Waymo vehicles and school buses stopped for loading and unloading students.”
The latest federal probe stems from a preliminary evaluation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that looked into how Waymo reacts to stopped school buses in the Texas city. That report led to Waymo’s voluntary software recall in December. However, the school district said in a memo that the robotaxis were seen repeating the same offense days after the software update.
As for the NTSB investigation, an agency spokesperson told the Austin American-Statesman that its “investigators will travel to Austin to gather information on a series of incidents in which the automated vehicles failed to stop for loading or unloading students.” According to an NTSB spokesperson, a preliminary report will be out within 30 days, but the final report will take anywhere between 12 and 24 months.
In response, Mauricio Peña, chief safety officer for Waymo, said in a statement to multiple news outlets that “there have been no collisions in the events in question, and we are confident that our safety performance around school buses is superior to human drivers,” adding that the investigation will be “an opportunity to provide the NTSB with transparent insights into our safety-first approach.”
Ford is recalling roughly 119,000 vehicles because their engine block heaters have a defect that increases the risk of fire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says.
The recall involves some 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer and 2024 Explorer vehicles as well as certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engines.
The NHTSA says the vehicles’ engine block heaters may crack and develop coolant leaks, causing them to short circuit when the block heaters are plugged in.
“This increases the risk of an under-hood fire when the vehicle is parked and the engine block heater is plugged into a 110-volt electrical supply,” Ford said in a statement.
The car maker said that owners of affected vehicles should stop using their engine block heater immediately and not plug it into any sort of power source until the issue has been addressed.
“The risk of fire is only present when the heater is plugged into an electrical outlet,” Ford said.
Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be in the mail Feb. 13, and more letters will be sent once the final repair is available, which the NHTSA expects will be in April.
Ford said it is developing a new block heater element and that once it becomes available, customers can visit a Ford dealer for a free replacement.
Another option is to have the vehicle’s block heater removed and a threaded plug installed at a Ford dealer, the company said. Ford said dealers will provide that service free of charge.
U.S. safety regulators have launched a probe into some Tesla Model 3 cars over the vehicle’s door handles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a December 23 online filing that it received a complaint from a Tesla owner asking it to investigate the vehicle’s emergency door handles, with the motorist claiming that the “mechanical door release is hidden, unlabeled and not intuitive to locate during an emergency.”
The driver claimed he was forced to escape from the vehicle’s rear window after the 2022 Model 3 caught fire, according to his account on an Atlanta local television news show.
The probe covers roughly 179,000 Model 3 cars from the 2022 model year, according to the NHTSA filing.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This isn’t the first time the Model 3 has come under scrutiny. In 2023, a couple crashed in Tacoma, Washington, after a design flaw in the Model 3 they were driving caused it to accelerate out of control. A separate issue with the door handle prevented bystanders from helping to rescue the couple, according to court filings. The accident killed the woman, Wendy Dennis, while leaving her husband, Jeff Dennis, severely injured.
Other reports have also surfaced describing incidents in which people became trapped in a burning Tesla vehicle following an accident that allegedly incapacitated the electric doors, while occupants were unable to find a manual release.
Bloomberg reported this week that there have been “at least” 15 deaths over the last decade in which motorists or rescuers were unable to open the doors of a Tesla that had crashed and caught fire.
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department crime lab. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department)
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday that its Regional Crime Laboratory has received a $585,000 state grant to aid in its continuing efforts to combat impaired driving.
The funding is provided by a California Office of Traffic Safety grant funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and runs through September 2026.
The grant will be used to fund two full-time crime lab toxicology criminalists specializing in the analysis of biological samples for the presence of alcohol and drugs.
A criminalist is a hands-on forensic scientist analyzing physical evidence including DNA, fingerprints and ballistics. The grant will assist them in maintaining current forensic alcohol testing operations while working to expand services offered and training on testing methods and interpretation of results, officials said.
Previously, the crime lab has utilized OTS grant funding to expand drug toxicology testing in DUI case, purchase new equipment, and increase both staffing and training for the crime lab’s toxicology section.
Since 2017, the average blood alcohol concentration of samples tested by the crime lab’s toxicology section has been above 0.17%, more than twice the legal limit, according to officials.
From January through September 2025, more than 75% of the blood samples tested for drugs had at least one drug detected. The most commonly detected drugs in DUI drivers were marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, Xanax and Fentanyl.
The Crime Lab’s Toxicology section also saw a dramatic increase in requests to test for inhalant substances used by DUI drivers including drugs commonly known as NOS/whippets/laughing gas and dust-off.
The Sheriff’s Crime Lab provides forensic science services to more than 30 law enforcement agencies in San Diego County, processing more than 7,000 traffic safety cases per year.
Kia is recalling roughly a quarter-million K5 sedans with a defect that could lead their fuel tanks to melt, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says.
The cars, from the 2021-2024 model years, could have a damaged valve that lets air into their fuel tanks, causing the tanks to expand “and contact hot exhaust components, melting” the tanks, the agency says.
“A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire,” the agency points out.
Kia dealers will replace the valves, the NHTSA says, adding that, “The fuel tank will be inspected for damage and replaced as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge.”
Drivers may notice a popping sound from fuel tank area, their dashboard check engine lights lighting up, and/or the vehicles running rough if the fuel tank needs attention, the agency notes.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 200,000 Bronco and Bronco Sport vehicles because an instrument panel can fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Federal auto safety regulators said that the instrument panel may not display at startup, leaving the driver without critical safety information.
The recall includes 128,607 Ford Bronco Sports, model years 2025-2026 and 101,002 Ford Broncos, also model years 2025-2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.
Ford is not aware of any injuries caused by the instrument panel failure.
Owners will be notified by mail beginning Dec. 8 and instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealership to have the software updated.
“NHTSA is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) told Reuters. “The human behind the wheel is fully responsible for driving the vehicle and complying with all traffic safety laws.”
When it opened a fresh probe into FSD earlier this month, the NHTSA said the tech had “induced vehicle behavior that violated traffic safety laws.” Some Tesla vehicles with FSD engaged are said to have run red lights and driven against the flow of traffic.
Tesla initially offered a Mad Max mode in 2018, before FSD was available. The company revived Mad Max this month and it didn’t take long before there were reports of Tesla vehicles that were using the mode rolling stop signs and driving above speed limits.
Earlier this year, when Tesla CEO Elon Musk was at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Trump administration initiative reportedly culled NHTSA staff. As part of that, DOGE was said to have fired three people who were part of a small team that worked on autonomous vehicle safety.
Almost 200,000 BMWs, along with some Toyota Supras, are being recalled in the U.S. by the German automaker due to the potential for a short circuit in their starters that could increase the risk of a fire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday.
A total of 196,355 vehicles in the U.S. will be subject to the recall, the vast majority of them BMWs made between 2019 and 2022, in which NHTSA said “the engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short circuit,” increasing the risk of a fire.
NHTSA said in its notice that BMW of North America was recalling certain 2019-2021 BMW 330i, 2019-2022 BMW Z4, 2020-2022 BMW 530i, X3, X4, Toyota Supra, 2021-2022 BMW 430i, 430i Convertible, and 2022 BMW 230i vehicles, and that letters would go out to owners from November 14 to inform them of the issue.
From that day, vehicle owners will also be able to search online at NHTSA.gov/recalls, entering either their unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or the year, make and model of their vehicle to confirm whether it is subject to the recall.
“Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete” NHTSA said in its notice of the recall on Friday. “Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge.”
The agency, part of the Department of Transportation, said owners could also contact BMW’s U.S. customer service line directly at 1-800-525-7417 with questions.
The recall notice comes just over a year after BMW announced a recall of more than 720,700 vehicles in North America because they were equipped with an electric water pump that could short circuit as a result of faulty installation, posing a fire hazard.
Tucker Reals is CBSNews.com’s foreign editor, based in the CBS News London bureau. He has worked for CBS News since 2006, prior to which he worked for The Associated Press in Washington, D.C., and London.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) just announced an investigation into Tesla regarding its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems, according to a report by Electrek. The road safety regulator says the probe involves inconsistencies with how the company reports crashes regarding the aforementioned systems.
The NHTSA requires automakers to report crashes involving autonomous and driver assistance systems within five days of being notified of them. The agency claims that Tesla has sometimes waited months to report these crashes. It’s worth remembering that the company’s vehicles are outfitted with technology that automatically records and sends out data regarding a collision within minutes of an accident.
Tesla has acknowledged the issue but says this is all due to an error in its systems, which has since been fixed. However, the agency will continue the investigation, citing that it will “assess whether any reports of prior incidents remain outstanding and whether the reports that were submitted include all of the required and available data.”
Ford Motor is recalling nearly 1.1 million Ford and Lincoln vehicles because of a software problem that could cause the rearview camera image to malfunction when the car is in reverse, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.
“A frozen rear-view camera display image while in reverse can create a false representation of where the vehicle is relative to its surroundings, increasing the risk of a crash,” the NHTSA stated in a May 9 report.
Ford is not aware of any injuries related to the software error. The automaker has received one report of a minor crash resulting in property damage.
The recall affects 1,075,299 vehicles, including the following Ford and Lincoln models:
To fix the problem, a vehicle’s so-called accessory protocol interface module software will eventually be available to be updated for free either in person at a Ford/Lincoln dealership, or remotely through an over-the-air update, according to Ford.
Notification letters are expected to be mailed to owners of affected vehicles on June 16 to alert them of the rearview camera problem. A second letter will be sent once the remedy is available sometime between July and September, recall documents state.
Affected vehicle owners can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332; Ford’s number for this recall is 25S49.
Owners can also contact NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or go to nhtsa.gov. NHTSA’s number for the recall is 25V-315.
The camera issue is the latest of several recalls this year by the Detroit automaker. Most recently, Ford recalled roughly 274,000 Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition vehicles because of a poorly installed front brake line that could lead to reduced brake function, NHTSA said in another recall dated May 9.
In November 2024, NHTSA fined Ford $165 million for moving too slowly to recall vehicles with faulty rearview cameras and for failing to give the agency complete information as required by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
GEORGETOWN — A local teen accused of stealing two cars was arraigned Monday in Haverhill District Court, according to police.
Joseph Winthrop Lee, 18, of Georgetown was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle (two counts); larceny of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene after property damage, resisting arrest, speeding in excess of posted limit and a marked lanes violation.
Lee was arrested shortly after police say he stole a 2010 Toyota Camry early Sunday and led officers on a pursuit that ended with the car veering into woods off Church Street in West Newbury.
He was later captured by officers with the help of Amesbury police K-9 Meatball and his partner, Thomas Nichols.
The arrest came shortly after local police responded to a suspicious gathering at the Georgetown Park and Ride involving two men and a 2022 Toyota Prius. The officers identified the vehicle as being stolen from a Newton address.
When approached by officers, the men fled. Lee then stole the Camry, police said.
The second car theft took place in the early morning of May 31 when a 2008 Toyota Prius was stolen from a Georgetown home. Several hours later, the Prius was found abandoned with a flat tire outside the Museum of Science in Boston, according to police.
Local police charged Lee with both thefts.
Lee is due back in court July 10.
In light of the two incidents, police are reminding residents to lock their vehicles.
“Practicing responsible vehicle ownership isn’t just about protecting your property, it’s also about protecting the lives and property of other people,” Georgetown police Chief David Sedgwick said. “Motor vehicle theft is often a gateway crime to other crime, such as speeding and reckless driving, both of which pose a threat to the entire community. On this occasion, the motor vehicles were stolen as a matter of convenience, and their theft could have been prevented.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers the following commonsense tips for helping to prevent vehicle theft:
Take your vehicle’s key and do not leave it in or on your vehicle; close and lock all windows and doors when parking; park in well-lit areas if possible; and never leave valuables in the vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside.
Dave Rogers is the editor of the Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @drogers41008.
Dave Rogers is the editor of the Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @drogers41008.
Three years ago, police investigated Tyler Cestia for negligent homicide after he left his 2-and-a-half-year-old son, Thomas, in his truck at work on a hot summer day.
“In my mind, I remember thinking, ‘well, I don’t remember walking in the sitter’s house to drop Thomas off; I don’t remember that,’” said Cestia. “I just said to myself, ‘it can’t be. There’s no way.’”
Cestia said a confluence of circumstances created the perfect storm that June morning. He wasn’t originally supposed to drop off Thomas, and the toddler sat in his brother’s car seat behind the driver — out of sight. Cestia said he was also recovering from COVID, which gave him brain fog, and his mind was preoccupied with an audit at work. Six hours into his workday, he realized he never dropped off his son that morning.
“I ran out to the car to see and, unfortunately, my worst fears were realized,” he said.
His wife Pamela got the call and frantically raced to the office parking lot.
“I kind of didn’t know how fast children could pass in the car,” Pamela said. “So, I drove like a maniac to Tyler’s work and then just saw Thomas, and he was gone. I just broke down after seeing and knowing what happened.”
It was a moment she had trouble processing — a moment she said she couldn’t imagine ever happening to her family.
“I think before this experience, I was a little judgmental on that and thinking that how do people leave their kids in the car and forget their children,” said Pamela. “I think, now, that anybody can leave their kids in the car and forget them. It can be, something else on your mind at the time, a change in routine, that it can happen to anybody.”
Police ruled the death an accident.
Summer heat turns deadly
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns much of the U.S. will see above-average temperatures and dangerous heat this summer. For some children, it has already become deadly.
Last month in South Carolina, a 3-year-old became the first hot car death of the year, after he crawled into the back of a vehicle and got trapped.
A few weeks later in West Virginia, a 3-month-old baby died inside a car after police said it appeared the child was inadvertently left there while the parent was at work.
According to data from advocacy group Kids and Car Safety, on average, 38 children die each year from heatstroke inside a vehicle. Over the last three decades, more than 1,000 children have died in these incidents.
A CBS News data analysis shows 83% of all hot car deaths over the last six years happened between May and September — at least one death each week during the sweltering summer season. It’s not just happening in states with the warmest temperatures. The breakdown reveals a hot car death reported in nearly every state.
“Quite frankly, we’re surprised it doesn’t even happen more often,” said Janette Fennell, co-founder and president of Kids and Car Safety.
Fennell said after the introduction of dual front airbags, parents moved infant car seats to back seats for safety reasons. It was then, she explained, that they began to see the increasing trend of parents forgetting their children in vehicles.
“During that transition, nothing was done to change the way we notify people if children are left alone in vehicles,” she said. “So, it’s a direct correlation of putting the kids in the back seat out of sight, out of mind, and then the number of hot car deaths just keeps going up.”
Over the last few years, companies have created technological advances to help reduce the chances of children being left in cars and dying. Automakers have been working on safety systems that can provide alerts to remind drivers to check for children who may still be in vehicles, or even detect a child left behind.
“We’ve seen a tremendous amount of innovation just in the last few years, following a commitment by automakers in 2019, to integrate these technologies into all new vehicles,” said Hilary Cain, with the auto industry trade group Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
The 2021 infrastructure law included a requirement for all automakers to install an audio and visual rear seat reminder alert in all new passenger vehicles beginning with model year 2025. Most have already done this — voluntarily.
Fennell argues law and the technology don’t go far enough.
“What’s written in the law is sort of just the driver reminder system,” she said. “We’ve been working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and they know that that’s not really an adequate solution. In fact, we as an organization have documented deaths of six children who have died in cars that have just that reminder, so obviously it’s not effective.”
The Cestias had that very technology in their truck when Thomas died.
“The way we thought all along how the technology worked in the truck was based on weight,” said Tyler Cestia. “You know, you have a child in the seat, [from] the weight.”
While some vehicles do have weight sensors, the Cestias’ truck used door logic technology that only warns the driver to check the back seat at the end of a trip if a back door has been opened and closed at the beginning of a trip. Tyler described the alert as the same as the beep that reminds you to put on your seatbelt.
“We had a false sense of security with the rear seat reminder,” said Pamela Cestia.
NHTSA provided written responses to questions from CBS News, which said: “NHTSA is researching technology and solutions that can provide greater safety benefits beyond the mandated minimum, including detection technology for unattended occupants.”
Radar technology
The Cestias are advocating for the administration to require more advanced technology like radar systems that don’t simply issue reminder alerts but detect movement. They can even sense the breathing of a baby.
“So, the difference between this and a typical rear alert reminder… is that this actually detects the presence of life,” explained Tyler Warga, with automotive technology supplier Bosch. “It’s actually doing the displacement in a child’s chest, and so you’re talking millimeters in terms of the type of movement it can detect.”
Some of Hyundai’s Genesis models offer what it calls an advanced rear occupant alert system, which utilizes both a rear seat alert and radar technology. It also sends out warnings to parents even when they’re not in the vehicle.
“If the sensor detects movement within the vehicle, you’re going to have the horn go off and you’re also going to get an alert on your smart app,” said Stephanie Beeman, manager of vehicle safety, compliance and regulatory affairs for Hyundai America Technical Center.
We asked the Alliance for Automotive Innovation why it isn’t committing to the radar technology some experts consider the gold standard for safety.
“The automakers want to provide technologies that best meet the needs of their customers, and so there are a range of options for them to do that, and radar technologies would be one of those options,” Hilary Cain said. “There are a lot of people who purchase vehicles today that do not have children and may not need or want these systems. Since these systems will be standard on all vehicles, there will be a cost, you know, and reflected in the price of the vehicle for the technologies. So, providing a range of technologies may give purchasers who are not interested in the technology, don’t need the technology, a lower price point than otherwise they would have.”
According to government documents, the upgrade to radar would cost car buyers as little as $20.
“The companies are going to go this way,” Cain said. “They’re already going that way. We’re just – you got to give it time for them to do it.”
But Pamela and Tyler Cestia believe if the radar technology had been in their truck three years ago, Thomas would still be alive.
“The gold standard should be met,” said Tyler Cestia. “There’s better technology that’s far superior to the existing technology, and there’s no reason for another parent to go through it.”
Laura Geller is a multi-award-winning investigative journalist. She joined the CBS News and Stations Innovation Lab as a national investigative producer in September of 2023.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. auto safety agency said on Thursday it has “significant safety concerns” over Ford Motor’s recall of more than 42,000 SUVs over concerns fuel leaks could lead to an engine fire.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said last month it was investigating the adequacy and safety consequences of Ford’s proposed recall remedy for 2022-2023 model year Bronco Sport and 2022 Ford Escape SUVs with 1.5L engines.
The No. 2 U.S. automaker said a fuel injector may crack and leak fuel, which could cause an underhood fire.
Ford has proposed an engine control software update and installation of a drain. It is not proposing to replace the fuel injectors that could crack.
In a letter to Ford made public on Thursday, NHTSA said Ford’s plan “does not address the root cause of the issue and does not proactively call for the replacement of defective fuel injectors prior to their failure,” adding that the agency has “identified significant safety concerns.”
NHTSA is asking Ford to answer extensive questions about the recall by June 21, including how it settled on the remedy.
Ford reiterated on Friday that it is working with NHTSA to support the agency’s investigation.
Ford said last month is aware of five underhood fires on 1.5L Escape and Bronco Sport vehicles in the new recall population, but that it had no reports of accidents or injuries tied to the issue.
The software update will detect a pressure drop in the fuel rail, providing a “seek service” message to the driver and disabling the high-pressure fuel pump, reducing engine power output and lowering temperatures of possible ignition sources.
In 2022, Ford recalled nearly 522,000 2020-2023 Ford Escape and 2021-2023 Ford Bronco Sport for the same issue with the same remedy, NHTSA said.
Ford told NHTSA in late 2022 it had 54 reports alleging underhood fires in 2020-2022 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles, equipped with the 1.5L engine in North America, along with reports of four injuries in two incidents.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Toby Chopra, Kirsten Donovan)
DETROIT (AP) — Automatic emergency braking will have to come standard on all U.S. new passenger vehicles in five years.
It’s a requirement that the government says will save hundreds of lives and prevent thousands of injuries every year.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration unveiled the new regulation on Monday and called it the most significant safety rule in the past two decades.
It’s designed to prevent many rear-end and pedestrian collisions and reduce the roughly 40,000 traffic deaths per year.
Although about 90% of new vehicles have the systems standard now under a voluntary agreement with automakers, at present there are no performance requirements.
The new regulations set standards for vehicles to automatically stop and avoid hitting other vehicles or pedestrians, even at night.
Federal highway safety officials are expanding its investigation into 2021-2022 Ford SUVs to include over 700,000 vehicles. The automaker received hundreds of complaints of vehicles’ engines failing unexpectedly “under normal driving conditions” on models equipped with EcoBoost engines, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
In a document posted Monday, the NHTSA said that a recall of the 2021 Ford Bronco, 2022 Bronco, 2021-2022 F-150, 2021-2022 Edge, and 2021-2022 Lincoln Nautilus has been expanded to include the Y 2021-2022 Explorer and 2021-2022 Lincoln Aviator — vehicles in the “Nano” engine family, which feature 2.7L and 3.0L EcoBoost engine variants.
Without warning, the 708,837 vehicles under investigation “may experience a loss of motive power without restart due to catastrophic engine failure,” the NHTSA document states. No deaths or injuries related to the potentially faulty engines have been reported.
The NHSA also said on its website that it upgraded the investigation to an engineering analysis, a step closer to a recall.
Fractured intake valves
NHTSA began its probe into Ford SUVs in July 2022, a few months after the regulator received complaint letters from three consumers petitioning for an investigation. In its preliminary evaluation, the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation found that Ford received 328 complaints, 487 warranty claims and 809 engine exchanges in connection with the 2021-2022 Bronco and other vehicles that featured Ford’s EcoBoost engine.
The ODI identified “multiple contributing factors” which it said “can lead to the fracturing of the intake valves in the subject engines,” according to NHTSA documents. Fractured intake valves “can result in catastrophic engine failure and a loss of motive power,” the regulator noted, citing acknowledgement from Ford that “following a valve fracture, a vehicle typically requires a full engine replacement.”
The defective valves were manufactured out of a specific alloy known as “Silchrome Lite,” which Ford told the ODI can “become excessively hard and brittle” in situations where the engine gets too hot.
Unrelated to recalls of Ford SUVs
The current engine investigation is separate from NHTSA’s ongoing Ford probe into some SUVs unexpectedly rolling away — even while parked, according to the regulator. Ford recalled thousands of 2020-2022 Explorers in June because fractures in the rear axle mounting bolt could lead the drive shaft to disconnect. After repairing the issue, some Explorers engaged their electronic brakes while owners were driving.
The Michigan automaker last year also recalled 350,000 SUVs and advised owners to park their vehicles outside because the engines on some 2021 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators could catch fire.
All three investigations are hitting Ford as the company tries to hammer out a new labor contract with its unionized factory workers. Thousands of Ford employees in Wayne, Michigan, walked off the job last month as part of a larger United Auto Workers strike. UAW expanded strikes against Detroit automakers Friday, ordering 7,000 more workers to walk off the job at a General Motors plant in Lansing, Michigan, and a Ford plant in Chicago, to put more pressure on the companies to improve their offers.
The Ford factory in Chicago makes Ford Explorers and Explorer Police Interceptors, as well as the Lincoln Aviator SUV.
Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering business, consumer and financial stories that range from economic inequality and housing issues to bankruptcies and the business of sports.
Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are recalling 3.3 million used vehicles because they can catch fire while parked or while driving due to issues with the antilock brake system.
Hyundai models being recalled include sedans such as the Accent, Azera, Elantra, Genesis Coupe and Sonata along with the Tuscon SUV. Recalled Kia models include its Optima and Soul sedans and Sportage SUV. The affected vehicles are from the model years 2010 to 2019.
The antilock brake system in the vehicle could leak brake fluid and create an electrical short which could then increase the risk of an engine compartment fire, federal safety officials said. The automakers said an O-ring in the antilock brake motor shaft can lose sealing strength over time due to the presence of moisture, dirt and dissolved metals in the brake fluid, causing leaks.
Owners of these car models should park the vehicle outside and away from structures until repairs can be made, according to the recall announcement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Hyundai reported 21 fires in the affected vehicles in the U.S., and another 22 “thermal incidents” including smoke, burning and melting of parts, according to recall documents. Kia reported 10 fires and melting incidents.
Dealers will replace the antilock brake fuse at no cost to owners. Kia said in documents that it will send notification letters to owners starting Nov. 14. For Hyundai the date is Nov. 21.
Hyundai said in a statement that owners can continue to drive the vehicles and that no crashes or injuries have been reported. Hyundai owners are advised to take their vehicle to a local dealership and have the brake system’s module fuse replaced. Kia is still working on a fix for its models.
“Why not fix the problem”?
Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, questioned why the automakers aren’t fixing leak problems and why they are waiting so long to send notify owners. The remedy is replacing one fuse with another, but brake fluid can still leak, potentially causing a safety problem, Brooks said.
“Why not fix the problem?” he asked. “What you’re not doing here is fixing the O-ring and the leak that’s causing the problem in the first place. You’re combatting a symptom or part of the problem without actually fixing the underlying design issue.”
Brooks also questioned why NHTSA is allowing the companies to only replace a fuse, and why owners aren’t being sent interim letters immediately warning them of a serious problem.
“You would think that you should be notifying those owners right now that they shouldn’t be parking in their garages or their house could catch fire,” he said.
Which models are being recalled?
The recalled vehicles are:
Hyundai
2012-2015 Accent
2012-2015 Azera
2011-2015 Elantra
2013-2015 Elantra Coupe
2014-2015 Equus
2011-2015 Genesis Coupe
2013-2015 Santa Fe
2013 Santa Fe Sport
2011-2015 Sonata HEV
2010-2013 Tucson
2015 Tucson Fuel Cell
2012-2015 Veloster
2010-2012 Veracruz
Kia
2014-2016 Cadenza
2011-2013 Forte/Forte Koup
2015-2017 K900
2010-2015 Optima
2011-2013 Optima Hybrid
2011-2017 Rio
2010 Rondo
2011-2014 Sorento
2011-2013 Soul
2010-2013 Sportage
The antilock brake recall comes one month after the automakers also recalled 92,000 vehicles because an electronic controller in their oil pumps could overheat and cause a fire. That recall covers some 2023 and 2024 Hyundai Palisades, some 2023 Tucson, Sonata, Elantra and Konas as well as Kia’s 2023 Soul, Sportage and Seltos.
Rise in thefts
Kia has also drawn unwanted attention this year over a surge in thefts linked to a TikTok challenge that urged people to hot-wire the vehicles using a screwdriver and a USB cable. The thefts have been linked to at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities, according to NHTSA. About 9 million vehicles have been impacted by the rash of thefts, including Hyundai Elantras and Sonatas as well as Kia Fortes and Souls.
The rise in thefts and accidents prompted attorneys general in 17 states to urge the federal government to recall millions of Kia and Hyundai vehicles. The automakers snubbed pleas for a recall and instead opted to provide free software updates aimed at thwarting thieves. Hyundai and Kia paid $200 million earlier this year to settle a class-action lawsuit from owners who had their vehicles stolen in the nationwide rash of car thefts.
Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering business, consumer and financial stories that range from economic inequality and housing issues to bankruptcies and the business of sports.
Korean automaker Kia has recalled roughly 145,000 Sorentos because mounting clips on the rear-view camera may break unexpectedly.
A broken clip can cause the camera image not to appear on the car’s video display and increase the risk of a crash, Kia said in recall documents submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall covers 2022-2023 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, and Sorento Plug-in Hybrids manufactured between September 2021 and July 31 of this year.
Kia said in the documents that adding stiffening ribs around the housing of the mounting clips fixes the problem. The company said it plans to notify Sorento owners of the recall in late October. Owners can take their vehicle to a Kia dealership and have the camera housing replaced for free, the automaker said.
Anyone with questions about the recall can contact NHTSA at (888) 327-4236 or Kia at (800) 333-4542. The recall number is SC280.
The problem marks the second major recall for Kia this month. Last week, the automaker recalled about 320,000 Optimas and Rios from model years 2016-2018, including the Optima hybrids. Kia said in documents filed with NHTSA that the trunk latch base inside those vehicles could crack, potentially keeping the trunk from opening from the inside and trapping someone.
Kia and fellow Korean automaker Hyundai in August also recalled more than 91,000 vehicles because electrical components inside the oil pump assemblies may overheat, increasing the risk of a fire. Both companies advised customers to park affected vehicles “outside and away from structures” until recall repairs were complete.
Kia has also drawn unwanted attention this year over a surge in thefts linked to a TikTok challenge that urged people to hot-wire the vehicles using a screwdriver and a USB cable. The thefts have been linked to at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities, according to NHTSA. About 9 million vehicles have been impacted by the rash of thefts, including Hyundai Elantras and Sonatas as well as Kia Fortes and Souls.
The rise in thefts and accidents prompted attorneys general in 17 states to urge the federal government to recall millions of Kia and Hyundai vehicles. The automakers snubbed pleas for a recall and instead opted to provide free software updates aimed at thwarting thieves. Hyundai and Kia paid $200 million earlier this year to settle a class-action lawsuit from owners who had their vehicles stolen in the nationwide rash of car thefts.
Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering business, consumer and financial stories that range from economic inequality and housing issues to bankruptcies and the business of sports.
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About 52 million air bag systems manufactured by ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive are potentially dangerous to vehicle occupants and should be recalled, federal auto safety regulators said Tuesday.
After an eight-year investigation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) officially declared the air bag inflators from ARC and Delphi defective, the first step in the agency’s procedure for forcing both companies to recall the auto parts. NHTSA officials will hold a public hearing October 5 about the inflators and can then move to seek a court-ordered recall.
NHTSA said a recall is justified because two people have been killed in the U.S. and Canada by ARC inflators, including a Michigan woman in 2021. The air bag inflators have also caused seven injuries, the agency said.
The air bag systems in question are installed in 2000 to 2018 models of cars manufactured by BMW, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Stellantis, Tesla, Toyota and Volkswagen, according to NHTSA documents.
“These air bag inflators may rupture when the vehicle’s air bag is commanded to deploy, causing metal debris to be forcefully ejected into the passenger compartment of the vehicle,” the agency said. “A rupturing air bag inflator poses an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death to vehicle occupants.”
Regulators suspect welding problem
NHTSA investigators believe the inflators are faulty because of improper welding by ARC and Delphi. The agency said workers at both companies likely created a “weld slag” during manufacturing, which can clog a vent inside the inflator canister that is designed to let gas escape to quickly fill air bags in a crash. In a defective air bag, pressure can build to the point where the canister is blown apart, NHTSA said.
Delphi began making the ARC-style air bag inflators in 2001 under a manufacturer license. Delphi ultimately made 11 million of the faulty parts and stopped manufacturing them in 2004, according to NHTSA.
ARC and Delphi didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
NHTSA said it asked ARC to recall the air bag inflators in May but the company refused. In a May 11 letter, ARC denied its products are defective and said that any problems with its air bags “resulted from random ‘one-off’ manufacturing anomalies that were properly addressed” with individual recalls.
Automakers have conducted seven smaller recalls of inflators since 2017 that were attributed to isolated manufacturing problems. One of those recalls included General Motors, which announced in May that it would recall nearly 995,000 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia vehicles from the 2014 through 2017 model years due to faulty air bag inflators.
Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering business, consumer and financial stories that range from economic inequality and housing issues to bankruptcies and the business of sports.
