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.

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Nan Far Woodworking has issued a defective product recall for about 16,700 of its Rockland Furniture drop-side cribs that were sold exclusively at JC Penney because of potential entrapment hazards. According to Consumer Reports, the drop sides on these cribs can malfunction creating a space in which a child can become wedged. This could lead to strangulation or suffocation. It could also cause the child to fall out of the crib and suffer serious injuries. Incidents involving drop-side cribs can also occur when the cribs are not properly assembled or when the parts wear out over time.

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If you own a Todson bicycle child seat, it may be in your best interest to make sure that it is not one of the 40,000 potentially defective products that have just been recalled. According to an article in Consumer Reports, the defective child seats have a grab bar hinge mechanism that can cut or even amputate a child’s finger. Officials say there have already been two reports of near amputations that resulted in stitches and a crushed finger.

These potentially dangerous child bicycle seats were sold at J&B Imports, REI, Action and Hawley between January 2009 and April 2012. According to Consumer Reports, the recalled Topeak Babyseat II bicycle carrier seats have the following model numbers: TCS2100, TCS2101 and TCS2102. Owners of Todson bicycle seats can find the model number printed either on the packaging and the name “Topeak” is on the black foam protector of the grab bar and on the back of the seat. Owners should stop using the carrier seats right away. By contacting Todson directly, they can receive a hinge cover that will prevent children from getting their finger cut or crushed.

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Daimler Trucks North America has issued an auto defect recall for about 9,800 trucks. According to a news report in OverdriveOnline.com, the automaker is recalling select vehicles from three 2012 truck models for two separate defects. The company is recalling 8,747 model year 2012 Freightliner Cascadia and Western Star 4900 vehicles manufactured from December 22, 2011 through February 23, 2012 because the vehicles may be equipped with driver’s seats with seat bases that may have out-of-specification welds. This could cause the seat to buckle unexpectedly. Such as sudden movement of the seat could affect the driver’s visibility and his or her ability to control the vehicle posing a hazard.

Two Separate Recalls

DTNA is also recalling 1,046 model year 2012 Freightliner Business Class M2 and Cascadia vehicles manufactured from January 20, 2012 through February 17, 2012 because the vehicles may have been assembled with a steering wheel nut that “may not provide the clamp load required to fully seat the steering wheel on the steering shaft.” A steering wheel that is not fully seated on the shaft may wobble and make it difficult for the driver to control the vehicle increasing the risk of a car accident. When the recall begins, DTNA will notify the vehicle owners and replacement components will be installed at no charge to the consumer. Concerned vehicle owners are asked to contact the manufacturer at 1-800-547-0712.

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Federal health officials are focusing on salmonella-contaminated sushi as possible cause of a food poisoning outbreak that has made at least 93 people ill in 19 states. According to a news report in The Wall Street Journal, food safety advocates are calling on the Obama administration to speed up new regulations that might help avoid such food-borne illnesses. Although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not positively identified the sushi as the source of the illness, many people in the 19 states who were sickened by an unusual strain of the bacterium called salmonella Bareilly have told officials that they had recently eaten sushi.

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is opening potential auto defect investigations into engine fires in 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2010 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. According to a Detroit News report, the federal auto safety agency has received two complaints of engine compartment fire in 2011 Cruze vehicles. Both complaints involved incidents where the vehicles were fully engulfed in flames. About 177,000 Cruze vehicles are involved in this investigation. The Jeep Wrangler investigation covers approximately 100,000 vehicles.

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The number of safety recalls involving defective children’s products is down, but safety advocates still fear that safety alerts involving these dangerous products are often ignored. According to a news report in USA Today, children’s product safety recalls dropped 24 percent in 2011, but injuries and other incidents associated with these recalls increased by 7 percent. Among the tragic fatalities were two strangulation deaths that prompted the recall of the Summer Infant video baby monitors with cords and one involving a defective bunk bed. The report, released by Kids in Danger stated that this drop may be due to companies’ adherence to new children’s product safety laws.

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Honda has issued an auto defect recall for 2006 model-year CR-V crossover vehicles for a flaw in the suspension system, which could potentially cause a crash. According to a news report in The Car Connection, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s bulletin states that that strength of the weld that holds two parts of the CR-V’s suspension in place – the sub-frame brushing collar and the passenger-side front lower arm – are defective.

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General Motors has issued an auto defect recall for more than 6,000 15-passenger vans and SUVs for steering defects. According to a news report in Bloomberg Businessweek, the recall affects 2012 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana 15-passenger vans, Chevrolet Suburbans and GMC Yukon XL SUVs. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the gear shaft in some of these vehicles can break resulting in a loss of steering. So far, no crashes or injuries have been reported as a result of these auto defects.

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BMW is issuing an auto defect recall for 1.3 million 5- and 6-series cars because of fire hazards. According to an Associated Press news report, the recall involves vehicles from the 2003 to 2010 model years. The company states that a battery cable covering in the trunk was incorrectly installed. This could prevent the car from starting and in extreme cases could lead to a fire. The automaker has not received any reports of accidents or injuries as a result of this defect. Owners will be notified by mail. When the recall begins, vehicle owners can take it to their BMW dealer for repairs. The recall affects 290,000 cars in Germany and 1.3 million vehicles worldwide.

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