NHTSA Closes Chevy Volt Investigation

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has concluded its safety defect investigation into the Chevy Volt. It opened the case on November 25 after reports of the Volt catching on fire following severe crashes.

"The agency's investigation has concluded that no discernible defect trend exists and that the vehicle modifications recently developed by General Motors reduce the potential for battery intrusion resulting from side impacts," NHTSA said in a statement.

GM has decided to re-engineer the battery coolant system and make structural enhancements to Volt to protect the battery in the event of a crash. The automaker strengthened the structural elements that protect the battery, added a new sensor to the coolant system reservoir to monitor the coolant level and installed a tamper-resistant bracket to the coolant reservoir to prevent overfilling.

NHTSA also stated that there haven't been any real-world Volt crashes that have resulted in battery-related fires. The original fires were reported after lab tests on the Volt's battery pack resulted in an electric fire days later.

Recall Alert: 2006-08 Kia Optima, 2007-08 Kia Rondo

Kia is recalling two of its vehicles to address issues related to a faulty driver-side airbag mechanism, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

On certain 2006-08 Kia Optima midsize sedans and 2007-08 Kia Rondo hatchbacks, the supplemental restraint system's clock spring contact assembly may become damaged over time. If this occurs, the driver-side airbag electrical circuit may malfunction, preventing the airbag from deploying when needed. In the event of a malfunction, the airbag warning lamp on the instrument panel will illuminate.

The recall affects Optimas built from Sept. 29, 2005, through Jan. 29, 2008, and Rondos made from Sept. 13, 2006, through March 21, 2008. (You can find the vehicle's build date on a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb.) A total of 145,755 vehicles are being recalled.

Kia will notify owners in March, and dealers will replace the clock spring assembly for free. Owners can call Kia at 800-333-4542 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Panel OKs NHTSA's Handling of Toyota Recalls

A government panel has determined that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration acted correctly in closing its investigation into Toyota's unintended-acceleration issues, but it has suggested that NHTSA needs to improve its knowledge of vehicle electronic systems.

The 16-member National Research Council panel was convened by the National Academy of Sciences after the 2010 congressional hearings about Toyota’s recalls and NHTSA’s actions investigating vehicle defects.

2012 Volvo S60 Earns Five-Star NHTSA Rating

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently announced that the 2012 Volvo S60 earned the organization's top crash rating: a five star combined crash score. Last year, NHTSA adopted more stringent guidelines and rigorous testing practices, making it tougher for vehicles to garner the five-star designation. 

The Volvo S60's composite score was composed of five stars across the board: It earned a five in frontal, rollover, side pole and side barrier crashes. Volvo's midsize sedan is the eighth vehicle to be awarded NHTSA's highest combined star rating for the 2012 model year. Other five-star vehicles include the Cadillac CTS, Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Sonic, Saab 9-4X, Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Passat. 

The organization plans to test 74 vehicles for the 2012 model year, including 22 SUVs, eight pickup trucks and two minivans.

Car Seat Saves Infant's Life in Horrific Crash

The California Highway Patrol and firefighters credited a properly installed child-safety seat with saving the life of a 10-week-old infant in a deadly car crash last week near Santa Barbara, Calif. The infant’s mother, Kelli Groves of San Juan Capo, and her 10-year-old sister also survived the horrific collision on U.S. Highway 101.

A semitrailer collided with the family’s BMW 3 Series while crossing the Nojoqui Creek bridge, mangling the BMW. The semi burst into flames after plunging over the bridge and falling to the ground. The driver, Charles Allison, 48, was killed.

The car teetered on the bridge guardrail as Santa Barbara County firefighters tried to extract the three family members using the Jaws of Life. U.S. Navy Seabees, who were driving by the crash, joined the effort to save the family, using a large forklift to steady the car while firefighters removed them from the car.

Study Shows Sharp Rise in Accidents Involving Tuned-Out Pedestrians

Distracted driving is an issue at the forefront of today's news. We already know about distractions from using smartphones and vehicle connectivity systems, but a new study shows that distractions can be just as dangerous for pedestrians.

Serious injuries to pedestrians listening to headphones while walking have more than tripled in three years, according to a study by the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the University of Maryland Medical Center. Starting in 2004, the universities examined 116 cases in which the walker listening to headphones was hit by a car or train, and they found some strong trends.

The study discovered that 70% of the pedestrians involved in the accident were killed and more than two-thirds of them were males younger than 30. A third of the vehicles sounded their horn before the crash.

The universities want to alert parents and young adults about the dangers of tuning out while walking across intersections. “The increased incidence of accidents over the years closely responds to documented rising popularity of auditory technologies with headphones,” the universities said in a statement.

Study: More Headphone-Wearing Walkers Hit by Cars (USA Today)

Recall Alert: 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8

Dodge is recalling certain versions of its performance-oriented SRT8 sedans because of a glitch in the tire pressure monitoring system, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The systems in 303 SRT8 versions of the 2012 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger don't warn drivers when tire pressure falls 25% below the recommended level. The affected vehicles notify drivers when the pressure reaches 22 pounds per square inch instead of the required 24 psi. Underinflated tires could result in tire overloading and overheating, leading to a possible blowout or crash.

Vehicles in the recall were manufactured from May 2 through Nov. 17, 2011. (You can find the vehicle's build date on a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb.) Dealers will reprogram the TPMS for free. Owners will be notified next month. For more info, owners can call Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 2007-2011 Mini Cooper

BMW is recalling several turbocharged versions of its popular Mini Cooper coupe and convertible to address problems with the water pump that cools the turbocharger, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A problem with the electric circuit board could malfunction and overheat, leading to a potential fire. USA Today is reporting that Mini parent BMW received 12 complaints regarding the issue, and in eight cases, the fire occurred while the vehicle was parked and the engine was off.

The recall affects nearly 90,000 Coopers and is limited to vehicles built between Nov. 16, 2006, and Jan. 18, 2011. (You can find the vehicle's build date on a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb.) The affected vehicles are listed below:

2007-2011 Cooper S
2008-2011 Cooper S Clubman
2009-2011 Cooper S Convertible
2011 Cooper S Countryman
2009-2011 Cooper John Cooper Works
2009 Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works
2010-2011 Cooper Convertible John Cooper Works

BMW will notify owners in February and replace the water pump free of charge. For more info, owners can call BMW at 866-275-6464 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Some Britax Convertible Car Seats Are Missing Parts

Child-safety seat manufacturer Britax announced on its website recently that some of its convertible car seats were manufactured with screws or nuts that were improperly inserted, causing them to become detached from the base joint connector. The affected car seats were manufactured from early July 2010 through August 2011. Britax didn't specify how many car seats were affected.

Recall Alert: 2004-05 Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey

Ford is recalling 205,896 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans from the 2004-05 model years because the torque converter output shaft may fail, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If the shaft fails, the driver may experience a sudden loss of motive power without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

Ford or Lincoln dealers will replace the torque converter for free. The recall is expected to begin in the spring because the parts needed for repairs will not be available until then. Owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.