Potential customers are no good to an automaker if they’re dead so Mercedes-Benz is taking steps to help improve the chances that teens practice safe driving in the spirit of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. “Teens are now faced with more distractions behind the wheel, compared to previous generations of new drivers,” said Marc Hemsworth, senior driving...
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As pressure mounts to curb distracted driving, one North Carolina town has made an unprecedented move, banning cell phone use in cars, including Bluetooth. While most states have some type of ban on cell phone use while driving, Bluetooth hand’s free devices are promoted as a safer alternative – even if the jury is still out...
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Looking for a way to keep track of your family members when they’re out and about? Whether you’re a nervous parent or a suspicious spouse, OnStar is adding a new Family Link program for just $3.99 a month that will allow subscribers to locate their vehicle no matter where it is. The optional service has...
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The all-new Cadillac XTS will start production this spring and when it finally hits dealerships, it will be the industry’s first car to feature directional tactile sensation to warn drivers of potential crash threats. While the “directional tactile sensation” name might sound fancy, in laymen’s terms it’s simply vibrations of the driver’s seat bottom. That’s...
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Despite having little to no support, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is still pushing forward with its proposal to ban hands-free calling while operating a vehicle. NTSB recommends that all cell phone use be banned for a driver but has failed to gain the support of NHTSA or any major automaker. Regardless, the organization...
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The Toyota Tacoma was recalled earlier this month for a fault in the steering wheel spiral cable design, which the company claimed affected 2005 to 2009 models. Today, Toyota has expanded the recall to include all 2005 to 2012 model year Tacomas. The issue is that the steering wheel spiral cable rubs against the retainer inside...
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BMW is issuing a recall for all 5 and 6 Series models that were built between 2003 and 2010, approximately 1.3 million vehicles worldwide. The issue is a battery cable cover located in the trunk which may be incorrectly mounted. This can result in an electrical system malfunction, which may lead to charring and possibly fire. BMW says that...
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General Motors is issuing a recall of 6, 159 vehicles citing problems with the steering gear pitman shaft. Certain 2012 Chevy Express vans, Suburban SUVs and GMC Savana’s and Yukons are affected by this recall. GM is saying that the steering gear pitman shaft may not have been hardened adequately, causing a risk of the shaft...
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A comprehensive new study by AAA has revealed insight into exactly what teenagers are being distracted by behind the wheel, with teenage girls 50 percent more likely than their male counterparts to be on the phone, texting or using another electronic device. The new study, Distracted Driving Among Newly Licensed Teen Drivers, is the first...
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2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S vehicles manufactured between October 26th, 2011 through January 24, 2012 are being issued a recall due to a possible fuel line failure. Interference between a coolant line and a fuel line can cause the fuel line to become disconnected at the quick connector. If the fuel line gets disconnected, a...
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It was only December of last year when Google earned patents for autonomous vehicles. Now, the technology continues to rapidly move ahead as automotive supplier Continental has commenced testing a semi-autonomous vehicle of its own that is more affordable and could be among the first licensed for use on Nevada’s designated public roads by months...
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If you own a 2006 model-year Honda CR-V, you might need to keep an eye on your mail box. Honda is voluntarily recalling 1,316 CR-V’s because it suspects that the weld that they used to hold the right front lower control arm was improper. With time, that weld can break which potentially can lead to...
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It sure beats having your Chevrolet Volt up in flames, but having your charger cord overheat and melt isn’t so great either. After complaints from Volt owners that their 120-volt charging cords were overheating, GM first insisted that the issue was with the wiring of the charging outlet, and not the car. Since then, however,...
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Part of a two-year highway reauthorization bill is ruffling feathers among some of the world’s top auto manufacturers because it could allow for massively increased fines. The provision in question would raise the amount of money an automaker may be fined for failing to properly recall problematic vehicles. As it stands, the maximum fine is...
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The all-new Mazda CX-5 is shaping up to be an attractive crossover option for buyers (read our review here) and those who placed their orders will be happy to know it was just named a Top Safety Pick by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The CX-5 achieved a “Good” rating (highest possible) on all four...
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Back in February, San Francisco, California-based KGO-TV had a news report on a “death wobble” affecting 2005-2010 Jeep Wrangler owners. A month later, two members of the House of Representatives have written a letter to NHTSA to get some answers as to what’s going on. The members of Congress are describing the death wobble as...
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Norwegian WRC racing driver Mads Østberg has enjoyed a bit of success in his World Rally Championship career but as it is with all athletes, practice makes perfect so a little snowy stunt driving is practically training. Record-breaking is just a bonus. Setting a new bar for himself, and the world, Østberg completed a world...
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It turns out that OnStar isn’t just used for helping yourself or your vehicle. Today OnStar is reporting that many use the system to help others in need. According to OnStar’s statistics, there are quite a few “Good Samaritan calls” in which an OnStar user calls to report another drivers situation that needs assistance. This...
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Sometimes living simply can get a person entangled in legal complications. An Amish man spent 13 days in a county jail in January when he refused to pay a fine for not affixing an orange slow-vehicle triangle indicator onto his horse-and-buggy. Intended as a law to make their buggies more safe, the Amish sect objects...
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Three years ago, British motoring show Fifth Gear organized a daring loop-the-loop stunt special that presenter Tom Ford described as, “the biggest and bestest thing Fifth Gear has ever done.” In preparation of the stunt, Fifth gear and a team that included a Cambridge physicist laid the plans for a massive 40-foot loop in a Suffolk...
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It’s a case of technicality versus practicality: The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration told Hyundai to replace the center rear seat belts in 14,728 Sonata Hybrids made between 2011 and 2012, but the Korean automaker declined. It comes down to a dispute over why the belts need to be changed. U.S. safety regulations prohibit using “a release...
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Subaru announced its new, low-cost suite of safety systems called “EyeSight” today that the company says will be one of the most affordable instances of this technology on the U.S. market. By using two charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras mounted inside the car on the upper edge of the windshield, the company is able to offer a...
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The Ford Motor Company had a lawsuit issued against it today for allegedly selling F-150 trucks and E class vans over a 10-year period with defective fuel tank linings. According to Automotive News, Ford issued a secret technical service bulletin to dealers advising them of the issue back in 2007. Neither a recall nor an...
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Subaru is issuing a recall for 275,000 Foresters today, built between November 26, 2007 and March 13,2012. NHTSA cites a fault in the automatic locking retractor in the rear center seat belt assembly as the source of the issue. This specific seat belt connector is used for restraining child seats, and because of the faulty locking...
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