Latest news with #OfficeOfDefectsInvestigation
Car and Driver
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
NHTSA Investigating 1.2 Million Ram Trucks for Rollaway Risk After Recall
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into nearly 1.2 million Ram pickup trucks for potential post-recall failures. The investigation covers the Ram 1500 and heavy-duty pickups from the 2013 to 2018 model years that were involved in transmission recalls in 2017 and 2018. NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 14 vehicle-owner complaints and six death and injury reports following the previous recalls. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a new investigation into 1,187,232 Ram pickup trucks for a potential post-recall failure in the transmission system. The investigation, being conducted by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), is not yet a full recall from the safety administration but does stem from two previous recalls of the same vehicles. According to the ODI, the investigation will review the effectiveness of the remedies in a pair of recalls that occurred in 2017 and 2018. The first was labeled 17V-821 and covered nearly 1,500,000 trucks; the second was labeled 18V-100 and covered a further 180,000. Ram The issue, both then and now, affects a subset of Ram trucks equipped with a column-mounted shifter. According to NHTSA documents in the original recalls, the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system could get stuck in the "open" position, allowing the trucks to be shifted out of park without a key in the ignition or any pressure on the brake pedal. As of this week, NHTSA has received 14 vehicle-owner complaints and six death and injury reports through its Early Warning Program—all of which came after the original recall remedies were performed. There were no fatalities included in those reports. In addition to reviewing the effectiveness of the original remedies, NHTSA hopes the new investigation will uncover the underlying cause of the additional rollaways, along with identifying any other potential root causes affecting the BTSI system. Jack Fitzgerald Associate News Editor Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio
The Drive
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Feds Investigating 1.2 Million Ram Trucks That Might Roll Away Despite Past Recall
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a new probe into an estimated 1,187,232 Ram trucks that might be at risk of rolling away. As the federal agency's Office of Defects Investigation explains, the concern is with a post-recall remedy on certain 2013-2018 model year Rams. These trucks previously had a 'fix' performed to address a brake transmission shift interlock problem, though as the NHTSA's open recall query states, that remedy may have failed. And before you go pointing fingers at the maligned Ram transmission dial shifter, this specifically involves trucks with the column shifter. In these Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 models, the BTSI locking pin could get stuck, allowing the transmission to shift out of park without depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, they could be bumped out of park without the key in the ignition. Ram previously issued recalls 17V-821 and 18V-100 to address these concerns, but the NHTSA has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury reports related to trucks that had the recall remedy performed. There have been seven reported injuries from six incidents, but no fatalities. Still, that's more than enough to prompt action. The Drive reached out to Ram for comment on the feds' open query, to which a spokesperson responded, 'We're cooperating with NHTSA.' You don't need me to tell you why a 6,000-pound truck—or, heck, even a 9,000-pound dually—might be dangerous in a downhill runaway scenario. It's doubly concerning if it can occur without the vehicle's engine on, as its power brakes won't function properly. Here's hoping they get the issue fixed for real this time. This news also comes less than a week after the NHTSA launched a similar probe into a post-recall remedy on Dodge Darts. Those cars are supposedly still having problems with rolling away, too, though it's not a BTSI problem; it's an alleged shifter bushing failure issue. It seems like Stellantis just can't catch a break. Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@
TechCrunch
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- TechCrunch
Feds question Ford in hands-free driving investigation
The top federal vehicle safety regulator has sent Ford an exhaustive list of questions about its hands-free driver assistance system, known as BlueCruise. It's the latest development in an investigation that started more than one year ago following two fatal crashes involving the software. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) sent a letter to Ford on June 18 that contains 25 questions. Many of them are basic, such as asking Ford for a detailed list of vehicles that have been equipped with BlueCruise. But NHTSA also wants internal Ford documents related to the crashes that sparked the probe, the development of BlueCruise, descriptions of any changes made to the software, and much more. It's the first so-called 'Information Request' that NHTSA has sent Ford since it upgraded the investigation in January to a level known as an 'engineering analysis.' That progression is a required step before NHTSA can ask Ford to issue a recall. A Ford spokesperson told TechCrunch the company is working with NHTSA to support this investigation. ODI opened the investigation in April 2024 after two fatal crashes. In each of those incidents, the drivers were using BlueCruise when they crashed into vehicles that were stationary. They were the first known fatalities resulting from crashes involving the use of BlueCruise. Ford only allows drivers to use BlueCruise on pre-mapped highways. The hands-free system uses cameras, radar sensors, and software to handle steering, speed, and braking on certain highways. The software is paired with an in-cabin camera with an eye-tracking system that is supposed to ensure drivers are paying attention to the road ahead. The system, which costs $495 a year or $2,495 as a one-time purchase, is available in the Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition, Ford F-150 truck, and the all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E. The crashes in early 2024 raised the question of how capable Ford's system is at recognizing stationary objects — a problem that has plagued Tesla's own driver-assistance software for years. Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW NHTSA said in January, when it upgraded the investigation, that it has discovered 'limitations in the detection of stationary vehicles in certain conditions' and that BlueCruise's performance 'may be limited when there is poor visibility due to insufficient illumination.' (Both fatal crashes occurred at night.) In the new letter, NHTSA has asked Ford for more information about the BlueCruise software's 'logic and/or algorithms used in the detection and classification of hazards in front of' the vehicle. Ford has until August 6 to submit its responses to the 25 questions or face civil penalties.
