Safety Investigations & Recalls
October 11 2007- Crash tests: Not all SUVs built alike: Midsized GM SUVs rate 'marginal' in Insurance Institute crash tests; Toyota, Nissan perform best.
By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer
 NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- While all offer reasonable protection from front impacts, there are big differences in side impact protection among six truck-based SUVs, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The worst-performing vehicle in the test was the Chevrolet Trailblazer, which earned an "Acceptable" rating for front impact protection, the second-highest of four possible ratings, and a "Marginal" rating for side impact protection, the second-worst rating possible. The TrailBlazer earned a "Poor" rating, the worst possible, for whiplash protection in rear impacts.
Results for the TrailBlazer by General Motors (Charts, Fortune 500) also apply to the closely related GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 9-7X SUVs.
In its announcement, the Insurance Institute pointed out that the Trailblazer and Chrysler's Jeep Cherokee lacked body-protecting side airbags although both offer head-protecting side airbags.
The Grand Cherokee earned the top "Good" rating for front impact protection but, like the Trailblazer, got a "Marginal" rating for side impact protection. The Grand Cherokee earned a "Good" rating for rear impact protection.
The Grand Cherokee earned top 5-star scores in all of the federal government's crash tests, however, a Chrysler spokesman noted.
The Insurance Institute is a private organization funded by auto insurers.
"No single test can determine a vehicle's overall safety performance, and Chrysler continues to pursue every opportunity to improve the crash worthiness of its vehicles," Chrysler said in a prepared statement.
General Motors also pointed out that the TrailBlazer had earned 5-star ratings in the federal government's side impact test. (The TrailBlazer earned 3 and 4 stars for protecting the driver and passenger, respectively, in the government's front impact test, however.)
"The performance of some of these models in the side test was surprising," said Institute senior vice president David Zuby. "SUVs should have an advantage in side crashes because the driver and passengers ride higher up than in cars. People often think they're safer in one of these vehicles, but many cars hold up better than some of these midsize SUVs in this test."
The best performing SUV was the Nissan Pathfinder when equipped with optional side airbags. It earned the top rating of "Good" for both front and side impact protection and a "Marginal" rating for whiplash protection.
Without side airbags, side impact protection was rated "Marginal" in the Pathfinder.
The Nissan XTerra, when tested with and without side airbags, performed as well as the Pathfinder except that it was rated "Poor" for whiplash protection.
The Toyota (Charts) 4Runner, likewise, earned "Good" ratings for front and side impact protection but got a "Poor" rating for whiplash protection.
The Ford (Charts, Fortune 500) Explorer earned a "Good" score for front impact protection, but an "Acceptable" rating for side impact protection and a "Poor" rating for whiplash protection. The Explorer's score also applies the closely related Mercury Mountaineer.
Truck-based SUVs like these are different from the car-based crossover SUVs which are now more popular among buyers. Examples of car-based SUVs would be the Toyota Highlander, Ford Escape or GMC Acadia.
Truck-based SUVs have a weight-supporting chassis or frame that is separate from the body. That's the best design for off-roading or heavy towing. In car-based crossover SUVs, weight supporting structures are incorporated into the vehicle's body, which allows the vehicle to be made lighter for better fuel economy and handling.
How they're tested
The Insurance Institute's front impact test involves an offset impact at 40 miles per hour. The vehicle strikes the barrier with just one side of its front end, so impact forces are concentrated in a relatively small area.
For side impact safety, vehicles are tested using a moving barrier that strikes the vehicle at a speed of 31 mph. The barrier is raised off the ground to mimic an impact from an SUV or pick-up truck.
Because of the height of the barrier, vehicles without head-protecting side airbags do not perform well in the Institute's side impact test. Even some vehicles with those types of airbags still do not do well.
To measure rear impact whiplash protection, the Institute measures the height and shape of the headrest to see if it would, theoretically, protect an average sized man. If the headrest is judged to be "Good" or "Acceptable" according to that test, it is then further tested in a 20 mph rear impact using a crash test dummy.
Vehicles with seats that are not judged "Good" or "Acceptable" based on measurement alone are given a rating of "Poor." 
Monday, April 23, 2007 - Rendezvous, Aztek SUVs investigated for fuel leak, The Detroit News
General Motors Corp.'s Buick Rendezvous and Pontiac Aztek sport-utility vehicles may develop a fuel tank leak due to improper welding, a U.S. safety agency said in announcing the second stage of an investigation, Bloomberg News reported today.
The investigation covers the Rendezvous and Aztek from model years 2001 to 2004, the Transportation Department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its Web site. The agency cited 213 complaints, and as many as 279,780 vehicles may be affected.
Fuel or odor may leak from the lower portion of the fuel tank inlet filler pipe, at the point where a check valve is welded to the tank, the agency said. Vehicles manufactured after December 2003 aren't affected, NHTSA said.
January 5, 2007: Car Infant Seats
Most rear-facing infant car-seats on
the market failed crash tests using tougher standards than
the government uses. Click here for the full article.
March 26, 2004: Safety Investigations and Recalls
for March
Click here to see all in either Adobe
Acrobat version or Microsoft
Word version.
March 4, 2004: COOPER TIRES RECALLED
Cooper Zeon 2XS and Mastercraft Avenger ZHP, Size 265/35R18
manufactured between December 21, 2003, and January 10, 2004
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
announced the recall of Cooper's tires because they are prone
to tread chunking which may lead to tread separation. Tread
separation could lead to a loss of control of the vehicle
which may result in a vehicle crash without prior warning.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 04T004000.
Zeon 2XS, Cooper Zeon ZPT, and Mastercraft Avenger ZHP,
Size 215/35R18 manufactured between January 11 and January
31, 2004
These tires are prone to sidewall cracking on both sidewalls
of the tire. In certain service conditions where excessive
flexing of the tire sidewall occurs the cracking could extend
to the body ply cords. This condition could lead to the degradation
of the body ply cords and loss of inflation pressure. The
loss of inflation pressure could cause the tire to run under-inflated
and result in early tire failure. The loss of air could result
in loss of steering control, possibly resulting in a vehicle
crash without prior warning. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 04T005000.
Cooper Zeon XST Size 305/35R24 Manufactured Between January
11 and January 17, 2004.
These tires may have a condition of insufficient innerliner
gauge. When this condition exists, loss of inflation pressure
could cause the tire to run under-inflated and result in early
tire failure. The loss of inflation pressure could cause the
tire to run under-inflated and result in early tire failure.
The loss of air could result in loss of steering control,
possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without prior warning.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 04T006000.
Cooper tire will notify its customers and replace the tires
free of charge. Owner notification is expected to begin during
March 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized
dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the
free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Cooper
Tire's consumer relations at 1-800-854-6288. Cooper tire will
notify its customers and replace the tires free of charge.
Owner notification is expected to begin during March 2004.
Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on
an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy
within a reasonable time should contact cooper tire's consumer
relations at 1-800-854-6288.
March 3, 2004: TOYOTAS AND LEXUS ES 300s ELECTRONIC
THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEMS INVESTIGATED
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), a component
of the U.S. Department of Transportation, recently opened
a preliminary evaluation of 37 complaints that 2002 and 2003
Toyota Camrys, Camry Solaras and Lexus ES300s have surged
forward without any apparent reason injuring 5 people in 30
crashes. One of the injuries was to a pedestrian, who was
struck by a Toyota that unexpectedly surged forward. Toyota
has received similar complaints. The specific defect is sudden
acceleration as brake pedals are depressed, transmissions
shifted or when the vehicles are driven at higher speeds using
cruise controls. NHTSA Action Number : PE04021.
March 3, 2004: FORD WINDSTAR SLIDING DOORS INVESTIGATED
NHTSA's
ODI is also looking into 56 consumer complaints alleging
the power sliding door may not latch fully on 1999 to 2002
Ford Windstars, and may open while vehicle is in motion.
Some of the owners stated that either the "door ajar" warning
light would illuminate and/or the door opens completely when
the vehicle is ascending a hill, making a turn or traveling
over rough roads. Ford has issued numerous technical service
bulletins (TSB) concerning power sliding door issues. The
most recent TSB (TSB 02-18-4), issued September 16, 2002
on model year 1999 to 2002 Windstar vehicles, is a comprehensive
diagnostic and repair procedure on all aspects of the power
sliding door operation. NHTSA Action Number : PE04022.
March 2, 2004: JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE CRANKSHAFT POSITION
SENSOR WIRING RECALLED
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 4.0l engines,
the crankshaft position sensor wiring insulation may crack
and expose the wire. In the presence of moisture, this could
result in sensor malfunction, which could cause the engine
to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the crankshaft position sensor. The
manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule.
Owners should contact DaimlerChrysler at 1-800-853-1403. NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 04V112000; DaimlerChrysler Recall No.
D13.
OCTOBER 30, 2003: MOTORCYCLE RECALL
Recently, as a direct result of information obtained in a
law suit against Harley-Davidson and Buell Motorcycle Company,
thousands of motorcycles were recalled by the federal government
because of a defect in the throttle system that could cause
the throttle to stick. After learning about this defect, which
could cause injury or death to riders, the firm petitioned
the Court for permission to release “secret” documents
to the National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration
(NHTSA). After reviewing the information NHTSA received from
the firm, and conducting its own investigation, on October
30, 2003, Buell Motorcycle Company recalled all 1999 motorcycles
and a significant number of 2000 model bikes so that a safety
device could be retrofitted on these motorcycles.
IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDARDS FOR FLAME
RETARDANT MATTRESSES
Currently, mattresses sold for residential use are not required
to be treated with a fire retardant. However, mattresses
provided to hospitals and prisons are required to have such
protection. Overchuck, Byron, Overchuck P.A. is
proud of their contribution to help obtain flame-resistant
mattresses and clothing and enhance the safety of children
in the United States. John Overchuck is a founding member
of the Coalition for Flame Resistant Mattresses. He was asked,
along with a young client who was the burn victim of a flammable
mattress, to appear before the Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) and give testimony regarding the need for flame-resistant
mattresses in this country. As a result of that effort, the
CPSC has recently announced that standards are being prepared
that will require all manufacturers of residential mattresses
to fire retard their mattresses in the future.
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