Fiat Chrysler expands recall of Dodge Chargers because of defective airbags.

Bloomberg News (8/2, Mulholland, 2.66M) reports that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles initiated a recall of hundreds of thousands of Dodge Chargers over defective airbags, where “side air-bag inflatable curtains and seat air-bags” can “deploy unexpectedly...if the car door is slammed too hard,” or from “heavy road inputs.” The story notes FCA’s agreement “to pay a $105 million penalty and instigate a corrective action plan following” a NHTSA investigation “into how the company handled 23 different recalls to fix defects in more than 11 million cars and trucks.”

        According to the AP (8/2), the recall affects “more than 322,000 sedans worldwide,” but “earlier this month, more than 843,000 Dodge Ram pickup trucks were recalled for the same problem.” 

        Fiat Chrysler to pay record $105 million fine. In a brief story on the CBS Evening News (7/26, story 9, 0:20, Axelrod, 5.08M), David Axelrod reported that CBS News “confirmed a record fine against Fiat Chrysler,” under which the company “will pay $105 million for poor recall practices including misleading regulators.” David Kerley reported on ABC World News (7/26, story 5, 1:40, Llamas, 5.84M) that in “an exclusive interview,” Secretary Foxx said “he is slapping the biggest civil fine ever on a car maker: $70 million in cash. Twenty million dollars to fix the problems. And if Fiat Chrysler doesn’t perform, it could face another $15 million. Potentially, a $105 million fine.” Foxx: “Well, this is a good example of how not to do a recall.” 

Fiat Chrysler recalls 1.4 million vehicles due to cybersecurity risks.

On Friday, Fiat Chrysler announced the recall of over one million vehicles due to cybersecurity concerns, as certain Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler models with touch screens were discovered this week to be vulnerable to hackers, who can reportedly shut off the cars’ engines or disable other essential functions like the brakes.

        ABC World News (7/24, 6:46 p.m. EDT, 5.84M) broadcast that Fiat Chrysler is “recalling 1.4 million vehicles” and “offering a software security update.” Investigators are also “looking into whether other vehicles may be vulnerable, too.”

        NBC Nightly News (7/24, 6:46 p.m. EDT, 7.86M) broadcast that “hackers were able to take control of a Jeep over the Internet,” as seen in “that stunning video we showed you earlier this week.” NBC News (7/24, Eisenstein, 3.73M) also reported online.

        In continuing coverage of a story from earlier this week, the New York Times (7/25, Kessler, Subscription Publication, 12.12M) reports that NHTSA realized “they had a problem they had never faced but had long feared” when the car company first phoned them over a week ago “with news that two technology researchers had hacked wirelessly into a Jeep Cherokee, through its dashboard connectivity system.” NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind praised the recall action as “the right step to protect Fiat Chrysler’s customers.”

        “The Switch” blog of the Washington Post (7/24, Peterson, 6.76M) reported that the researchers were able to connect to “a Jeep Cherokee’s brakes and steering — while the car was on the highway,” accessing “the car through Uconnect, the car’s information and entertainment dashboard.”

        The Wall Street Journal (7/25, Spector, Yadron, Subscription Publication, 6.06M) reports that Fiat Chrysler was aware of the potential for cars to be hacked through the onboard touchscreen system as early as January 2014. NHTSA will monitor the car company’s proposed solution to the problem, which does not require any action from the consumer, as it involves system-wide upgrades. 

Hackers could access brakes, critical vehicle components wirelessly.

The New York Times (7/24, Kessler, Subscription Publication, 12.12M) reports on the risk of hacking that comes with the use of connectivity from vehicles, such as a Jeep Cherokee which was hacked by two researchers who had access to “critical components like the engine, brakes and even steering under certain conditions.” The findings has automakers scrambling to reassure customers about safety, with Fiat Chrysler rushing to release a software patch that would allegedly prevent hackers from accessing their vehicles. 

Sanofi medical device.

The Wall Street Journal (7/10, Silverman, 5.68M) reports in “Pharmalot” that consumer advocacy group Public Citizen has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to revoke the approval of Sanofi’s Seprafilm and issue a recall. The group alleges that the device, used in pelvic and stomach surgeries, is unsafe and is connected to 21 deaths. 

Honda recalls more Takata air bags outside the US.

USA Today (7/9, 5.01M) reports that Honda is recalling an additional 4.5 million Takata air bags outside the US, including in Japan. The article notes that Honda is among 11 automakers that had to recall vehicles in the US after they used Takata air bags. Takata is recalling more than 33 million defective air inflators in the US after it reached a deal with the NHTSA.

        The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (7/9, Krisher, Kageyama, 985K) also covers the additional recall, adding that Takata, the auto industry and NHTSA “are all investigating to find out exactly what causes the problem.” 

GM issues recalls for Hummers, Chevrolets.

The New York Times (7/9, Jensen, Subscription Publication, 12.24M) reports that General Motors issued a recall covering “about 196,000 Hummer sport utility vehicles” which can have “an electrical problem that resulted in at least two vehicles being destroyed in fires.” The problem is that “part of the heating and cooling system could overheat and cause a fire inside the dashboard.” There were 20 complaints filed with the NHTSA “about fires inside the dashboard.” GM says 42 fires were reported. The recall covers the Hummer H3 2006-10, and the H3T 2009-10.

        The Detroit News (7/8, Shepardson, 523K) reports that in addition to the Hummer recalls of the H3 and H3T, GM also announced a recall for “50,731 2014-15 Chevrolet Sparks and 2015 Chevrolet Sonics because of a radio glitch.” Software for the radio “may cause the radio to lock up in the OnStar turn-by-turn directions mode.” The result is that “all audio functions will cease, including vehicle chimes related to warnings for a key left in ignition and driver safety belt not in use” a violation of US safety standards.

        Reuters (7/8) also covers the announced recalls for the Hummer and Chevrolet vehicles.