A driver in Cobb County, Georgia, reported that the side airbags in his Honda deployed suddenly and without warning as he was driving the vehicle. So far, Honda has not issued any recalls for these particular airbag defects. However, WSBTV in Georgia reports that 24-year-old Shane Kurth is not the first one to report inadvertent deployment of side curtain airbags in Honda vehicles.

According to the news report, Kurth was heading to chiropractic school and driving 65 mph on Interstate 285 when his driver’s side airbag deployed for no apparent reason and hit him on the side of his head. Kurth initially thought he had been hit by another vehicle, but soon realized that wasn’t the case. Fortunately, he was able to maintain control of the car. WSBTV reports that Kurth’s story, while frightening, is not unique. The report says there have been dozens of similar complaints about various Honda models. Another Georgia driver, Chris Androvic, also complained in October 2011 after his airbags deployed while the car was in motion and had not been hit.

No Recalls Yet

So far Honda officials have not issued an auto defect recall in connection with these airbags. Six months ago, the Japanese automaker released a statement that the airbag deployments have not been linked to a common condition or defect. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet opened an investigation into this matter. So far, it is not known if any injuries have been reported.

More

Juan Alfredo Perez, 32, was killed in a Riverside County car accident after his Ford Expedition SUV overturned and crashed. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, the SUV rollover accident occurred along Interstate 10 near Thousand Palms. Perez was ejected when the 1999 Ford Expedition overturned during the early morning hours of April 23, 2012. It is unclear what caused him to lose control of the vehicle or why the vehicle rolled over. Officials suspect the driver may have been traveling at a high rate of speed.

My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Juan Alfredo Perez following this terrible rollover accident. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

More

Thomas Abdoyan, 28, of Burbank, was killed in a San Juan Capistrano car accident after the vehicle he was driving went out of control and crashed near Pacific Coast Highway. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal car accident occurred during the early morning hours of April 22, 2012 on the northbound side of the Interstate 5 close to Capistrano Beach.

According to California Highway Patrol officials, the 2006 Mini Cooper that Abdoyan was driving careened into the center median and rolled over several times before coming to rest on its roof about 650 feet from the first point of impact. Abdoyan went into cardiac arrest and died shortly afterward at the hospital. The 29-year-old male passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Both were wearing their seatbelts at the time. Officials are still investigating the cause of this fatal accident.

I offer my deepest sympathies to everybody who knew and loved Thomas Abdoyan for their terrible loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. My heart also goes out to the passenger who was injured. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

More

Rafael Gonzalez, 46, Isabel Arellano, 29, and Eddie Gonzalez, 33, all Las Vegas residents, were killed in a San Bernardino car accident after their Ford SUV went out of control and overturned. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal rollover accident occurred the night of April 18, 2012 on the Interstate 15 just south of Halloran Summit Road near Baker. Rafael Gonzalez was driving a 2002 Ford Expedition SUV north on the freeway when he lost control and swerved into the center divider. The SUV rolled over several times. The victims suffered fatal injuries. It is not known if there were any survivors. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Rafael Gonzalez, Isabel Arellano and Eddie Gonzalez for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thought and prayers.

More

Federal safety regulators have found 16 car accidents and five injuries in an eight-month investigation of transmission control problems with BMW 7-Series luxury cars. According to an Associated Press news report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched the investigation in August. The probe has now been “upgraded” to an engineering analysis, which takes it a step closer to a recall. However, no recalls have been announced yet.

This probe covers approximately 122,000 BMW vehicles from the 2002 to 2008 model years. These cars have a push-button start and electronic transmission controls. In some cases, the car owners may believe that their vehicles are in “park,” when they actually may be in neutral. The cars could roll away unexpectedly and crash. So far, the German automaker and federal investigators have received 50 complaints from consumers about this problem.

More

A new study from Carfax shows that choosing to ignore auto defect recalls can seriously jeopardize public safety. According to a news release issued by Carfax, which serves as a vehicle history expert for used cars, in 2011, more than 2.7 million used cars were on sale online with safety issues that were never fixed. Carfax recommends that car owners and sellers can greatly improve public safety by actively checking for open recalls and having their vehicles repaired by franchise dealers. Not doing so is inexcusable because these fixes are always free and finding cars with open recalls is as easy as getting on a computer and checking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s web site.

More

A baby girl and her parents were killed in a Long Beach car accident after the Ford Explorer SUV in which they were traveling crashed. The father has been identified by Coroner’s officials as 20-year-old Abel Israel Gutierrez and the infant has been identified as 2-month-old Sophia Gutierrez. The child’s mother, 19, has not yet been identified. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, the fatal rollover accident occurred the night of April 16, 2012 on the southbound 710 Freeway near Long Beach Boulevard. California Highway Patrol officials say the Explorer, which was driven by the 19-year-old woman, for an unknown reason, went out of control and overturned. Gutierrez and his daughter were pronounced dead at the scene. The mother was transported to an area trauma center where she too died from her injuries. CHP officials are still looking into what caused this tragic accident.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of these three deceased car accident victims for their tragic and devastating loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.  More

Volkswagen has issued two separate auto defect recalls for 2012 Passat and Routan vehicles because of safety issues. According to a news report in the Times Free Press, the German automaker is recalling 153 of the first Passat vehicles made at its Chattanooga plant because of a problem with the diesel filter element that may lead to a risk of fire. Apparently the vehicles were built with a diesel fuel filter element that may not seal correctly.

Over time, these vehicles could leak fuel, which could lead to a fire. When the recall begins in May, VW dealers will replace the diesel filter element on the defective vehicles. The vehicles involved in this recall were manufactured from January 18, 2011 through June 1, 2011. Also, 15 Volkswagen Routans have been recalled because of a problem with the rear suspension that may lead to wheel separation, increasing the risk of a crash. So far, no vehicle fires or car accidents have been reported due to these auto defects. Vehicle owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987 if they have any questions or concerns.

More

Reuben Alvarez, 43, who was injured in a motorcycle accident in Whittier says he crashed because of motorcycle problems and not because he was popping a wheelie. According to an article in The Whittier Daily News, Alvarez’s motorcycle crashed the morning of April 6, 2012 on Whittier Boulevard at Painter Avenue, when he was on his way home after a night shift. Alvarez stated he was having problems with his bike, which accelerated and threw him off.

Whittier police had indicated earlier that a failed stunt caused the crash. Traffic officers are still trying to determine if they should cite the motorcyclist for reckless driving. Alvarez says he understands said why witnesses may have thought he was trying to perform a stunt. When he let the clutch go, the motorcycle went up and it may have looked like a wheelie, Alvarez says. He maintains that he has a family to care for and would never attempt something as irresponsible. Alvarez was airlifted to a hospital after the crash, but was not seriously injured and is recovering.

More

Chrysler Group LLC has issued two auto defect recalls to repair 2012 models for potentially faulty valves that could spark a fire and wheels that could increase the risk of a car accident. According to a report in Detroit News, the automaker is recalling 1,689 2012 Jeep Patriot and Compass SUVs that may have a fuel tank assembly with a damaged roll-over valve that could lead to fuel leaks. So far, no accidents, injuries or fires have been reported in connection with these auto defects.

The other recall is for about 289 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans that may have a faulty right rear hub and bearing assembly. This could cause a wheel to fall off. Again, the automaker says there has been no reports of injuries, crashes or fatalities s a result of these defects. When the recall begins, the company will replace the right rear hub at no cost to consumers. Both of these recalls have been linked to faulty parts produced by suppliers.

More