Latest news with #NationalHighwayTransportationSafetyAdministration
Engadget
a day ago
- Automotive
- Engadget
Tesla is trying to stop certain self-driving crash data becoming public
Tesla has asked a judge to block a request for the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to disclose certain data related to crashes involving vehicles that have self-driving features, as Reuters reports. The company claimed in a filing the information is confidential, and that releasing it publicly would give competitors the ability to analyze the effectiveness of each version of the self-driving tech and potentially figure out the number of crashes that are linked to various systems. The Washington Post last year filed a lawsuit against the NHTSA last year to obtain access to more details about crashes that happened while driver-assistance systems, such as Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD), were engaged. The agency has said the data being requested is exempt from public records laws. The Post contended that while the NHTSA does publish information regarding crashes, it "withholds critical details about the technologies in use and the circumstances and locations of the crashes.' Tesla has argued that the company and the NHTSA should be able to keep certain information related to crashes private. This includes details about driver behavior and road conditions, as well as specific versions of driver-assistance tech that may have been in use. However, the Post 's lawyers claimed that information about the versions of hardware and software that may have been in use at the time of crashes isn't confidential information, since drivers can access that through their vehicle dashboards. Tesla argued in its filing this week that, "Even where Tesla's individual vehicle owners might know certain information about their own vehicles, such as the version of the ADAS software installed, where a safety incident occurred, the conditions of the road during the accident, and what they were doing leading up to the accident, this information is shared with Tesla with the expectation that it will be kept private." According to Electrek , Tesla takes advantage of NHTSA loopholes to have most data relating to crashes involving its vehicles redacted. The company contends that its "self-driving" tech doesn't make its cars autonomous and that drivers are required to actively supervise its use. In other news, Tesla expects to start deploying its first Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, this month. Until late May , Tesla CEO Elon Musk was the de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency. That initiative is said to have cut about 10 percent of the NHTSA's staff at the beginning of this year — including about half of a small team that oversees the safety of autonomous vehicles.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Aston Martin Valkyrie Is Being Recalled in the U.S.A.
Aston Martin is recalling a small handful of examples of its Valkyrie hypercar in the United States over an issue that could potentially damage a wiring harness. Fewer than a dozen cars were impacted by the recall, which is dated May 8th. According to a filing with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the Valkyrie's problem is caused by screws of incorrect length that attach a panel to the rear fuse box. Aston Martin's recall bulletin does not say if the screws are too long or too short, but the offending parts can apparently "clash with the wiring harness." That can lead to heat damage to the fuse box, which could in turn lead to a loss of power steering, headlights, and other functions. Because the issue is with just one set of screws, the recall posting states that seven 9.53 mm screws are the only parts needed to complete the repair, and suggests that the job will only require an hour of labor. That should make for a relatively cheap and straightforward fix, even though the Valkyrie is one of the most expensive, complicated, and generally ambitious cars ever sold. The recall impacts just 11 cars, all built between May 2021 and October 2024. That number is more substantial when considering that Aston Martin planned to build only 275 Valkyries globally, with 40 of those units reserved for the track-only AMR Pro variant. That means that a recall of 11 cars still covers nearly 5% of all Valkyries ever built, and presumably, a much higher percentage of Valkyries sold in the U.S. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Aston Martin Valkyrie Is Being Recalled in the U.S.A.
Aston Martin is recalling a small handful of examples of its Valkyrie hypercar in the United States over an issue that could potentially damage a wiring harness. Fewer than a dozen cars were impacted by the recall, which is dated May 8th. According to a filing with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the Valkyrie's problem is caused by screws of incorrect length that attach a panel to the rear fuse box. Aston Martin's recall bulletin does not say if the screws are too long or too short, but the offending parts can apparently "clash with the wiring harness." That can lead to heat damage to the fuse box, which could in turn lead to a loss of power steering, headlights, and other functions. Because the issue is with just one set of screws, the recall posting states that seven 9.53 mm screws are the only parts needed to complete the repair, and suggests that the job will only require an hour of labor. That should make for a relatively cheap and straightforward fix, even though the Valkyrie is one of the most expensive, complicated, and generally ambitious cars ever sold. The recall impacts just 11 cars, all built between May 2021 and October 2024. That number is more substantial when considering that Aston Martin planned to build only 275 Valkyries globally, with 40 of those units reserved for the track-only AMR Pro variant. That means that a recall of 11 cars still covers nearly 5% of all Valkyries ever built, and presumably, a much higher percentage of Valkyries sold in the U.S. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford Issues Another 'Do Not Drive' Warning, for Another Bronco Recall
On Friday, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration announced that Ford is recalling a whopping three examples of the 2024-2025 model year Bronco. But it's a serious situation for those few vehicles involved, as they're also subject to a 'Do Not Drive Warning' ahead of the recall work being completed. Why are only a trio of Broncos being recalled? Ford's recall docs explain that 'assembly plant records indicate that the vehicles required a repair to correct wheel alignment. Following the repair, the vehicles were not re-processed through the assembly station to tighten and verify torque of the front and rear attachment bolts securing the front lower control arm to the frame.' As a result of those fasteners being loose, Ford says the front lower control arm can separate from the frame. Owners are told to look out for extra noise while driving or degraded vehicle handling as a sign that there's an issue. Ford discovered the problem when it received a field report about a customer complaining about an audible 'pop' when turning at full lock. The dealer inspected the vehicle and noticed that all four front lower control arm to frame nuts were loose. This vehicle had also failed the alignment test at the plant; records showed it received a manual approval from the 'Quality Leadership System operator' instead of being re-run through the alignment validation equipment that Ford suggests would verify the vehicle was 'properly aligned, secured and verified with the proper tooling.' Ford's records showed that four Broncos in total could be affected, but one of them was fixed prior to this recall, which leaves the three in question here. Ford says the vehicles were not produced in VIN order, so there's no range of vehicles to check in on; however, the recall docs state Ford is contacting the affected owners by phone, email and mail, and instructing them to not drive their vehicle. Once the Bronco is brought in for service, the dealer will then inspect the fasteners and either tighten or replace the fasteners if necessary. The alignment will also be checked and adjusted, if incorrect. Ford says it's not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this concern as of April 30 this year. If you're a concerned Bronco owner, it looks like the only folks with vehicles subject to a 'do not drive' order are being contacted by phone. Official mail notification to owners is also expected to be completed by May 19. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
AAA's ‘Tow to Go' program running on St. Patrick's Day
AAA will be working to keep impaired drivers off the road during the St. Patrick's Day holiday. The auto club's 'Tow to Go' service will continue to run through Tuesday morning. The program was created to provide safe transportation for impaired drivers and their cars. The service works by dispatching a tow truck driver to meet up with a person who is unfit to operate their vehicle. The tow truck then transports the driver and their car to a safe location within 10-miles of the pickup spot. The service is free, but AAA asks that it be used only as a backup plan. 'We're proud to be that last line of defense, keeping people from driving impaired,' AAA's Mark Jenkins said. 'We also remain committed to educating the public that it's important to find a safe ride before drinking alcohol or taking drugs. This is critical so motorists are not in the position of having to decide if they're sober enough to drive,' Jenkins added. Here's the number to call: (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246 Program details: Starts Friday, March 14 at 6 p.m. Ends Tuesday, March 18 at 6 a.m. Free and available to both AAA members and non-members. Confidential ride for one person and their vehicle to a safe location within a 10-mile radius. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, St. Patrick's Day is one of the deadliest holidays on U.S. roadways. In 2020, more than 11,000 people died in crashes linked to drunk drivers, according to NHTSA. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
