According to a 2011 survey, there were 2.7 million used vehicles available for purchase that had at least one un-repaired safety recall. Now, California lawmakers want to require used-car sellers to make those repairs before the vehicles can be sold. [More]
Transportation & Infrastructure
Should Used Car Sellers Have To Repair Recalled Cars Before Selling Them?
By 2.5.13 — Updated: 6.24.14
24 Kinds Of Triaminic And Theraflu Recalled Because Childproof Caps Aren’t Childproof
By 2.1.13
Poor Novartis: things just keep going wrong at their plants. Last year, they had multiple recalls, including many of their over-the-counter drugs and a line of birth control pills. Now, the company has recalled liquid Triaminic and TheraFlu products because the products’ caps aren’t childproof. The Consumer Products Safety Commission has heard about twelve kids who have opened the bottle themselves, four of whom had a taste. One needed medical attention. [More]
Kids’ Dressers Recalled Following Deaths Of 3 Toddlers
By 1.30.13 — Updated: 2.1.13
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced recalls for two separate kids’ dressers following the deaths of three toddlers possibly resulting from the furniture falling on the children. [More]
Toyota Announces Recall Of 750K Corollas & 270K Lexus IS Vehicles
By 1.30.13
Toyota doubled on its recall announcements today, issuing two separate recalls totaling more than 1 million vehicles in the U.S. [More]
State DMVs Are Not Amused By Your Attempts To Get License Plates With Dirty Acronyms
By 1.29.13
It isn’t just license plates with clear messages that can get banned (and in one recent case, challenged legally) — each state’s Department of Motor Vehicles has a lengthy list of prohibited phrases it’s had to get hip to, including text speak. Because heaven forbid someone slip in a naughty word. OMFG, right? They’re onto us. [More]
Report Rips Treasury Dept. For Giving Out Raises To Execs At Bailed-Out Companies
By 1.28.13
Today, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program released her report on 2012 compensation for executives at institutions that received TARP bail-out money, and well… the title — Treasury Continues Approving Excessive Pay for Top Executives at Bailed-Out Companies — is about as on-the-nose as it gets. [More]
Annie’s Frozen Pizzas Recalled Since Metal Shards Aren’t The Tastiest Topping
By 1.23.13
Pepperoni, onions, mushrooms, sausage, heck, we’ll even take some anchovies on my pizza over say, a crunchy metal shard. Annie’s is issuing a recall of its Annie’s Homegrown Frozen Pizza because it’s possible that a few varieties could have fragments of “flexible metal mesh.” Apparently a faulty screen at third-party flour mill is to blame for this extraneous topping. [More]
Transportation Secretary: Dreamliners Won’t Fly Again Until They’re Deemed “1,000% Safe”
By 1.18.13
Just one week after he said he would be comfortable taking a spin in a Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has changed his tune. After numerous reports of problems with the jets’s batteries, LaHood now says none of them will take to the skies again until officials are “1,000% sure” they’re safe to fly. [More]
Honda Recalls 748,000 Vehicles Because Airbags Are Supposed To Deploy Properly
By 1.18.13
Someone at the Honda factory apparently goofed and may not have put enough rivets in the airbag assemblies of Pilot and Odyssey vehicles. Without the right number of rivets, the airbag may not deploy properly, which could defeat the entire purpose of an airbag. So it’s time for these cars to be recalled. [More]
NHTSA Says Automakers Issued 650 Safety Recalls In 2012, Affecting 17.8 Million Products
By 1.17.13
Automakers had their hands full with recalls last year, at least according to the latest numbers from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Today the NHTSA announced that vehicle manufacturers had filed more than 650 safety recalls in 2012, which includes more than 17.8 million vehicles, child seats and other equipment related to automobiles. [More]
Fisher-Price Recalls 800,000 Newborn Rock ‘N Play Sleepers Seats Because They Might Be Moldy
By 1.8.13
Fisher-Price has issued a recall of about 800,000 of its Newborn Rock ‘N Play Sleepers due to an insidious problem that could be growing right under customer’s noses: mold. The company and the Consumer Product Safety Commission are warning consumers to stop using the sleepers if they spot mold on it, particularly in between the removable seat cushion and the hard plastic frame of the product. [More]
Maker Of ‘Nap Nanny’ Fights Recall Of Product Linked To Death Of Five Infants
By 1.3.13
We’ve been following the saga of the Nap Nanny baby recliner since it was first recalled back in 2010 following the death of one child. Then in early December, the government filed suit against the company after learning of several additional fatalities. Now, the company is fighting back. [More]
Sam’s Club Recalls Smoked Salmon Sold In 42 States
By 12.28.12
With year-end parties still to come, there will probably be some of you munching on Smoked Salmon in the next few days. If that salmon was purchased at Sam’s Club, you might want to keep reading. [More]
Retailers Recall ‘Nap Nanny’ Following Lawsuit & Deaths Of 5 Infants
By 12.27.12
Three weeks after the maker of the Nap Nanny baby recliner was sued by the government for allegedly failing to address safety concerns that are tied to the deaths of at least five infants, some major retailers have issued their own voluntary recall on the product. [More]
Toyota To Pay Out $1.1 Billion To Settle Unintended Acceleration Lawsuit
By 12.26.12
Three years after Toyota announced numerous recalls of vehicles to deal with claims of unintended acceleration, it has finally agreed to a $1.1 billion settlement to be shared by owners of around 16 million Toyotas in the U.S. [More]
December Recall Roundup: Sparking Mugs And Plummeting Parents
By 12.26.12
Reading through this month’s recalls, you may have an interesting question. “Consumerist, why is a mug a fire hazard?” you’re probably asking. That’s a good question. It’s because it apparently didn’t occur to the mug designers that people might want to microwave it, and that silver-colored bucket handle is metallic enough to cause spectacular sparks when zapped. In this months’ recall roundup, you’ll find flaming fireplaces, non-edible magnets, and lead paint on kids’ clothing. [More]
GM Recalling 145,628 Mid-Sized Pickups As Hood Latch Issue Could Cause Pop-Up Surprise
By 12.20.12
This week seems to be all about vehicle defects that could cause quite a nasty surprise on the road. Yesterday we heard about sunroofs shattering on Hyundai Velosters, and today General Motors announced it’s recalling 145,628 mid-sized pickups because the hood should not pop up unexpectedly while you’re driving. [More]
Camry, Prius V, Several Luxury Cars Fail New Crash Tests
By 12.20.12
You all know the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; they’re the folks that get paid to smash cars into walls. Now the IIHS has added a new level to its Top Safety Pick certification — Top Safety Pick+ — for vehicles that meet existing standards and perform well in new small frontal overlap tests. [More]
