Mazda recalling more than 260,000 vehicles over software problem that could cause stalling

Consumer Reports (7/10, Barry, 14.23M) says that Mazda is “recalling more than 260,000 cars and SUVs because a software problem could cause them to stall while driving.” The software “controls how the engine runs, and if a problem arises, the engine may not run as smoothly as it normally does, or it could stall while driving,” which “could lead the driver to lose control of the vehicle and may cause a crash, the NHTSA says.” The recall includes “the 2018 and 2019 CX-5 SUV, 2018 and 2019 Mazda 6 sedan, and 2019 Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”

        The story was reported similarly by USA Today (7/10), Cars (7/10, 1.24M), and the Car Connection (7/10, 116K).

Number of cyclist deaths on the rise nationwide

Business Insider (7/9, Wang, 3.67M) ranks the 20 most dangerous cities to ride a bike in based on a recently released DOT report, which “contains comprehensive data from 2017 on both a state and city level.” New York City features at the top of the list with the “percentage of total traffic fatalities who were cyclists” being 10.6 percent “despite over 1,400 miles of bike lanes and a Vision Zero transportation initiative.” So far in 2019, 15 cyclists “have been fatally struck by cars in New York City, a 50% increase over the entirety of last year” spurring Mayor Bill de Blasio “to declare that ‘we have an emergency on our hands.’” Another report from the US DOT containing “preliminary data from 2018 show that cyclist deaths are estimated to have increased by 10% last year, even though overall traffic fatalities are estimated to have fallen slightly.”

More than 80,000 Jeep Cherokee SUVs recalled over faulty transmission

Consumer Reports (7/8, 14.23M) reports that Jeep “is recalling 81,165 of its 2014 Cherokee SUVs because a software problem can lead the transmission to unexpectedly shift into Neutral, reducing power.” That “could lead to an accident, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.” The issue “affects only 2014 Cherokees with a 3.2-liter V6 engine.” Fiat Chrysler Automobiles “says it is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to this problem.”

        Car and Driver (7/8, 9.22M) reports over 1500 powertrain complaints had been “submitted by 2014 Jeep Cherokee owners to [the] NHTSA as of June 25.”

Analysis: Autonomous cars, vehicle electrification driving paradigm shift in auto industry

In a piece for Forbes (7/8, 9.71M), contributor Jack Nerad writes that autonomous driving and vehicle electrification will change the world, according to a report from McKinsey & Company that “identifies the far-reaching and widespread implications of the imminent changes in mobility for consumers all around the world.” In addition, “increased connectivity and a move to vehicle- and ride-sharing” are two other technologies which transform the car business. Nerad concludes that “from the products themselves to the companies that make them to the customers that buy them, the auto industry is in for the paradigm shift of all paradigm shifts.”

Toyota expands Prius recall to up to 20,000 vehicles

The Los Angeles Times (7/2, Vartabedian, 4.64M) reports that “as many as 20,000 Toyota Prius owners have had electric power system failures after the company recalled their vehicles in 2014 and attempted to remedy a safety defect by modifying software,” according to a Toyota executive testifying “in a high-stakes, two-month-long civil trial that had closing arguments Monday in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana.” The Times adds that the jury began deliberations on Tuesday in the case, which “was brought against Toyota by Roger Hogan, one of the largest Toyota dealers in Southern California, who alleges that after he began sounding alarms about the problem Toyota retaliated against his dealerships in San Juan Capistrano and Claremont.” To the Times, “The lengthy trial involves a highly unusual battle over safety allegations between an auto manufacturer and one of its top dealerships.”

Crash Avoidance Technologies are Saving Lives

A survey released recently by Consumer Reports found 57 percent of drivers say crash avoidance safety systems have helped them avoid a crash.

The survey, which tracked data on about 72,000 vehicles covering 2015-19 models, asked drivers about forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind spot warning and other active safety and driver systems. https://www.consumerreports.org/automotive-technology/car-safety-systems-that-could-save-your-life/

A lot of people are very unaware of these systems or what they do. With as distracted as people have become these days in their driving, these systems have become important.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, has reported that automatic emergency braking systems with forward collision warning and crash imminent braking reduce rear-end crashes by half, and still by more than a quarter with forward collision warning alone. The IIHS reported Vehicles that have FCW and AEB have 50 percent fewer front-to-rear crashes compared with cars without the systems.

https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/10-automakers-equipped-most-of-their-2018-vehicles-with-automatic-emergency-braking

Even in the 2019 model year many vehicles are still not equipped with automatic emergency braking. In fact, no GM or FCA vehicle in 2019 comes equipped with automatic emergency braking as a standard safety feature. Toyota, on the other hand, leads the way with automatic emergency braking being standard on 90% of Toyota’s vehicle fleet.

Safety shouldn’t be optional. These systems should be standard on every new car, not just on luxury vehicles or more expensive trims, because even drivers and passengers who don’t know about these systems would benefit from having them.