NHTSA expands Fiat Chrysler roll-away inquiry.

The New York Times (2/7, Jensen, Subscription Publication, 12.03M) reports that the NHTSA “said on Saturday that they had intensified an investigation into about 856,000 Fiat Chrysler models, citing a concern that the vehicles could roll away when drivers think the automatic transmission is set on ‘park.’” The Times says 121 accidents have been tied to the issue, resulting in 30 injuries. The Times says most complaints involve Jeep Grant Cherokees and that the investigation also includes the 2012-14 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger with the 3.6-liter V-6. Investigators say that an electronic gear selector system “is not intuitive and provides poor tactile and visual feedback to the driver, increasing the potential for unintended gear selection.” 

Microsoft recalls nearly 2.3 million Surface Pro power cords.

Reuters (2/2) reports that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced that Microsoft is recalling nearly 2.25 million AC power cords shipped with the Surface Pro tablet following 56 reports that the cords overheat and catch fire, and five reports of customers receiving electric shocks.

        The AP (2/2) adds that the recall will affect AC power cords for the Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, and Surface Pro 3 tablets sold before March 15. Microsoft will offer customers replacements cords free of cost. 

Senators call for broader recall of defective Takata airbags.

The New York Times (2/2, Tabuchi, Subscription Publication, 12.03M) reports that Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward Markey (D-MA) have “called on the Obama administration in a letter to force the recall of every Takata airbag that uses a propellant that contains a compound called ammonium nitrate.” The Times explains that “the letter follows the death of Joel Knight, who was killed in December when the airbag in his 2006 Ford Ranger ruptured after hitting a stray cow in South Carolina, sending metal debris into his throat.” The senators criticized the NHTSA “for not demonstrating more urgency in forcing Takata to prove that ammonium nitrate is safe to use.” The Times points out that the “agency has said that while unknowns remained surrounding the cause of the defect, complicating the recalls, if it ‘believes a vehicle presents an unreasonable risk to safety, the agency would seek a recall.’” Meanwhile, the senators “did acknowledge that the agency has recently stepped up its enforcement against Takata.” 

Volkswagen submits recall plan to US regulators.

Bloomberg Business (2/2, Hull, Plungis, 2.92M) reports that Volkswagen submitted its draft recall plan to the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board on Tuesday, covering approximately “85,000 VW, Audi and Porsche vehicles with 3-liter diesel engines.” CARB said in an e-mailed statement on Tuesday, “VW has stated this plan is intended to remedy the presence of one or more defeat devices in 2009-2015 model year 3.0 liter diesel vehicles” and “agrees these devices resulted in excess emissions and other instances of noncompliance in the affected vehicles.” The EPA and CARB have said they will review the plan. Reuters (2/2, Shepardson) reports that CARB last month rejected VW’s plan to fix 482,000 2.0 liter cars for being “substantially deficient.” The company was granted permission to begin recalls in Europe last week. The AP (2/2) reports similarly. 

Nissan recalls Altimas for third time to address hood latches.

The AP (1/29) reports that “Nissan is recalling nearly 930,000 Altima midsize cars worldwide — some for a third time — to fix a latch problem that could let the hood fly open while the cars are moving.”

        Reuters (1/30, Shepardson), Motor Trend (1/30, 7.13M), AutoWeek (1/30, 2.12M), the Dallas Morning News (1/30, 1.24M), the Detroit Bureau (1/30), Money (1/30, 6.87M), the Examiner (1/30, 825K), and the Leader Call (1/30, 15) also report. 

Takata expands recall in US.

Reuters (1/26, Shepardson, Woodall) reports the NHTSA on Tuesday announced that Takata Corp is recalling 5.1 million US vehicles deemed defective, after the company identified an 11th death that may be linked to a faulty airbag. For the first time, the new recall also includes some 2014 models and newer vehicles are under “investigation and could be subject to recall at a later date,” Takata said. So far, some 24 million vehicles have been recalled in the US, but the numbers could increase again. Ford on Tuesday was the first automaker to announce a recall.

        Bloomberg News (1/26, Ma, Horie, 3.4M) reports the Takata inflators’s scandal “has spread to India after a first reported death involving the components.” Honda Motor Co. “said that a 2007 Honda Civic was traveling at a high speed in India last April when it rolled over and crashed, resulting in the driver’s death,” the article reports. Honda found out about the accident “three months later and investigations showed the air bag made by Takata had deployed and ruptured, though the cause of death hasn’t been determined, according to Honda spokesman Ben Nakamura.” 

Ford recalling nearly 400,000 trucks due to air bag defect.

ABC World News (1/26, story 12, 0:20, Muir, 5.84M) reported that Ford is “recalling nearly 400,000 Ranger pickups because of driver side air bags made by Takata that can explode and cause serious injury, even death.” ABC says the recall comes after the death of a man in South Carolina was linked to those Takata air bags, the 10th death linked to the air bags.

        The AP (1/26) reports that the recall covers 2004 through 2006 model years manufactured in the US and Canada. Meanwhile, NHTSA “says automakers will recall another 5 million vehicles equipped with faulty inflators made by Takata.” The AP says “some of the recalls are because of the crash that killed Knight, with the rest due to air bags failing in lab tests.” The AP goes on to state that the recall now covers 14 automakers and 24 million vehicles, with NHTSA saying recall numbers are likely to expand. The AP points out that the Rangers were recalled last year due to problems with the passenger air bag inflators.

        USA Today (1/26, Bomey, 5.56M) reports that “NHTSA spokesman Gordon Trowbridge told reporters that before the deadly accident, testing of 1,900 inflators in the Ranger had uncovered no problems.” He also “said Friday that the number of recalled inflators could expand by ‘tens of millions’ if Takata can’t prove that the ammonium-nitrate propellant in the inflators is not responsible for the defect.” USA Today points out that “recalls of Takata vehicles have proceeded slowly, in part because replacement inflators haven’t been readily available” and because “many vehicle owners have ignored recall notices.”