It’s been one year since the Consumer Product Safety Commission launched its SaferProducts.gov portal for consumers to post reports of unsafe items. With thousands of complaints filed in the last 12 months, it’s already become clear that kitchen appliances dominate consumers’ safety concerns. [More]
Transportation & Infrastructure
Recall Roundup: Beware Of The Dancing Teapot
By 3.8.12
In this edition of the Recall Roundup, a scary number of bicycle parts are recalled, grass cutters might cut humans, and we learn that a “dancing teapot” (pictured) is a lot less fun than the name makes it sound. Especially when it burns you. [More]
Toyota Recalls Another 681,000 Camry, Venza, Tacoma Vehicles
By 3.7.12
It’s been a few months since the last big Toyota recall, so it probably comes as no surprise to some of you that Toyota has issued recalls a grand total of 681,000 Camry, Venza and Tacoma vehicles. [More]
NHTSA Postpones Rearview Camera Requirement For New Vehicles
By 2.29.12
A rule that would require all new automobiles to include a rearview back-up camera by 2014 has been postponed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It was expected that the new regulation would have been announced today, but instead, the agency said they need to look into the matter more before finalizing it. [More]
DC Driver's "NO TAGS" Vanity Plate Leads To $20,000 In Tickets
By 2.17.12
Usually when someone regrets getting a vanity plate it’s because they picked a stupid pun or dated pop culture reference. But one driver’s attempt at license plate levity has him regretting his decision to the tune of $20,000 in parking tickets that aren’t even his. [More]
Toyota To Shift Highlander Production To U.S., Invest $400 Million
By 2.8.12
Earlier today at the Chicago Auto Show, Toyota announced that it is shifting production of Highlander SUVs from Japan to the car maker’s plant in Princeton, Indiana. [More]
Clint Eastwood Denies Political Slant In Chrysler Super Bowl Ad
By 2.7.12
Last year, people around the country cheered Chrysler’s ad touting the phoenix-like rebirth of Detroit and American automakers. But it’s an election year, so the car company’s most recent TV spot, featuring Mr. Grizzle himself, Clint Eastwood, has been attacked by some as being propaganda for the Obama administration. [More]
HP Recalls 1 Million Fax Machines Because "Fire" Is Not A Paper-Friendly Feature
By 2.2.12
Hewlett-Packard has announced a recall of more than one million HP Fax 1040 and 1050 fax machines in North America because the machines have faulty internal electric components that can fail, causing the machines to overheat and possibly catch fire. [More]
U.S. Car Buyers Seeing Less Difference Between Car Brands
By 1.24.12
Not so long ago, saying the name of any of the top car brands — Toyota, Chevy, Ford, Honda, etc — conjured up very distinct associated images and preconceptions, especially when compared to the smaller and newer brands on the market. But it looks like that line between champs and challengers is blurring as consumers re-think what they prize in an automobile. [More]
NHTSA Says Don't Worry About Your Chevy Volt Erupting Into Flames More Than Other Cars
By 1.23.12
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is shutting the books on its recent safety investigation into Chevrolet Volt battery packs when a few erupted into flames after crash tests. The verdict: Chevy Volts are just as likely to explode as any other cars. [More]
Get The Government To Email You About Car Recalls
By 1.23.12
If your car manufacturer thinks your engine might catch on fire, it’s better to know sooner rather than later. You can streamline the process for discovering any car recalls by signing up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Recall Notification by Email program. [More]
OnStar Working With Verizon To Bring 4G LTE To Your Car
By 1.9.12
Last year, OnStar used its platform at the Consumer Electronics Show to announce that it was finally going to make its service available for installation in vehicles that were not made by General Motors. This year, the company showed it wants to branch out from its established position in the crash-response/locked-out-of-my-car industry by announcing a partnership with Verizon Wireless that could be bringing all sorts of other content to your car via 4G LTE. [More]
Chevy To Fix Every Volt Vehicle To Prevent Battery Fires
By 1.5.12
Late last year it was revealed that the Dept. of Transportation was looking into possible problems with the batteries in electric vehicles after a Chevy Volt caught fire following a crash test. Now it looks like General Motors will spend the next few months upgrading the battery containment and coolant systems in every Volt currently on the road. [More]
Woman Rejects Honda Settlement, Claims Her Civic Didn't Live Up To Its Advertised Gas Mileage
By 1.2.12
Not content with a proposed settlement from Honda over claims that their Civic Hybrids don’t live up to their advertised gas mileage, a woman is bringing the car manufacturers to small-claims court to get what she thinks is her due. [More]
Jeep Mind Trick: There Is No Navigation System/Stereo In Your Car
By 12.29.11
It doesn’t matter that Steven is looking right at the sophisticated navigation system/stereo that came with his 2010 Jeep. It doesn’t matter that the technicians at the Jeep dealership can see the system with their very own eyes. It’s not there. Chrysler’s records, based on his VIN, say that he doesn’t have it, and they won’t give him the upgrade disc needed to make it sync with his iPhone. You can’t upgrade something that isn’t there. [More]
Johnson & Johnson Ends 2011 Just At It Began — By Recalling More Stuff
By 12.22.11
After more than a year of near-constant recalls, the folks at Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Labs aren’t finished yet. This time, it’s a mere 12 million bottles of Motrin that are being recalled from store shelves because the pills may not dissolve as quickly as they are supposed to. [More]
Pampered Chef Ice Cream Scoops Recalled, Could Fly Off Their Own Handles
By 12.21.11
Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notices are hilarious in their understatement. Take this current recall of Pampered Chef ice cream scoops: the problem is described in the press release headline as an “Impact Injury Hazard.” Translation: if you put this scoop in warm water, the cap at the end may pop off and hit you. Or your kitchen appliances. [More]
Saab's Money Struggles Finally Lead It To File For Bankruptcy
By 12.19.11
After trying for months to be the little Swedish car company that could, Saab has given in and filed for bankruptcy amid long-standing money problems. The trouble started last March, and the company stopped making vehicles in April. [More]
