Inside these posts: NHTSA

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NHTSA steps up probe into diesel VW stalling

The government is expanding its safety investigation into possible engine problems in 100,000 Volkswagen diesel cars.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has received 160 complaints and field reports about engines stalling or losing power. The reports involve 2009 and 2010  Jettas and 2010 Golfs and Audi A3s with TDI clean diesel engines. Get the full story »

NASA unlikely to report defects in Toyotas

An investigation into sudden acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles by the nation’s space agency is expected to report Tuesday that no significant electronic defects have been found, though the issue requires continued monitoring, according to automotive electronics and safety experts.

The NASA report was commissioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after thousands of owners complained that their Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles accelerated unexpectedly, causing dozens of deaths.

The study was launched in March in the wake of three congressional investigations. It is scheduled to be made public at a press conference in Washington.

Chrysler recalling trucks and SUVs

Chrysler is recalling nearly 150,000 trucks and SUVs to address several problems, including steering, air bag issues and the potential for trucks to stall.

The recalls were posted Thursday on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Web site. Get the full story »

Ford recalls F-series pickups, Edge, Lincoln MKX

A 2004 Ford F-150. (Handout)

Ford Motor Co. is recalling 14,737 new vehicles including its biggest seller, the F-series pickup truck, due to the chance than an electrical short could cause a fire, U.S. federal regulators said on Thursday.

Ford will inform owners of its F-series pickups, small sports utility vehicles Edge and Lincoln MKX of the potential problem by Jan. 10, according to a filing with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

There was no mention in the filing of injuries, crashes or fires resulting from the issue. Get the full story »

NHTSA probes steering complaints in Saturn Ion

Bloomberg News | The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating 2004-2007 Saturn Ion sedans after receiving more than 600 complaints that the cars lost power steering suddenly. Some 384,000 vehicles are involved.

NHTSA probes Honda Fit over headlight issue

The government has opened an investigation into the subcompact Honda Fit after receiving complaints that the vehicle’s low-beam headlights stopped working. Get the full story »

Bentley recalls 596 cars over faulty ‘Flying B’

Bentley Flying B hood ornament (AP)

Bentley Motors is recalling hundreds of cars with faulty hood ornaments that pose a potential hazard to pedestrians, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects 596 vehicles from the British automaker, of the Arnage, Brooklands and Azure models from 2007-2009.

The problem stems from the “Flying B“ hood ornament, a winged B that is supposed to retract upon impact.
Get the full story »

Ferrari recalls all 458 Italias over fire risk

Fiat President Luca di Montezemolo introduces the Ferrari 458 Italia in Frankfurt in 2009. (AP file)

Ferrari is recalling its new 458 Italia model after several vehicles were reported to have burst into flames.

A Ferrari spokesperson told CNNMoney.com has that the supercar is being recalled to modify the wheelhouse assembly.

“In rare instances the heat shield could become deformed, bringing it too close to the exhaust system and igniting,” a Ferrari spokesperson said.

Get the full story »

NHTSA probes 2011 Hyundai Sonata steering

U.S. safety regulators have opened a preliminary investigation into claims that Hyundai Motor Co.’s best-selling car in America, the Sonata sedan, may have steering problems.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration officials opened the preliminary investigation into the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Friday. Get the full story »

U.S. pitches changes to fuel-economy labels

The fuel-economy sticker on new cars will change under plans announced Monday.

Will your new car get an A in fuel efficiency? A government proposal may add letter grades to showroom window stickers on new cars and trucks to reflect a vehicle’s overall fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Transportation Department and Environmental Protection Agency said Monday they were considering two options to upgrade the energy and environmental information that will adorn labels on new vehicles in car dealership showrooms, beginning with the 2012 model year. Get the full story »

Toyota recalls 1.1M Corolla, Matrix cars

Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday that it would recall about 1.13 million Corolla and Matrix cars in the United States due to defective electronic control units that could cause the vehicles to stall.

Toyota said it had unconfirmed reports of three accidents and one minor injury in connection with problems with the units on vehicles from the 2005 through 2008 model years. It will replace the units. Get the full story »

1998-2004 Grand Cherokees probed for fire risk

Safety regulators have opened a preliminary investigation of about 3 million older Jeep Grand Cherokees with fuel tanks that may present a fire risk in a crash, the regulators’ website showed Tuesday.

The investigation was opened Monday by the  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The action is short of a recall, and a Chrysler spokesman said owners of the 1993-2004 model year vehicles should take no action at this time. Get the full story »

NHTSA upgrades Corolla, Matrix probe

U.S. auto safety regulators have stepped up a probe into the risk that up to 1.2 million Toyota Motor Corp. Corolla and Matrix vehicles could stall due to defective electronic engine control units.

Regulators began an engineering analysis Aug. 18 into the reports of stalling in Corolla and Matrix cars from the 2005, 2006 and 2007 model years. Get the full story »

U.S. probe limits Toyota woes to gas pedals

A government investigation into runaway Toyotas has found no new safety defects beyond problems with accelerator pedals that explain reports of sudden acceleration in the vehicles, according to preliminary findings released Tuesday.

Safety experts have said vehicle electronic systems could be to blame for the problems that have led to Toyota’s massive recalls but the review by the government, while still at an early stage, has not found any evidence of those problems. Get the full story »

428,000 Hondas recalled; may roll in park

2003 Honda Civic is involved in the ignition interlock recall.

Honda Motor Co. said Monday it was recalling more than 428,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada because of a defect that could cause the cars to roll away if they are parked incorrectly.

The Honda recall covers Accord, Civic and Element models from the 2003 and 2004 model years in the U.S. That recall includes 384,220 vehicles. Get the full story »