Fatal Tesla crash in China involved autopilot, government TV says.

The New York Times (9/14, Boudette, Subscription Publication, 13.42M) reports that a report broadcast on Wednesday by the Chinese government news channel (CCTV) revealed that another fatal Tesla crash, allegedly involving Autopilot, occurred in China on January 20, after the young driver’s Tesla Model S “slammed into a road sweeper on a highway near Handan, a city about 300 miles south of Beijing.” Tesla, which is already under federal investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in under “renewed” scrutiny “about the safety of its Autopilot technology.” Autopilot has been heavily criticized for lulling drivers “into complacency, leaving too little time to take back control of the vehicle.” 

Ongoing debate over safety of Uber’s driverless car beta test in Pittsburgh.

The Washington Post (9/13, Fung, 10.14M) reports Pittsburgh locals’ reactions to Uber’s driverless cars “run the gamut” – “from hopeful that the new technology will contribute” to the city’s rebirth to “a reluctance to trust” the robotic cars. Residents have also expressed concerns “about the cars’ performance on Pittsburgh’s complicated road network” and the possibility that driverless ride-hailing services could negatively impact those who work as Uber or taxi drivers within the city.

        The Christian Science Monitor (9/13, Beck, 382K) reports safety and industry experts have also expressed their concerns over Uber’s beta testing in Pittsburgh, arguing that the company’s innovation “is miles ahead of transportation regulations.” Joan Claybrook, a consumer-protection advocate and former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said, “They are essentially making the commuters the guinea pigs,” and argued that Uber “can do the exact same tests without having average citizens in your car.” However, Bryant Walker Smith, the chair of the Planning Task Force for the On-Road Automated Vehicle Standards Committee of the Society of Automotive and Aerospace Engineers, has counter-argued that “all sorts of automotive technologies are introduced before there are regulations to handle them.” NHTSA has said that it plans to release guidelines for autonomous vehicles by the end of the summer. 

GM recalls millions of vehicles for software defect that can cause airbags not to deploy.

There is extensive coverage, particularly from wire pick-ups, of the latest General Motors vehicle recall affecting over 3.6 million vehicles in the US and about 680,000 more worldwide, announced Friday by NHTSA. The issue this time is with airbags that in rare cases may not deploy due to a software defect. So far the defect, which affects several models from 2014-2017 across four brands, has been linked to one death and at least three injuries.

        The CBS Evening News (9/9, story 10, 0:25, Pelley, 11.17M) broadcast, “GM is recalling more than 3.5 million vehicles in the US because of a software fault that could prevent the airbags from working.” According to the broadcast, the faulty airbags are being “blamed for at least one death.” CBS News (9/9, 4.74M) also reports from its website. Another story by CBS News (9/9, 4.74M) reports with a list of affected GM vehicles.

        Reuters (9/9, Shepardson) reports that NHTSA documents posted Friday state “certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module software to activate a diagnostic test,” preventing the airbag or seat belts from working correctly in a crash.

        The AP (9/9, Krisher, Durbin) reports that GM “learned of the problem in May when a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado crashed and its air bags didn’t deploy,” after which the automaker “notified Delphi Corp., the supplier that made the module.” Testing by both companies confirmed the airbags could fail. GM “will notify customers,” the AP says, “and update the software for free.” Moreover, GM dealers have the update available to them to use for repairing recalled vehicles.

        The New York Times (9/9, Boudette, Subscription Publication, 13.42M) reports on “how quickly G.M. and the government responded to the problem once the company became aware of it in mid-May,” pointing out that “G.M. wasn’t always so quick to remedy potential safety defects.”

        The Wall Street Journal (9/9, Spector, Subscription Publication, 6.37M) reports that the 2014 Silverado crash was brought to GM’s attention through an in-house program encouraging employees to report safety issues called “Speak Up For Safety,” created in the wake of the company’s ignition switch scandal of 2014. Bloomberg News (9/9, Plungis, 2.49M) reports that after the ignition switch defect “GM overhauled its approach to spotting defects and recalling cars after that controversy, leading to nearly 30 million cars being recalled that year.”

        Also reporting are NBC News (9/9, 5.08M), TIME (9/9, 6.62M), Fortune (9/9, 7.04M), Business Insider (9/9, 2.39M), Automotive News (9/9, 185K), Consumerist (9/9, 61K), Gizmodo (9/9, 2M), Engadget (9/9, 765K), Truck Trend (9/9), MLive (MI) (9/9, 609K), and UPI (9/9, Ware). 

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Nissan Recalls 120K Vehicles Over Fire-Causing Fluid Leaks

Nissan North America Inc. is recalling 120,000 vehicles over fears that their anti-lock braking systems may malfunction and leak brake fluid onto an an internal electrical circuit board, increasing the risk of a fire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday. 

GM recalling 4.3 million vehicles globally for airbag software defect

General Motors today said it is recalling 4.3 million vehicles for a software problem that can prevent airbags from deploying in a crash. The defect, which affects all of GM's current full-size pickups and SUVs, is linked to one death and three injuries. GM said the recall would not have a material effect on its earnings.

Ford expands door latch recall.

The AP (9/8) reports that Ford announced on Thursday that it will spend $640 million this year to replace door latches on 2.4 million of its vehicles, which can open while the vehicle is in motion. Ford made the announcement after a NHTSA investigation revealed that 1,200 customers had complained of the problem. The article mentions that Ford had initially recalled 830,000 vehicles for the problem in August but the NHTSA found the recall to be inadequate because it was limited to Mexico and 16 states with high temperatures.

        The AP (9/8) reports that Ford explained that the problem was due to a spring tab in the door’s latches that can break and prevent the door from either closing or cause it to pop open. Ford said car owners can see if their car is included in the recall on its website, where they can enter their vehicle identification number.

        The Wall Street Journal (9/8, Rogers, Steele, Subscription Publication, 6.37M) reports that Ford announced the expanded recall after it reduced its annual operating profit guidance by six percent. The article explains that while the company experienced strong US sales for trucks and SUVs, progress in Europe and Asia has been slower than that of General Motors. 

NHTSA recalls 42K Mazda6 sedans for airbag coating problem.

Cars (9/6, Torbjornsen, 897K) reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a recall on “approximately 42,000 model-year 2009-10 Mazda6 sedans” for an improperly applied protective coating the on airbag control unit. As a result of improper application, “moisture may damage the unit, causing it to malfunction; the airbag warning light may illuminate and the airbags may not deploy in a crash, increasing the risk of an injury.”