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Honda and NHTSA report 11th death linked to Takata airbags

Honda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the 11th death due to a faulty Takata airbag today. A 50-year-old California woman died from injuries sustained after the recalled airbag inflator in her 2001 Honda Civic ruptured in a crash, Automotive News reports. The Civic in question was one of 313,000 Honda/ Acura vehicles built between 2001 and 2003 with a bad Takata airbag inflator. According to AN, Honda issued an initial airbag recall in 2008, eventually sending more than 20 notices to owners of affected vehicles. NHTSA issued a dire warning in June, suggesting owners stop driving cars with recalled inflators due to the "grave danger" they posed. In the case of the 2001-2003 Hondas and Acuras, NHTSA warned of as much as a 50 percent chance an airbag inflator would rupture if it wasn't replaced in a previous recall. Between now and 2019, NHTSA plans on recalling 70 million faulty Takata inflators. But as of October 7, only about 36 percent, or 11.4 million of the officially recalled inflators, have been pulled off the road. With 11 deaths and over 100 injuries linked to faulty Takata airbags, we implore owners of recalled vehicles (regardless of the make) to heed manufacturer recalls. Yes, it's annoying to stop by the dealership, but manufacturers issue recalls for your safety. Best to pay attention to them. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Newsome Melton / Reuters Government/Legal Recalls Honda Safety Economy Cars Sedan airbag Takata airbag recall

2021 Acura TLX to start at $38,525, hits dealers this fall

The 2021 Acura TLX will start at $38,525 (including a $1,025 destination fee) when it arrives in dealerships this fall. The flagship Type S model, which will be powered by a twin-turbocharged V6, will not arrive until spring, and while Acura has not yet finalized pricing, we're told it will start above the $50,000 mark.  The $38,525 base price of the 2021 TLX makes it $4,500 more dear than the model it replaces, but competitive with most of its luxury peers, largely thanks to its far more potent base engine. In fact, the 272-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo mill in the 2021 model in only down 18 horsepower from the V6 offered as the upgraded engine in the 2020. The new also TLX gets an updated platform that brings back its traditional double-wishbone front suspension, introduces a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and marks the return of the sporty Type S to the model lineup. To further make up for the rather large price increase, Acura has seen to it that the TLX is more feature-rich pretty much across the board. For example, base models now get a 10-speaker audio system with twin subwoofers and 12-way powered front seats. All models also come standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration for 2021. We'll come back to the Type-S momentarily; first, here's a breakdown of 2021 TLX pricing with destination included: 2021 TLX 2.0T — $38,525 2021 TLX 2.0T with Technology Package — $42,525 2021 TLX 2.0T with A-Spec Package —  $45,275 2021 TLX 2.0T with Advance Package — $47,325 A-Spec models are focused on sporty appearance and handling add-ons, while the Technology package is geared more toward those who want more convenience features. The Advance trim effectively blends them together and adds more premium features, such as Milano leather seating surfaces, heated seats and a heated steering wheel. Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system (SH-AWD) is available across the lineup for $2,000.  As for the 355-horsepower Type S model, Acura says it won't appear in showrooms until spring 2021, and while pricing has yet to be finalized, Acura says it will cost more than $50,000. That tracks, considering the Advance Package with SH-AWD is already a $49,325 car. Related Video: 2021 Acura TLX unveiling

Driver saved from sinking car in Houston by live news reporter

Heavy rains in Houston, Texas, have turned some roadway underpasses into temporary lakes. While covering the adverse weather, a reporter named Steve Campion engaged in what may be the most half-hearted rescue attempt ever captured on video. The whole clip is a slow-motion disaster that's hard to look away from. The reporter and a cameraman are already on the scene when a driver in a Honda Insight arrives and thinks he can ford the deluge. The plan fails immediately, and the car is quickly in too deep. Despite trying to reverse out of the bad situation and even turning on the windshield wipers, this guy is stuck. Floating, in fact. Campion doesn't even try to hide his contempt and confusion as this unfolds in front of him. "Why are you doing that," the journalist initially asks. He and the cameraman don't leap to action at this scene, either. "What do we do? I don't want to..." the reporter says. The Insight driver seems to be in shock, seemingly unable to process the situation even as his vehicle is sinking. Eventually, the reporter and cameraman convince the guy to leave his vehicle. By the time the driver gets to dry land, his Honda is barely visible above the water. The Honda owner seems unharmed, but the reporter probably doesn't deserve much credit for the rescue, regardless of how it's portrayed on KTRK in Houston. See if you agree after watching the video. Related Video: