Hertz and safety advocacy group, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, have reached a landmark agreement that calls for Congress to give the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) authority over the car rental companies’ recall-related practices as well as prohibit them from renting or selling these recalled vehicles until they have been repaired. According to a news report in USA Today, this historic agreement adds momentum to an amendment with the same provisions backed by Senators Barbara Boxer and Charles Schumer. The amendment is likely to be included in a surface transportation bill, which the Senate is expected to take up later this month.

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Nissan has joined several automakers who have recently issued auto defect recalls in connection with faulty airbags that were made with initiators containing an incorrect mixture of propellants. According to Consumer Reports the 2012 Nissan Altima and Nissan Versa sedans that have been recalled could have issues with their side curtain airbags that may not inflate during a collision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified similar issues with other vehicle models.

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David Bartlett, 42, was killed in a Ventura car accident after he lost control of his pickup truck and crashed, the morning of February 15, 2012. According to a news report in The Ventura County Star, the fatal car accident occurred on Highway 126 in Ventura near Victoria Avenue. California Highway Patrol officials say Bartlett’s pickup truck drifted to the right and went off the highway, striking a large eucalyptus tree. The pickup then hit a chain-link fence and ended up in an avocado orchard. Bartlett was wearing a seatbelt. He died at the scene. Officials are still investigating the cause of this fatal crash.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of David Bartlett for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

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The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has reached a settlement with BMW regarding their failure to report auto defects, which is required under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. According to a news report in Motorcycle-USA, the February 10, 2012 agreement will result in BMW paying $3 million in civil penalties for failing to provide adequate information quickly and in a forthright manner. NHTSA says that BMW did not report a number of safety defects to the agency, when they issued 16 different recalls in 2010. Under the Safety Act, auto manufacturers have five days to report known safety defects. In many cases, BMW did not report their findings for over 30 days.

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Subaru has issued an auto defect recall for a number of its 2012 Legacys and Outbacks due to potential airbag defects. According to Consumer Reports, the approximately 381 vehicles may have defective side curtain airbags that could fail to deploy during an accident. The vehicles involved in this recall were manufactured this past December with defective side air bag components. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that this auto defect may increase the risk of injury to drivers and passengers involved in a collision. When the recall begins in April, Subaru dealers will replace one or more of the defective side curtain air bag initiators at no cost to consumers.

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Investigators are looking into a potential auto defect that is causing a number of Chevy Trailblazers from the 2006 and 2007 model years to catch fire. According to a news report in The Washington Post, more than 309,000 of these vehicles may have faulty power window switches or related electrical parts that cause fires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has already received 12 complaints of smoke or fires in Trailblazers. While no injuries have been reported yet, there have been reports of door parts melting and singed seats as a result of these fires. Some of the fires occurred while the vehicle was moving, while others involved engines that were turned off and cars that were unattended or left parked.

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Ford has issued an auto defect recall for more than 500 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles because of faulty welds in the head restraint support brackets for the second-row right hand seats. According to a report in Torque News, the automaker is recalling 569 of the 2012 model vehicles, which were manufactured from November 19, 2011 through December 2, 20122.

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Toyota is issuing an auto defect recall for more than 400 RAV4 2011 model SUVs because one or both of the vehicles’ side curtain shield airbags may not deploy in the event of a crash. According to Consumer Reports, propellant with the incorrect specification was used in the curtain shield airbags. This could lead to the inflator potentially not performing properly. In the event of a car accident, the airbags may not be able to properly protect an occupant, increasing the risk of injuries or even fatalities.

The RAV4 vehicles involved in this recall were manufactured between November 24, 2011 and December 19, 2011. When the recall begins in early March, Toyota will notify owners and dealers will inspect the vehicle identification number to identify the defective curtain shield assemblies. The defective ones will be replaced with the new assemblies at no charge to consumers. Toyota owners are asked to contact 1-800-331-4331 for more information about this auto safety recall.

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Honda is issuing an auto defect recall for about 347 Accord sedans and Crosstour hatchbacks due to problems with the airbags in these vehicles. According to a news report in the Chicago Tribune, in certain vehicles, the side curtain airbags for the driver and front passenger may have a faulty inflator. In the event of a car accident, the affected airbags will not deploy. This could increase the risk of injury or death for vehicle occupants. The recall is expected to begin on February 10, 2012. Honda will notify owners when the recall begins and dealers will replace the affected airbags at no charge to consumers. For more information, please call Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

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Six women were hospitalized in serious condition after a Los Angeles car accident, early morning on February 3, 2012. According to CBS news report, the injury crash occurred in the Hyde Park area of Los Angeles. Police say the women were riding in an Infiniti SUV on Florence Avenue when it went out of control, hit a curb and slammed into a tree. The woman riding in the front passenger seat remained in the car, but the five others were ejected. Officials say some of the victims ended up dozens of feet away from the car at the intersection of Hillsdale and Florence. The injured women were transported to area hospitals. Investigators are looking into whether alcohol played a part in this major injury collision.

My heart goes out to all the injured victims of this car crash. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. They will be in my thoughts and prayers.

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