Latest news with #FMVSS
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New Car Seat Regulations Are Coming—Do You Have To Buy Another One?
Fact checked by Sarah ScottThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued new safety standards for car seats. NHTSA just extended its initial June 30, 2025 date of compliance to December 5, 2026. The new standards aim to protect young children from side crashes, known as a T-bone seats in the U.S. will soon need to meet new federal safety standards. The aim is to better protect young children in the event of a side-impact crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the regulation and companies must now comply by December 5, 2026. This is a new extension to the previous date of June 30, 2025. The change is to give manufacturers more time to test and make the necessary changes to their car seats. "In their petitions for reconsideration, manufacturers stated that there are not enough test labs and small volume manufacturers don't have their own sled systems to design and verify their products to meet these new, more advanced safety requirements. Many large manufacturers have already complied," NHTSA tells Parents. "To ensure an adequate supply of child restraint systems for consumers to purchase while manufacturers adapt to the new standard, NHTSA is extending the lead time for compliance." Here's what families need to know about the new standards and what it means for their current car seats in the meantime. Known as Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213a, the new standard includes a test simulating a 30-mph side crash, known as a T-bone collision. It applies to car seats for kids 40 pounds and under. "NHTSA's side-impact car seat safety rule will enhance safety and make child car seats even safer," NHTSA tells Parents. The new requirement is in addition to previous standards requiring a test simulating a 30-mph frontal impact. Frontal crashes are the most common and cause a significant number of deaths, a reason for the initial focus. But side-impact crashes also lead to serious injuries and fatalities. 'Side impacts are especially dangerous when the impact is on the passenger compartment because, unlike a frontal or rear-end crash, there are no substantial, energy absorbing structures between the occupant and the impacting vehicle or object,' NHTSA explains in its ruling. NHTSA announced in 2022 that it would be changing its requirements and initially gave manufacturers three years to conduct tests and update their seats. Now every car seat sold after December 5, 2026, must meet the new requirements. If you already own a car seat, you don't have to replace it. It's safe to use as long as it hasn't expired (car seats usually expire between 7 and 10 years), hasn't been recalled, and is installed correctly. Also, make sure you are using the right type of seat for your child's height and weight, which you can confirm on the NHTSA website. Keep in mind, many brands have already implemented the new standard. You can call the manufacturer to confirm if their car seats are complying with FMVSS 213a. Some may also have a label confirming they are FMVSS 213a compliant. Read the original article on Parents
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volkswagen Is Recalling the ID.Buzz for a Reason We've Never Heard Before
Volkswagen has just recalled what appears to be all of its U.S.-model vans sold so far, and the reason seems to be sort of serious — albeit one that's new to us. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the third-row bench seat is simply too wide. The recall, which was submitted to the federal safety watchdog agency on April 23, explains that Volkswagen's third-row bench seat was designed with two designated seating positions that don't line up with current seating surface width standards. In simple terms, the third row is capable of holding three passengers, but only has two seat belts. That means that the passenger accommodations in the rear aren't compliant with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Regulators seem to be worried that such a voluminous seating arrangement will lead to the temptation to place a third passenger on the bench seat. Of course, this un-belted occupant is liable to be gravely injured or even die in the event of a crash. Volkswagen says that the seating surface width error is a result of misinterpretation of a section of the federal motor vehicle safety standards. (However, the manufacturer does note that the owner's manual limits the number of passengers in the electric van to the number of seat belts.) Volkswagen says it first found out about this potential non-compliance issue in February and began investigating shortly after. By March, Volkswagen was conducting FMVSS compliance testing with an external testing institute, and had confirmation that the width of the third row was non-compliant by April 1. There have been no recorded field claims of safety issues stemming from the width of the third row, Volkswagen reports. The fix is a strange one, but relatively easy: Volkswagen says it will add un-padded trim to limit the seating surface width of the third-row bench. This will limit the ability of three passengers to squeeze in there, and make the comply with federal standards. The scope of this recall is small on paper, with less than 6000 units included, but a closer look at sales figures reveals that this recall likely covers all U.S. market models. Year-end sales figures show a total of 1162 units were sold by the end of 2024, while first quarter numbers from 2025 show a total of 1901 units. That totals up to 3063 recorded unit sales, leaving a delta of 2574 units. It's certainly possible that the time span between March 31 and April 23 yielded 2574 sales, but we suspect that the majority of these unaccounted units are dealership inventory. Either way, it appears Volkswagen may be on the hook for updating its entire fleet of U.S.-market models. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Department of Transportation recalls Bridgestone tires; how to get new ones
If you're hitting the road this weekend, check those tires. The U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a recall for Bridgestone tires. 'Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is recalling certain R123 Ecopia tires, size 295/75R22.5, designed for use on commercial trailer vehicles,' the recall said. 'The tires may have been manufactured incorrectly with one of the three stabilizer ply belts applied in the wrong orientation. 'As such, these tires fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 119, 'New pneumatic tires - other than passenger cars.' Incorrect belt orientation may cause the tires to fail and increase the risk of a crash.' If you own them, they need to be replaced. 'BATO will replace the tires, free of charge,' the recall said. 'Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 13, 2025. Tire purchasers may contact BATO customer service at 800-847-3272.' Further details on the recall are listed on the NHTSA website. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Bridgestone recall: R123 Ecopia tires, size 295/75R22.5
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford Maverick Customers Can't Catch a Break, Thanks to Double Recall
Ford customers can't seem to catch a break with recalls as of late. The Blue Oval and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have issued two new recalls impacting the Ford Maverick pickup truck, with both recalls related to separate lighting issues. What's even more frustrating is the fact that these recalled trucks have already been into the dealer for mandated service. The larger of the two recalls is spread across model year 2022 and 2023 Maverick Hybrids, with Ford stating some 933 units could potentially be impacted. According to the recall filings, these trucks feature an instrument cluster that may not illuminate warning lights or gauges properly. This is clearly a safety issue, as well as a violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 101, "Control and Displays," and 102, "Transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" as well as FMVSS 105, 108, and 208. Ford says these vehicles were previously called in under recall number 24V-140, but that repairs were made incorrectly. Notification letters for impacted customers will be sent around April 14th. There will be no charge for this fix, which in this case is a simple software update. The smaller recall impacts just 141 Mavericks from model year 2022. These vehicles were previously serviced under recall number 24V-730, but once again. repairs were made incorrectly. As a result, the ABS system in the trucks may trigger the rear brake lights without driver application of the brakes. This is confusing to fellow motorists and is a clear safety hazard, while also being a violation of FMVSS 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." The fix is an update to the ABS module performed at the local dealer, which again will be free of charge. Ford will send customers impacted by this recall notification letters around April 25. Having to bring a vehicle in for multiple recall repairs is a frustrating experience. Having to go back because the first fix wasn't sufficient is doubly so. Hopefully Ford is able to right the ship after back-to-back titles as the most recalled automaker in 2023 and 2024. If you own a Maverick and want to see if your vehicle is included in the recall now rather than wait for the notice to land in your mailbox, you can use the NHTSA search tool linked here. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
