Dodge is recalling the Charger and Magnum police car models because of a defective gear shift cable. According to an article on Consumeraffairs.com, company officials say the gearshift cable may become disengaged causing an incorrect gearshift position display. This apparently could allow the vehicle to move without warning and potentially cause a crash.

Dealers will add a redundant locking mechanism to the gearshift cable. The recall began on November 10, 2008. Owners with questions are asked to call 1-800-853-1403 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-888-327-4236 or visit their Web site at www.safercar.gov.
More

Cadillac is recalling its 2009 CTS model vehicles because of defective airbag sensors, which could affect proper deployment of the airbags. Company officials say a software glitch in the passenger sensing system could disable the front passenger airbag when it should be enabled. On the other hand, the glitch could also enable the airbag when it should be disabled. When the recall becomes effective later this month, dealers will reprogram the sensing module free of charge. Our source for this blog was a news report on consumer watchdog Web site Consumeraffairs.com.

Consumers who have questions about this recall are asked to call Cadillac toll-free at 1-866-982-2339 or visit www.gmownercenter.com. More information about this recall is also available on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Web site at www.safercar.gov or by calling the federal agency at 1-888-327-4236.
More

An excellent investigative report by Channel 10 in Columbus, Ohio, brings to light what auto accident and product liability attorneys, as well as auto safety advocates, have been saying for years. This news report talked to an “automobile industry insider,” who told them that the government has known for decades that its testing system would not go far enough to protect people during rollover accidents.

According to the government’s own numbers, 10,000 people are killed each year in rollover crashes and at least 16,000 suffer catastrophic injuries every year in the United States. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) is yet to issue a new rule for vehicle roof crush testing and standards. The antiquated standard, which has remained unaltered for more than 30 years, has allowed auto makers to continue to manufacture vehicles will sub-standard, weak, defective roofs that crush and injure their occupants during a rollover crash.

The NHTSA’s current standard involves a “static test,” which means that vehicles are stationary when the roofs are tested. The problem with such testing is that real rollover crashes do not occur when vehicles are stationary. As we all know, most of these rollover accidents occur when vehicles are traveling at highway speeds. That’s why these static tests simply don’t make any sense.
More

Several computer makers are recalling about 100,000 Sony laptop batteries after at least 40 reports of the defective products overheating and causing burn injuries to consumers. According to this news report, users reported smoke or flames from the batteries. Burn injuries and property damage as a result of these batteries catching fire have also been reported. Companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Toshiba are involved in this global recall.

Sony officials are saying that these particular product defects seem to have been caused by a problem with a production line during October 2004 and June 2005. Sony VAIO notebook computers are apparently not affected by this recall. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), about 32,000 batteries were being voluntarily recalled in the United States.
More

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is investigating the design of “recreational off-highway vehicles” after receiving reports of numerous fatal accidents involving these new, unregulated products. The Yamaha Rhino brand is apparently the main focus of this investigation involving at least 30 deaths. Our source for this blog is a Bloomberg News report.

Used mostly by off-road aficionados and hunters, these vehicle models are larger than all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Most of the models have two side-by-side seats, a steering wheel and a protective roll cage. Features such as the roll cage place these vehicles outside the current rules for traditional ATVs. Models similar to the Rhino include Polaris’ Razor, Honda Motor Company’s Big Red, Kawasaki’s Mule and the Arctic Cat Prowler. Yamaha, of course, maintains that its Rhino is extremely safe and reliable, yet 30 fatal accidents occurred on their off-highway vehicles.

It is imperative that the CPSC officials take immediate steps to begin regulating these seemingly dangerous vehicles. I hope their investigation looks into inherent product defects and possible design defects, which may have led to the deaths of the people who attempted to ride them. These vehicles obviously look a lot like the ATV and ride like the ATV, but are grouped into a different category because of their larger size and some additional features.
More

Homelite, a chainsaw manufacturer, is recalling about 370,000 defective chainsaws because the brake can fail to stop the chain on its application, posing a risk of serious injuries. According to a news report on Consumeraffairs.com, the recall involves Homelite brand chainsaws with the following model numbers: UT10514, UT10516, UT10517, UT10518, UT10520, UT10540, UT10560 and UT10918.

These dangerous and defective products were manufactured in China between November 2007 and August 2008. The chainsaws’ date plates located under the rear handle of the saw bear both the model number and manufacturing date. Products not included in this recall are those that have a green dot sticker under the bottom side of the handle area and on the outside of the package.
More

Bridgestone Firestone has issued a voluntary recall of about 135,000 Firestone brand tires and 27,000 Le Mans tires that were imported into the United States and Canada. According to this news release, the tires manufactured by Bridgestone Firestone in Costa Rica, were produced with insufficient tread base gauge. Company officials said that continued use of these tires, which “failed to meet the company’s internal standards,” may lead to vibration and groove cracking. So far, company officials say no personal injury or product liability claims relating to these defective tires have been filed. Consumers who own these brands of tires will get a free replacement.
More