The Safety Institute recently released its list of the top 15 vehicle safety defects to watch. The list uses data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s Early Warning Reports System to identify potential areas of concern.
As NHTSA gathers data, some of the items on the Safety Institute list may call for greater investigation or even vehicle recalls to fix identified defects that may lead to serious car accidents.
The list is released once each quarter. Its purpose is to alert motorists to potential problems in the vehicles they regularly drive, making it easier to spot problems early and encourage drivers to report them. The report is also intended to help identify situations in which a problem has been addressed, but the repair was inadequate.
The latest “top 15” potential vehicle problems to watch include:
2012 Ford Focus – A potential steering problem may cause the vehicle to pull hard to the right or left at freeway speeds.
2004 Toyota Sienna – The sliding door may not retract properly, resulting in passengers’ arms or legs becoming trapped or pinched.
2012 Ford Focus – Electrical problems may cause “surging,” steering system failure and other problems.
2012 Chevrolet Cruze – Service brakes may malfunction or fail, especially if vehicle is put into reverse.
2005 Toyota Sienna – Problems in the sliding doors, including failure to close or rattling loosely when closed.
2006 Toyota Sienna – Problems in the sliding doors, including separation of the door from the mounting or looseness in the mounts that can cause leaking or trouble closing.
2007 Toyota Camry – When cruise control is activated, vehicle may waver in speed.
2009 Toyota Camry – Vehicle may accelerate suddenly when cruise is activated.
2005 Toyota Camry – Sudden gear changes may occur when cruise control is active.
2011 Chevrolet Cruze – Service brakes may stop working if vehicle is shifted into reverse and then put back into drive.
2004 Toyota Camry – Vehicle may accelerate suddenly when driver is pressing the brake. Several occurrences happened as driver was trying to pull into a parking space at low speed.
2008 Toyota Camry – Vehicle may hesitate during acceleration or accelerate suddenly when placed into gear.
2006 Toyota RAV4 – Problems in the suspension leading to knocking sounds, front-end problems and other issues.
2012 Toyota Camry – Vehicle may accelerate suddenly while being slowed, stopped by the brake or placed in park.
2007 GMC Yukon – Several reports of vehicle door latches flaking, peeling or breaking, resulting in cuts and bruises to the hands and fingers of passengers to attempt to open the doors.
Vehicle defects can cause serious injuries and even death, often before the driver realizes anything is wrong with the vehicle. The manufacturers of vehicles and their components may be held responsible for related accidents and injuries under product liability laws in Florida and other states.
It’s important to talk with an experienced lawyer if you have been hurt in an accident related to the alleged defects in any of the vehicles listed above or any other vehicle that you suspect may have been defectively designed or manufactured.
The Safety Institute recently released its list of the top 15 vehicle safety defects to watch. The list uses data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s Early Warning Reports System to identify potential areas of concern.
As NHTSA gathers data, some of the items on the Safety Institute list may call for greater investigation or even vehicle recalls to fix identified defects that may lead to serious car accidents.
The list is released once each quarter. Its purpose is to alert motorists to potential problems in the vehicles they regularly drive, making it easier to spot problems early and encourage drivers to report them. The report is also intended to help identify situations in which a problem has been addressed, but the repair was inadequate.
The latest “top 15” potential vehicle problems to watch include:
Vehicle defects can cause serious injuries and even death, often before the driver realizes anything is wrong with the vehicle. The manufacturers of vehicles and their components may be held responsible for related accidents and injuries under product liability laws in Florida and other states.
It’s important to talk with an experienced lawyer if you have been hurt in an accident related to the alleged defects in any of the vehicles listed above or any other vehicle that you suspect may have been defectively designed or manufactured.