2002 161k Ex Dealer Trade Power Doors Absolute Sale $1.00 No Reserve Look! on 2040-cars

Auto blog

US expands probe into ZF-TRW airbag failure-to-deploy to 12.3 million vehicles

DETROIT — U.S. auto safety regulators have expanded an investigation into malfunctioning airbag controls to include 12.3 million vehicles because the bags may not inflate in a crash. The problem could be responsible for as many as eight deaths. Vehicles made by Toyota, Honda, Kia, Hyundai, Mitsubishi and Fiat Chrysler from the 2010 through 2019 model years are included in the probe, which was revealed Tuesday in documents posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It involves airbag control units made by ZF-TRW that were installed in the vehicles. The control units can fail in a crash, possibly because of unwanted electrical signals produced by the crash itself that can disable an air bag control circuit housed in the passenger compartment, according to NHTSA documents. The electrical signals can damage the control circuit, the documents say. ZF, a German auto parts maker which acquired TRW Automotive in 2015, said in a statement that it's committed to safety and is cooperating with NHTSA and automakers in the investigation. The case is another in a long list of problems with auto industry airbags, including faulty and potentially deadly Takata airbag inflators. At least 24 people have been killed worldwide and more than 200 injured by the inflators, which can explode with too much force and hurl dangerous shrapnel into the passenger cabin. The inflators touched off the largest series of automotive recalls in U.S. history involving with as many as 70 million inflators to be recalled by the end of next year. About 100 million inflators are to be recalled worldwide. On April 19, NHTSA upgraded the ZF-TRW probe from a preliminary evaluation to an engineering analysis, which is a step closer toward seeking recalls. So far, only Hyundai and Kia and Fiat Chrysler have issued recalls in the case. Four deaths that may have been caused by the problem were reported in Hyundai-Kia vehicles and three in Fiat Chrysler automobiles. NHTSA opened an investigation in March of 2017 involving the TRW parts in Hyundais and Kias. The upgrade came after investigators found two recent serious crashes involving 2018 and 2019 Toyota Corollas in which the airbags did not inflate. One person was killed. Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, a nonprofit consumer group, said the ZF-TRW case shows the auto industry thus far has learned very little from Takata.

Takata airbags linked to seventh death

A seventh fatality may be linked to Takata's faulty airbag inflators, based on a recently filed lawsuit in Louisiana. The case alleges that a 22-year-old woman there died in April following injuries from an accident while driving in a 2005 Honda Civic. She reportedly received the mailing about the airbag safety campaign two days after the crash, according to Bloomberg. The accident occurred on April 5 when the vehicle hit a utility pole. The driver's airbag deployed but allegedly sprayed metal shrapnel at the woman. "When she was in the hospital, they did exploratory surgery and found no other injuries," said Kenneth D. St. Pe, the lawyer for the driver's mother who filed the lawsuit, according to Bloomberg. "Her sole injury was that her throat was cut open." In a portion of a statement from Honda to Autoblog, the automaker says: "Honda is now in communication with representatives of the family in an effort to gather further information in order to better understand the situation." The Takata airbag inflator recall was expanded in May to cover 34 million vehicles in this country from 11 automakers. Up until now, the faulty parts have been potentially linked to six deaths, including five in the US and one in Malaysia, plus many injuries. Honda and Takata are facing at least two dozen lawsuits in Florida for claims related to the bad components. So far, the evidence suggests that exposure to moisture causes the propellant to ignite too quickly and cause these ruptures. However, many people aren't getting the problem fixed. Honda Statement: Honda was recently notified of the crash of a 2005 Honda Civic in Louisiana on April 5, 2015 that later resulted in the death of the driver. The crash may have resulted in the rupture of the Takata driver front airbag inflator. Honda is now in communication with representatives of the family in an effort to gather further information in order to better understand the situation. Related Video:

Honda confirms 2014 Odyssey and Acura MDX for New York

Look beneath the seats of a Honda Odyssey and you'll likely find a handful of that iconic loop cereal loved by toddlers nationwide. And to show that Honda understands its minivan's target market, it is using the breakfast staple to announce its plans to reveal the updated 2014 model at next week's New York Auto Show. While the announcement is creative, it unfortunately lacks much in the way of information, leaving us with little more than a vague teaser alluding to "some innovative new features."
As expected, Honda has also confirmed we will see the production version of the 2014 Acura MDX in New York. We expect the 2014 MDX to look very much like the prototype we saw in January at the Detroit Auto Show with only slight differences. The 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6 will be offered with all-wheel drive or, in a first for MDX, front-wheel drive.
You'll find the official press snippets for both below, and we'll have live images and details on both from the New York show. Until then... Cheerio!