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10 automakers shack up in Detroit hotel to talk Takata airbags

Since Takata has decided not to take the lead concerning potential issues with its airbag inflators, the automakers have. Perhaps that's unsurprising, since it's the automakers, not Takata, that will take a beating on the dealership floor if consumers decide its models are a health hazards. The Detroit News reports that Toyota, Honda, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Subaru met in a hotel conference room near the Detroit Metropolitan Airport last week to sort out a way to understand the technical issues involved. So far, faulty airbag inflators have been ruled the cause of five deaths and 50 injuries around the world, but neither Takata nor investigators understands exactly why the inflators are malfunctioning. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently asked Takata to issue a national recall, Takata declined, citing a minuscule failure rate and the fact that it's still investigating the issue. Toyota and Honda then made an industry-wide appeal for "a coordinated, comprehensive testing program" that would pinpoint the problem inflators and get them replaced, and that's what the Detroit meeting was about. Numerous issues, however, will make this a long row to hoe: simply getting the parts to replace the nearly 20 million inflators in cars recalled around the world so far - even working with other suppliers - will take a years, but more importantly, no one knows if the replacement inflators currently being installed will suffer the same issue. Answers will hopefully come quickly with Takata, the ten automakers and NHTSA all independently investigating the problem.

Mitsubishi recalls 82,426 vehicles for CVT hesitation issues

The Basics: Mitsubishi is recalling 82,436 vehicles from the 2015 and 2016 model year. The recall affects the continuously variable transmissions, or CVTs, in 2015-16 Outlander Sports, 2016 Outlanders, and 2016 Lancers. Mitsubishi calls their Jatco manufactured CVT a constant velocity transmission. The Problem: According to the document Mitsubishi submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the CVTs in certain vehicles can momentarily lose signal and delay acceleration. This can increase the risk of an accident. Injuries/Deaths: It is unknown if there are any injuries or deaths related to this issue. The Fix: Dealerships will reprogram affected CVTs for free. If you own one: Mitsubishi Motors North America began the recall on August 15. If you own an affected vehicle, contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-006. Mitsubishi dealers should be able to update the CVT's software and resolve the issue. Related Video: News Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls Mitsubishi Crossover Sedan

Mitsubishi is killing the Lancer this summer

The small sedan segment is going to get a little smaller this summer. At a Mitsubishi event last night, the company discussed its new focus on the crossover market. It left us wondering where this leaves the future of Mitsubishi sedans. We asked executive vice president and COO of Mitsubishi's North American division Don Swearingen about this, and he said the Mirage G4 will remain on the market to handle some sedan demand, but that Lancer production will end this August. Swearingen did explain that there will probably be leftover stock for a few months after the end of production, but that the car would effectively be gone this summer with 2017 its final model year. He said the sedan market is shrinking and the company needs to make sure any new product it develops is profitable, which is why Mitsubishi continues to shift its focus to the ever-growing crossover market and there are no current plans for a new Lancer. It should also be noted that the current Lancer was introduced a decade ago and wasn't terribly competitive to begin with. Still, we'll miss the Lancer line, even if it was only for the hope that we'd see another Lancer Evolution someday. Related Video: