If you’re 23 or older, have a driver’s license and car insurance, and have a nice, clean late-model four-door car, you can sign up to drive strangers around for UberX. Should you? Well, it depends on your feelings about voyeurism, cash, and people eating in your car. [More]
Transportation & Infrastructure
Citing 13 Fatalities, GM Expands Ignition Switch Recall To 1.37 Million Vehicles
By 2.26.14
When General Motors announced its recall of hundreds of thousands of Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles for concerns about the ignition switch, it said the defect was tied to as many as six fatalities. Now the car company says the recall is significantly larger than originally believed and that a total of 13 people may have died as a result of the defect. [More]
February Recall Roundup: Stop That Baby Walker!
By 2.25.14
In this month’s Recall Roundup, recalls are here to protect babies’ fingers, adults’ wrists, and anyone who uses a toilet. [More]
Was Massive Beef Recall Caused By Dairy Cows With Eye Cancer?
By 2.21.14
We know that millions of pounds of beef that came through a California slaughterhouse and meat processing plant have been recalled because the plant “processed diseased and unsound animals.” Well, okay, but what does that mean? We don’t know that for sure yet, but the Village Voice talked to one rancher whose entire 2013 output is part of that massive recall. [More]
Could GM’s Potentially Fatal Ignition Issue Have Been Fixed Seven Years Ago?
By 2.21.14
General Motors recently recalled nearly 800,000 vehicles over concerns about possible ignition switch failures; a defect that may have resulted in multiple deaths. But a recently discovered report shows that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was informed about the possibility of a problem back in 2007. [More]
The DOT Wants To Know: Should Cell Phone Calls Be Allowed On Planes?
By 2.21.14
Back in December when the Federal Communications Commission announced it would start investigating whether or not it’s a good idea to lift the ban on cell phone calls on planes — from a technological point of view — the Department of Transportation was all, “Hold on, we’re going to look into this too.” The DOT is now turning to the public to hear your thoughts. [More]
Fitbit Voluntarily Recalls Rash-Inducing Force Wristbands
By 2.21.14
Since the first reports of contact dermatitis caused by Fitbit Force movement trackers surfaced on the company’s forums (and gained publicity when Consumerist broke the story last month) customers have asked that the company recall the trackers. Fitbit has been happy to refund customers who have skin problems and send their trackers back. Today, the company announced that they’re recalling all Force wristbands. [More]
The Tales Of Two Stolen Cars That Both Showed Up After Decades Away From Home
By 2.21.14
While going about my daily rounds on the Internet, there are constantly new and surprising little tidbits popping up, usually unrelated. Which is why it’s kind of nutty to hear that two separate car theft cold cases have suddenly been solved this week, decades after the cars were stolen, with both vehicles reappearing far from home. [More]
Nestlé Recall: Because Even Hot Pockets Shouldn’t Contain Beef “Unfit For Human Food”
By 2.18.14
Can someone please find Jim Gaffigan and hold his hand while he hears this news? After a beef processing plant announced a recall last week of almost nine million pounds of meat “unfit for human food,” Nestlé has announced it’s pulling certain flavors and batches of Hot Pockets from the shelf. And yes, I can hear the jokes you’re making. [More]
Goodbye Cords: Toyota Is Testing Wireless Charging Station For Hybrids, Electric Cars
By 2.18.14
Are you the owner of an electric car? Hate finding the charging station, then having to get out and actually plug-in your car? Well, fret no more because Toyota is testing a new, easy-to-use wireless battery-charging system. [More]
GM Recalls 778K Vehicles After Fatalities Caused By Ignition Switching Off For No Reason
By 2.13.14
No one wants their car to switch off while driving down the highway. That’s why General Motors announced Thursday that it’s recalling nearly 778,000 compact cars. [More]
Sinkhole Under The National Corvette Museum Swallows 8 Cars That Probably Weren’t Cheap
By 2.12.14
If you’re a car enthusiast planning a trip to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky. in the near future, you might want to consider postponing your visit. Unless of course, sinkholes underneath car museums are of particular interest to you. [More]
Toyota Recalling 1.9 Million Priuses To Fix Software Glitch That Could Slow Or Stop Cars
By 2.12.14
The computers have won. At least the computers in about 1.9 million Toyota Prius vehicles have won, as the company says it’s recalling that number of vehicles to fix a software glitch that could cause the cars to slow down or completely stop. [More]
California Plant Shuts Down After Recalling 8.7 Million Pounds Of Beef “Unfit For Human Food”
By 2.10.14
In what sounds like the perfect storm of awfulness and complete inedibility, a Northern California plant has announced it’s voluntarily closing after issuing a recall for 8.7 million pounds of beef. Why? Because federal officials say the plant “processed diseased and unsound animals” without a full federal inspection, resulting in products that are “unfit for human food.” Yum. [More]
Uncle Ben’s Rice Recalled Following Multiple Illnesses At Schools
By 2.10.14
The makers of Uncle Ben’s rice have recalled various versions of the product that were only sold on the wholesale market following multiple incidents where numerous people fell ill after eating the rice at school lunchrooms. [More]
Some Hubbard Life, Joy, QC+ Dog & Cat Foods Recalled Because Salmonella Is Not Vet-Recommended
By 2.6.14
Ohio-based Pro-Pet LLC has issued a limited recall of varieties of three of its dry dog and cat food brands — Hubbard Life, Joy, and QC+ — over concerns about possible salmonella contamination. [More]
Aston Martin Recalling 17,590 Cars Because You Didn’t Pay $240K For A Luxury Paper Weight
By 2.5.14
There might not be many of you out there reading in Consumerist land who can afford/have the desire to buy an Aston Martin — after all, the luxury vehicles cost anywhere between $117,000 to $240,000, depending on the model. But if you’re one of the 5,001 owners in America of certain models, you probably want it to be able to accelerate. [More]
More Bad News For Babies: 216,000 Britax Strollers Recalled Over Finger Amputation Risk
By 1.31.14
It’s been quite a bad news week for babies and their parents — on the heels of yesterday’s recall of 200,000 baby pacifiers by Fred & Friends, Britax has announced it’s recalling 216,000 strollers over the risk of amputation. [More]
