#NHTSA

Recalls often involve important, safety-critical equipment and technology, but some seem almost silly by comparison. Chevrolet once sent a bunch of Sonics to customers without brake pads and had to recall them, and in 2013, Honda recalled the Odyssey because of badges installed on the wrong side of the rear gate. Recently, we learned that Subaru recalled the new WRX, but not for a reason having to do with any vehicle component or system.

The Ford Motor Company is recalling a sizable number of late-model SUVs over faulty rear-view camera systems that may not display what’s behind the vehicle. While rear-facing automotive camera systems are already susceptible to being obscured by roadway grime and cannot offer the same field of view as the driver turning their head, they’re often helpful in seeing behind vehicles without much reward visibility and have been federally mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) since 2018.

In 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into 2011-2017 model year Ford Explorers after thousands of instances of police departments reporting an intrusion of exhaust gasses into the cabin. In some cases, the issue was so bad that officers alleged that they had been incapacitated while behind the wheel. However, the agency has finally wrapped up its probe, deciding that the manufacturer wasn’t at fault.

So then, what exactly did happen?

BMW has issued a recall on certain 2022-2023 iX, i4, and i7 electric vehicles over a claimed “misdiagnosis” in the high-voltage battery management electronics system. Based on documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the likelihood of a vehicle suffering from the issue is supposedly rare. However, an estimated one percent of recalled models run the risk of erroneously resetting the control unit, resulting in a loss of electrical power.

Additionally, BMW has a much smaller recall that comes with a potential fire hazard and is exclusive to the i4 and iX.

Earlier today I wrote about how Tesla seems to be pushing for fewer safety guards on its so-called "Full-Self Driving" system even as it opens the program up to more "beta testers" and even as accidents involving the system and Tesla's Autopilot pile up. What I didn't mention, probably because I suspect it's common knowledge among our readership, is that there aren't federal rules governing these sorts of beta tests on public roads.

When the pandemic shut down the world, some people took the opportunity to start driving like lunatics. With fewer people on the road, many of the few brave souls behind the wheel began speeding more, which ultimately led to a significant jump in speed-related deaths in 2020. Things appear to be cooling off, as recent data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show a slight decline in traffic deaths during the first nine months of last year. 

Stop me if you've heard this before -- Elon Musk tweeted something that has him and/or one of his companies in trouble with regulators.

The original Takata airbag recall took place years ago, but the list of affected models continues to grow. Volkswagen recently recalled 37,558 2015 and 2016 Beetles for issues with the driver’s side airbag. Volkswagen reviewed production records and found the affected vehicles, though it’s baffling that it took so long to discover. 

Recalls are a fact of life for automakers and car owners, but some brands tend to rack up more than others. The NHTSA released a useful tool that enables drilling down on recalls from across the industry. In 2022, Ford Motor Company took the cake, with 67 recalls potentially impacting millions of vehicles.

When was the last time you heard about the Chevy Malibu? It’s easy to forget that the car still exists, but it does, and there’s an interesting new recall for the 2022 and 2023 models.

We’ve been hearing of recalls impacting hundreds of thousands of vehicles in recent weeks, but supercar manufacturers don’t have that kind of scale. McLaren recently issued a recall, and the number of vehicles involved and the component triggering the whole mess is tiny.

If you purchased a new Subaru Ascent within the last few years, you may want to consider checking its recall status. The manufacturer is worried that 272,000 examples of the SUV could pose a fire risk and is recommending owners park them outside until inspections can be conducted. Though the turnaround should be relatively short, as Subaru already seems to be aware of what’s causing the problem.

Matrix headlights didn’t become legal in the United States until early in 2022 after automakers and enthusiasts waited almost a decade for the NHTSA decision. Europeans have enjoyed the technology for years, and automakers have had time to refine their designs. We’re starting to see second-generation LED matrix lighting systems hit the market, including a new one from Porsche. 

The revived Lamborghini Countach (now using the LPI 800-4 suffix) is under recall following reports of at least one model shedding the glass cover that shields the electronically assisted 6.5-liter V12 engine from the elements. Having conducted an internal investigation, the manufacturer is faulting the supplier. Though one could make the argument that such problems make the Countach ownership experience even more authentic.

News broke Wednesday that Tesla was under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, regarding the company’s claims about the self-driving nature of its vehicles. The DOJ has been working on the investigation for some time, as it was launched in 2021 but was not disclosed at that time. Turns out it might be time for a government evaluation of whether “Full Self-Driving” Teslas are misleading.