Here’s an alarming new stat – according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost one in five drivers in the U.S. who died in car crashes tested positive for drugs.

A statement released recently from the NHTSA says that of drivers tested after dying in car crashes last year, 18 percent had drugs in their bodies. That number is up from 13 percent in 2005. In 2009, 63 percent of the 21,798 drivers who died in accidents were tested.

“Today’s report provides a warning signal that too many Americans are driving after having taken drugs, not realizing the potential for putting themselves and others on the highway at risk,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.

This study is the NHTSA’s first analysis of drugged-driving deaths, and looked at crashes from 2005 to 2009 where illicit and some prescription drugs were used.

[Source: Automotive News]

Along with the 2006 Honda CR-V, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced an investigation into the 2007 Kia Optima. Both NHTSA probes have been sparked by just three complaints, with the Kia Optima being investigated for transmission shifting issues.

A total of 41,000 Optimas are involved, with complaints that the automatic transmission shift cable may detach, resulting in the shifter not being able to select gears. The three complaints revolve around not being able to engage park, drive or reverse and one complainant reported that his vehicle rolled away after it was left in park. Kia has issued a technical service bulletin to fix this issue in 2006 and 2007 Optima models in the past.

NHTSA has been on a tear, investigating and recalling vehicles since it took heat after the Toyota recall crisis. A recall of the 2007 Kia Optima is likely.

[Source: The Detroit News]

We first told you about rental-car companies that were still renting out vehicles that had been issued recall notices. Now, U.S. auto-safety investigators are getting involved to ensure the repairs are being carried out before they are rented.

The investigation is a result of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) being alerted to “incidents involving allegations of personal injury and death” that were caused by defects and failure to conform to federal safety standards.

Part of the investigation includes auditing the repair history of 29 U.S. models to get an indication of how quickly and completely rental-car fleets are being repaired. Furthermore, the NHTSA is looking to verify that recall-related repairs were completed on vehicles that are leased.

Cars that fall under scrutiny include models from General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC.

The Federal Trade Commission was petitioned by the Center for Auto Safety in August to look at whether Enterprise Holdings Inc. (the largest U.S. rental-car company) rents cars to its customers before recall repairs have been completed.

Do you think anything will come of this investigation, or is it too little, too late? Let us now in the comments section below.

[Source: Automotive News]

The Honda Accord Hybrid is now the focus of an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over possible faulty brakes and ‘unintended acceleration.’

NHTSA is currently looking into a crash involving a 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid, where the driver reports the brakes failed to work and the vehicle accelerated on its own, crossed into traffic and crashed, leaving the passenger dead and the driver disabled.

The driver of the car lists 22 ‘similar’ cases in the NHTSA database involving Honda Accord Hybrid and Honda Civic Hybrid models.

Over the past year, Toyota has recalled 10 million vehicles due to highly publicized ‘unintended acceleration’ concerns. After significant investigation by NHTSA and the DOT, both organizations have determined driver error was the cause in the majority of cases while some cases did involve pedals becoming jammed due to issues with floor mats.

[Source: Automotive News]

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car-seat manufacturer Britax is recalling 17,251 Chaperone infant-safety seats due to chest clip issues. These chest clips were incorrectly produced and affect car seats that were built between April 11, 2009, and May 31, 2010. Car seat model numbers that are affected by the recall are:

* E9L69N9 (Moonstone)

* E9L69P2 (Red Mill)

* E9L69P3 (Savannah)

* E9L69P5 (Cowmooflage)

Positioning the harness straps across the child’s shoulder, the car seat’s chest clip may be too brittle and might break when used with the infant in the seat. Once broken, the clip’s sharp edges could cut the child’s skin or become a choking hazard.

For those who have registered a car seat with the company, Britax will mail a remedy kit, which comes with a new chest clip. This kit will be mailed out around November 11.

For more information or to contact the company if you haven’t registered a recalled car seat, call Britax at 888-427-4829 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

It’s a little thing that does so much. By buckling up in the car, you increase your chances of surviving a serious car accident. And now, seat belt use in the U.S. has risen to 85 percent – its highest level yet.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released these new stats that show that the numbers for seat belt use are up one percent from last year. Other increases include seat belt use in rural areas (up from 81 percent to 83 percent) and drivers who use expressways (an increase from 89 percent to 91 percent).

And what’s the driving factor behind this rise? The NHTSA seams to think it’s because of police enforcement. When seat belt use is a primary law in a state, use of the safety devices is higher (88 percent).  For those states that don’t have stricter enforcement, they have significantly less compliance (76 percent).

In another NHTSA study, they found that in 2009, seat belts saved an estimated 12,713 lives. Over a five-year period from 2005 to 2009, they saved over 72,000 lives. What’s sad is that an additional 3,688 lives would’ve been saved if all passengers over 5-years old involved in fatal crashes had bucked up. But thanks to campaigns such as “Click it or Ticket,” people have started to really get the message about seat belt safety.

Here are some more 2009 stats from the NHTSA found that in 2009: that year, 2,381 lives were saved by frontal air bags and 1,483 lives were saved by motorcycle helmets. If all of the motorcycle riders had used a helmet, 723 more lives would’ve been saved. By enforcing a minimum drinking age law, 623 lives were saved and child restraints saved 309 children 4-years old and younger.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

The new crash results for 2011 models are in, and only the BMW 5 Series and Hyundai Sonata got a 5-star rating overall.

The government-run tests were the first that employed a “female” crash-test dummy, and a direct crash into a pole. The vehicles were rated from 1 to 5 stars, which are based on a weighted average of risk of injury in the front and side crashes and rollover resistance compared to other vehicles. The only vehicles to earn 5 stars were Hyundai and BMW, and were among the first 34 vehicles tested this new way.

These new tests were put in place in order to give shoppers more information, since high scores had become so common.”More stars equal safer cars,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Through new tests, better crash data and higher standards, we are making the safety ratings tougher and more meaningful for consumers.”

Most surprising were the results for the 2011 Toyota Camry, the best-selling car in the U.S. that got just 3 stars overall (the 2010 model, which was nearly identical, got top scores last year). The only other car to get a 3-star rating was the Camry Hybrid.

Placing at the bottom was the 2011 Nissan Versa, which was also the only vehicle to score just 2 stars overall. The blame of this poor score, says Nissan, is the Versa’s old design, and the company is working on ways to improve the car’s crash-test scores without a full redesign. The automaker believes that the 2011 Juke, which is based on the Versa platform, should score higher as it’s a newer iteration.

As for the rest of the vehicles, the remaining 2011 vehicles that were tested ranked with 4 stars overall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is planning on testing 22 more 2011 models.

See after the jump for the full list of models tested under the new 2011 rules:

Continue Reading…

It’s been announced that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recently opened an investigation into possible power steering failures in MINI Cooper cars.

NHTSA decided to investigate after receiving complaints from 54 drivers and confidential field reports where the MINI Cooper suddenly lost power steering assistance. The issue seems to only be presenting itself in 2004 and 2005 model year cars. The good news is that there haven’t been any reported incidents and most drivers were able to gain control of their vehicle. One source of the problem, according to the NHTSA, could involve a power steering pump failure.

When reached for comment, BMW North America said the carmaker is aware of the investigation but has not yet received formal notification from NHTSA.

[Source: CNN Money]

It’s time to double check your car seats. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is saying that many young children are still being placed in the wrong restraint or booster seat systems.

Last week was Child Passenger Safety week, so now is the right time to ensure that you have the right car seat for your child. It’s also important that these safety seats have been inspected to make sure they’re working properly.

NHTSA 2009 stats show that child fatalities from motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14. Last year, an average of four children age 14 and younger were killed and 490 were injured every day.

“Make no mistake about it: child safety seats save lives,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Children who graduate too soon from their safety seats are at risk of serious injury. Parents and caregivers should ensure that safety seats are installed correctly and should always use them. Their children depend on it.”

Children usually outgrow their forward-facing seats around age 4 and at about 40 pounds. At this time, they should graduate to booster seats until the seat belts in the vehicle fit properly. You know that a seat belt fits properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (they usually fit kids once they turn 8 or when they are 4’9″ tall).

The NHTSA released a survey on booster seat, which found that just 41 percent of 4- to 7-year-old children ride in booster seats, virtually unchanged from the prior year. In 2009, restraint use for children age 1 to 3 years increased from 92 percent in 200, while restraint use for all children under age 13 remained stayed the same at 89 percent.

[Source: Autoblog]

It’s always great to get some good new regarding traffic. And this recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) falls into the good new category – they say that the number of fatalities on America’s highways is at its lowest level since 1950.

Compared to 2008, deaths caused by vehicle collisions fell by 9.2 percent last year. The fatality rate has dropped to 1.13 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled as of 2009. The NHTSA credits both seat-belt use and campaigns to combat drunk driving for the decline.

Also decreasing in numbers are motorcycle fatalities. The Detroit News reports that these types of accidents have decreased by 16 percent compared to 2009. This drop is the first to happen in over 10 years, but no one is quite sure why that is.

Even though those numbers look pretty good, the NHTSA thinks we can still do better. In 2009, more than 30,000 people died and over 2.4 million people were injured in traffic collisions. There’s always room for improvement.

[Source: Detroit News and Automotive News]

The Ford F-150 is now a part of an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for fuel tank straps that may break due to corrosion, which could lead to a fire. In total 1.4 million F-150 models are affected, dating from 1996-2001.

NHTSA has received 32 complains regarding this issue from owners and in 28 of those cases one or both of the straps broke, causing the fuel tank to drop.

The number of complaints is minimal but NHTSA is being extra cautious lately and official investigation announcements are usually followed by a spike in official complaints.

[Source: Detroit News]

We’re all a little sad to see the end of summer. We usually send it off with a long weekend, lots of backyard BBQs and a few pool parties. Since most of these types of shindigs involve alcohol, there’s always an increased risk of intoxicated drivers on the road. That’s why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has started their drunk driving campaign called “Over the limit. Under arrest.”

On now until September 6th, you’ll see an increase presence of police enforcement officers and checkpoints on the road, as well as TV and radio campaigns to warn drivers of the risks.

This annual NHTSA operation began in 2003 and has helped reduce drunk-driving accidents and fatalities. Although the numbers have dropped since 1994, alcohol-related crashes continue to be responsible for about a third of all vehicle deaths. The numbers are startling – in 2008, about 12,000 people (32 percent) of all fatal crashes were caused by drivers of vehicles or motorcycles who had a blood-alcohol-content of at or above the legal limit of .08 percent. The highest percentage of deaths from drunk driving is those 21 to 24 years old.

The campaign to bring awareness to the seriousness of drunk driving has stepped up their efforts this year. Last month, New York State instituted a law that requires all drunk driving offenders to use interlock devices before they can start their car. And, the ROAD SAFE Act (Research of Alcohol Detection Systems for Stopping Alcohol-Related Fatalities Everywhere) was introduced by members of Congress, which will fund the development of new in-vehicle technologies to prevent under-the-influence drivers from operating a vehicle.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Chrysler has been targeted by the Center for Auto Safety (a consumer advocate group founded by outspoken lawyer Ralph Nader – the same one that threw the book at Chevy’s Corvair in the 1960s), about fires resulting from alleged fuel tank defects on Jeep models.

The CAS probe focuses on the original 1993-98 ZJ and second generation 1999-04 WJ Jeep Grand Cherokees and the group claims that the location of the fuel tank on these models and the lack of shielding leads to rupture in the event of rear end collisions. Since the Grand Cherokee was introduced to the market in 1992, there have been 44 recorded crashes relating to fire, of which 55 people were killed.

The CAS claims that 13 of these deaths were the result of rear end collisions. However, the center also said that these post-crash fires, on their own do not establish a manufacturing defect with the vehicles, hence further investigation is needed.

Noted Michael Palese, a spokesperson for Chrysler, “our company is cooperating fully with the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration in this investigation.” He also stated  that it is just that, “an investigation, not a recall.”

Source: [Bloomberg Businessweek]

As early leaked reports indicated, Toyota is being exonerated after Congress pushed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reveal the preliminary findings of its investigation into the cases of “unintended acceleration” of Toyota vehicles.

A Department of Transportation investigation of the black box recorders in 58 Toyota vehicles involved in “unintended acceleration” crashes has revealed that in 35 of those cases the brakes were never engaged. In nine other cases the brakes were only applied immediately before impact. In five additional cases no data was recorded, while in five more it was shown that the brakes were applied early on. One incident showed that both the accelerator and brake were pressed.

Toyota did place a recall for a faulty mechanical brake pedal and for millions of vehicles with what could be improperly installed floor mats – the later which is believed to be a cause of the crash in at least on of the 58 vehicles investigated by NHTSA.

“The limited research completed so far has not led to identification of safety defects other than sticking gas pedals or pedal entrapment,” reads the report, clearly indicating that faulty vehicle electronics are not to blame.

Results of the NHTSA investigation are not final and the government agency warns that it may still take months to look over all the vehicles in question.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Do you clench the steering wheel in fear every time a big rig passes you on the highway? Loosen your grip a little bit – a mandate for the installation safety systems, courtesy of The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), may be on the horizon.

Right now, automakers must legally install stability control to all new cars and trucks that are for sale to the public. Unfortunately, there’s no such law for commercial tractor trailer trucks. A study being conducted by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will determine whether to mandate the safety system for all big rigs.

The safety system in question refers to the big rig’s stability control systems, which utilize an array of sensors to detect imbalance and possible rollover. When a risk is detected, the system puts the brakes to an individual wheel (or wheels) until balance is restored. Nathaniel Beuse, NHTSA crash avoidance director, states that mandating standard stability control systems on all semi trucks could prevent 3,500 rollover accidents, 4,400 injuries and 106 deaths each year.

As always, costs play into the equation. It will cost an estimated $1,200 to retrofit existing trucks and $1,000 to install the system on each additional new rig. Research also shows that it makes more sense to install them on some trucks rather than on others.

Take tanker trucks as an example. They account for six percent of all big rigs on the road and 31 percent of all rollover accidents. Since these types of trucks often carry hazardous and explosive materials (propane or gasoline), adding the stability control systems could significantly reduce the loss of life and property.

Trimac Transportation Systems, a trucking company, has already installed the systems in its trucks, and reports its accidents have dropped from an average of 11 per year to only one last year. This suggests that even though it may cost upfront to get these types of systems installed, the money can be recouped in lower insurance claims and lower premiums.

[Source: Autoblog]

Nissan has just announced a recall for the 2009-10 Cube model for a recall involving the fuel system. According to a NHTSA press release, the vehicle did not pass its fuel leak test, in which the amount of fuel leaking from the car exceeded, “allowable limits” in the agency’s crash test. A fire could result as a consequence. The recall affects 46,000 Cube models built between January 30, 2009 and July 30, 2010.

A fix for the problem will be available by August 30th at which point owners are asked to contact their dealers.

A similar recall was recently issued for the Lexus HS250h.

Official press release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Looking to treat the family to an educational vacation this summer? Then head to the Smithsonian Institute, where you’ll learn all about the three-point safety belt, the padded dashboard and the famous “Car Safety for Dummies” dummies.

In honor of 75 years of automotive safety, as well as all the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiatives passed during this time, automakers and regulators have donated automotive safety systems to the Smithsonian. On top of that, it also marks the 25^th anniversary of everyone’s favorite crash dummies, Vince and Larry, who starred in the NHTSA and the Ad Council’s PSAs.

A few of Vince and Larry’s costumes will be making an appearance, alongside a Hybrid II crash-test dummy from Denton ATD. Also on display is a General Motors Hybrid III crash test dummy that was introduced in 1975 (it still remains the industry standard). The three-point seatbelt, invented by Volvo in 1959, is on display too – Volvo donated a belt and seat from a 1961 PV 544.

Other added attractions include a padded dashboard, invented by Dr. Claire L. Straith. (Interesting side note: Straith was a plastic surgeon who studied the cranial and facial injuries sustained from automobile accidents, and who became an advocate for automotive safety systems.) An energy-absorbing steering column from a 1967 Chevrolet has been donated by General Motors, as well as safety literature from the American Automobile Association and three ignition-interlock breath analyzers from Guardian Interlock.

[Source: Wired]

Recently a Wall Street Journal story revealed that with one exception, it was driver error and not mechanical or electrical issues that resulted in the “unintended acceleration” of Toyota vehicles. Now, another outlet, Just-Auto.com is claiming an unnamed source within NHTSA has confirmed the story was planted by Toyota as part of a public relations effort to re-build its image. If that does in fact turn out to be the case, the fallout could certainly do quite the opposite.

Supporting this newest report are the continued claims by NHTSA that the story did not come from within the government agency.

That, however, does not mean that the story isn’t true. In fact, it more likely suggests the story was leaked. And if true, and leaked, then who can blame Toyota for wanting to spread the news?

Regardless, NHTSA’s official findings have not yet been released and until they are, either exonerating or blaming Toyota would be premature.

[Source: Just-Auto]

With all the stories in the news and using a little common sense, you’d think that we’d be hearing less about kids being left in locked cars during the summer. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. New information shows that the number of infants and toddlers deaths from being left inside hot cars is higher through the first half of this year than at any time since the statistic was first tracked in the late 1990s.

This year alone, 18 children have died of hyperthermia, eight of them reported since June 13. Sadly, many of these cases involved children who climbed inside an unlocked vehicle on a hot day and then couldn’t get out.

This information was complied by Jan Null, an adjunct professor of meteorology at San Francisco State University, from data on the cases through media reports, which states that 37 children typically die each year from heat exhaustion in vehicles. The recent onslaught of deaths in June is disturbing, as July tends to be the most deadly month for children trapped in hot cars.

“These really are good parents who love these kids who make a mistake that turns out to be fatal,” said David Strickland, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The government’s highway safety agency issued a consumer advisory this week that included a warning for parents not to leave children unattended in or near a vehicle.

Although it may seem like common sense, it seems like adults need to be reminded to never leave their children in an unattended vehicle or allow kids to play in cars and trucks. Make it a habit to lock your vehicle doors once you park it, and keep your car keys in a safe place where little hands can’t reach them.

[Source: Kicking Tire]

As time goes on and innovations are being implemented to existing safety products, you’d think that they would get, well, safer. But that might not be the case when it comes to the newest type of airbag, as a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows.

Raising all kinds of questions about airbags that were required in vehicles from 2004 to 2008, this IIHS study says that they may actually place drivers who wear their seat belts at a greater risk of death.

This research is based on statistical analysis of 3,600 driver and front-seat passenger deaths that were the result of frontal crashes between 2004 and 2007. While it found that the newest type of airbags helped unbelted people about the same as older airbags, belted drivers had a 21 percent greater chance of dying.

“It is possible that the systems are not making the right decisions,” said David Zuby, Senior Vice President for Vehicle Research at the IIHS. “Under previous requirements, air bags didn’t need to be quite so sophisticated.”

Even though the study didn’t come up with reasons why belted drivers are at greater risk, safety experts are throwing out a few explanations. The one that holds the most validity is that automakers design airbags for unbelted drivers, as they are required to test for this percentage of the driving population – even though 80 percent of drivers wear seat belts.

This research was presented in January at a convention of auto engineers, but hasn’t received widespread attention. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the organization that regulates air bags, met with the researchers and carmakers in March but hasn’t commented on the study, stating they had not had time to fully review it.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

As quiet as ninjas, hybrid and electric cars can be just as deadly. But while ninjas sneak up on you quickly, hybrid and electric vehicles are most likely to get you at low, parking lot speeds.

According to a report that came out last fall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), hybrids tend to be involved with a higher number of pedestrian incidents, thanks to how quietly the run. And because of this, there’s new legislation in the works that will put a bell around these cars’ collars in an attempt to let you know when one is about to pounce.

In support this new safety legislation, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, the National Federation of the Blind, and the American Council of the Blind have already sent letters to Congress. The new safety requirements would add audible alerts to hybrid and electric vehicles, a benefit that would be extremely beneficial to visually impaired pedestrians, not to mention children and the elderly.

Producing no engine noise and running on battery power at low speeds, manufacturers have been investigating methods to increase these types of safety concerns regarding hybrids and electric cars.

This noise requirement could move through the House and Senate soon, and will most likely be added to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, which happens to be in consideration by Congress at this time. Not only would this legislation require new safety standards in vehicles such as event data recorders and a brake override feature, it would also give the NHTSA more resources and power in ordering recalls. If the noise requirements go through, you’ll see – or hear – the audible alerts within three years.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

With Nissan having issued a recall for select Frontier pickups, it was probably only a matter of time before Suzuki followed with its version of the F-Alpha mid-size truck. In the case of the latter manufacturer, the recall centers on a total of 582 Equators, manufactured between November 30, 2009 and March 3 this year (2010 model year trucks). Like the Frontier, the problem stems around potentially weak welds on the lower front ball joint collars that could come apart, affecting vehicle handling and alignment.

Suzuki dealers will inspect the lower control links on trucks issued with the Technical Service Bulletin recall  and replace them  free of charge if they’re found to be defective. Equator owners affected by the recall have been asked to contact Suzuki at 800-934-0934 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236 for more details.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

The Click It or Ticket seatbelt safety campaign is in full force, and this summer, the focus of law enforcement officers will be on night time drivers who fail to buckle up. That’s right – justice never sleeps!

One of the most successful highway safety campaigns in U.S. history, the Click It or Ticket message this year is that seat belts need to be worn at night as well as during the day. The reasoning behind the added twist is based on data that shows that drivers are less likely to wear seat belts after dark because it’s more difficult for police to spot whether or not they’ve buckled up. There are numbers to back this up – in 2008, 64 percent of the people killed in accidents after 6 p.m. were not wearing their seat belts. Compare that to 48 percent of drivers not wearing a seat belt that died in daytime accidents.

Other interesting stats to note, courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, shows that 38 people not wearing seat belts die in car crashes daily, and the highest rate of unbelted death are among young men and pickup truck drivers.

Use of seat belts in cars gained popularity in the 1960s, about a decade after studies debunked the popular belief that most car-accident fatalities were caused by the accordion-like collapse of their cars. It took several more years before seatbelts became optional items in most cars and even longer before they were mandatory. Even though wearing them was the law, it didn’t mean that drivers used them. By 1980, 11 percent of Americans used them. Compare that to 84 percent of drivers who use them today.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Ford‘s Fusion sedan and Mercury Milan are currently under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for accessory floor mats that can become stuck.

The investigation involves 249,301 Fusion and Milan models from the 2010 model year where an accessory floor mat may entrap the accelerator pedal – in essence causing a sticking throttle. The problem occurs when the floor mat is placed on top of the existing carpet floor mat – something all automakers warn against.  “We do not recommend stacking floor mats in any vehicle from any automaker,” said Ford spokesman Said Deep.

NHTSA commented in a statement that, “Any Ford ‘all weather’ optional floor mat should be placed in the driver’s side foot well only after first unfastening and removing the standard, carpeted floor mat.”

No accidents or injuries have been reported but NHTSA has said it received three complains – one of which came from Edmunds.com boss Dan Edmunds, who experienced the problem on a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Toyota recently recalled 5.4 million vehicles for what is essentially the very same issue – a hint that Ford could be facing a recall similar in scope. NHTSA has been on the war path recently, issuing a spate of new recalls and investigations based on fewer and fewer complains.

[Source: Detroit News]