StandardShift.com

FCA US recalls 3.3 million more vehicles with Takata airbag inflators

The automaker formerly known as Chrysler said that “more than 1,000 laboratory tests have been performed on these components. All deployed as intended, but FCA continues to study the suspect inflators, which are not used in the Company’s current production vehicles.”
http://www.autonews.com/article/2014121 ... news-blast

Lincoln MKC recalled to move push-button start from near touchscreen

“Due to the switch’s close proximity to other controls, occupants are inadvertently shutting off the engine while driving,” Ford said in a statement.

Airbags and other safety systems may not work in a crash after the ignition is shut off, a risk demonstrated by General Motors’ recalls of the Chevrolet Cobalt and other cars with faulty ignition switches, though the Cobalt used a key instead of a button.

Dealers will replace the vehicles’ gear shift module with a new design that has the start button in a different location and reprogram the powertrain control module.

Two complaints about the location of the MKC’s push-button starter are posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. Several weeks ago, a driver said the vehicle was going about 5 mph when the front seat passenger shut off the engine by accidentally hitting the ignition button while trying to change the radio station on the touchscreen.

In September, a driver reported experiencing an inadvertent shutoff twice when trying to use the MKC’s touchscreen.

“The vehicle started to coast both times and I had to think fast to get the vehicle back into drive,” the complainant wrote. “Fortunately, I was not traveling at highway speeds and no one was close enough to hit me. The reason for this is that when using the screen on the dashboard, it’s normal to use your thumb to balance your hand, while your index finder depresses options on the screen. The thumb naturally goes to where the gear shift buttons are. … If this happens while I am driving on a highway, not only would I likely get hit from behind, but I would be completely vulnerable without airbags.”

http://www.autonews.com/article/2014123 ... news-daily

All these growing pains for a gratuitous, unnecessary interface change...what was wrong with the key cylinder and shift lever?

Here's a Lincoln MKC dash. I can definitely see how the problem would happen.

I'll keep my Escape and leave the tinsel.

Such automotive literacy..."Completely vulnerable without airbags," when the concern is a rear impact, for which airbags do nothing.

IMBoring25 wrote:Such automotive literacy..."Completely vulnerable without airbags," when the concern is a rear impact, for which airbags do nothing.

A herd of seatbelts....but 'parently he hain't.

That placement seems ridiculous. I guess the designers didn't actually think about using the touchscreen.

I will say that my intial reaction was of skepticism from the description given in the quote RP posted, but after seeing Cow's picture, I can actually see where that could be a problem.

Subaru Owners to undergo painful waxing process

http://www.autonews.com/article/2015010 ... e-line-fix

Mercedes Owners Undergo Painful Dewaxing Process

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/se ... -substance

TRW recall shows the mess life-saving airbags have become

“If you own an affected vehicle, this means driving around with the knowledge your airbag might still randomly deploy,” said Karl Brauer, a senior analyst at Kelley Blue Book. “And just to keep it interesting, some of these vehicles are equipped with Takata airbags, meaning the random deployment could include metal shrapnel. What a mess.”

TRW component

The latest recall involves the Acura MDX, Dodge Viper, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Liberty, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix, Toyota Avalon and Toyota-made Pontiac Vibe, from 2002 to 2004 model years, NHTSA said. All of the vehicles were made with an electronic component from TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. The Vibe was manufactured at a plant operated as a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors Co.

http://www.autonews.com/article/2015020 ... news-daily

GM recalls 64,000 Volts

How can one, or two, recall 64,000 units of electromotive force?

General Motors is recalling about 64,000 Chevrolet Volts from the 2011-13 model years for a software update to limit how long the car can be left idling, a move to prevent carbon monoxide buildup when a driver forgets to shut off the vehicle.

I just received my recall notice for the Takata inflator defect for my Acura.

"How many miles must a car be driven, before you can call it "a life?"
The answer my friend, is blowin' through the courts
The answer is blowin' through the courts

http://www.autonews.com/article/2015043 ... news-daily

Rope-Pusher wrote:"How many miles must a car be driven, before you can call it "a life?"
The answer my friend, is blowin' through the courts
The answer is blowin' through the courts

http://www.autonews.com/article/2015043 ... news-daily

One, it is interesting that the average age of American vehicles has basically been going up a year every decade. If we keep on this trend in 2020 we'll average 12 year old cars, in 2030; 13 year old cars, etc...

Two, I have no idea why I assumed the comments section of Auto News to be any better than any other comments section.

"I don't like airbags! I should unhook mine when my kid starts driving."
"Lady can't do squat for her own state, get her nose out of my business!"
"Military equipment is the same as civilian equipment in wear and tear!"

Squint wrote:

Rope-Pusher wrote:"How many miles must a car be driven, before you can call it "a life?"
The answer my friend, is blowin' through the courts
The answer is blowin' through the courts

http://www.autonews.com/article/2015043 ... news-daily

One, it is interesting that the average age of American vehicles has basically been going up a year every decade. If we keep on this trend in 2020 we'll average 12 year old cars, in 2030; 13 year old cars, etc...

Two, I have no idea why I assumed the comments section of Auto News to be any better than any other comments section.

"I don't like airbags! I should unhook mine when my kid starts driving."
"Lady can't do squat for her own state, get her nose out of my business!"
"Military equipment is the same as civilian equipment in wear and tear!"

Comments typically are posted by people at either end of the bell curve - lovers and haters.