Latest news with #TheAutoWire
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Dodge Charger Daytona EV Owner Shares How Unreliable It Is
Read the full story on The Auto Wire The Dodge Charger Daytona EV has been plagued with problems and one owner's story is a perfect example. He took to an owner's group on social media to share a story that's similar to others we've heard, although his is maybe a little the guy's frustrating ordeal with a brand new electric car clearly shows why so many are steering clear of these things. They're huge problems on wheels and it seems so many are uninterested in them, Dodge not only canceled the R/T model, it has suspended production for all 2026 models until who knows when. Posting in the Facebook group Dodge Charger Daytona EV, a guy named Micheal Darovec says his Scat Pack, which thankfully he's leasing, has already had three bricking episodes. That means the vehicle will just not start or do anything, requiring servicing to get it functioning again. Even worse, 2,300 miles later he said it bricked again, requiring it be towed on a flatbed wrecker. To do that with a disabled EV requires the tow truck operator to put the tires on something that will slide along the ground since there's no way to put the transmission into neutral. According to Darovec, he had to fight with Dodge to have the EV towed to the dealership from which he leased it, bearing some of the cost himself. We're guessing he wasn't confident in the nearest dealer service department knowing how to fix the electric car, perhaps from past experience. After a diagnostic, the Dodge Charger EV apparently had 36 error codes. Darovec says the solution 'is not an update' since that many error codes constitutes 'complete computer failure.' However, the dealer seems to have not old him what the end solution will be, probably because of the complexity of the problem. We keep hearing horror stories of these 'electric muscle cars' bricking, stranding owners and leading to nightmare service visits at dealerships. Is there any wonder Dodge is bringing the Hemi V8 back? Image via Micheal Darovec/Facebook Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Guy Fleeing In Stolen Dodge Scat Pack Is His Own Worst Enemy
Read the full story on The Auto Wire Surprisingly, it's been a while since we've seen such a wild police chase as this one involving a stolen Dodge Scat Pack. It comes out of Atlanta and involves multiple Georgia State Patrol troopers trying to keep up with the much faster Mopar muscle car. But as is the case so often, the fleeing suspect is his own worst enemy, or rather his driving skills becoming originally got the trooper's attention was an obscured license plate on the Charger, thanks to one of those smoked covers. Unsurprisingly, when he was finally able to read and run the tag, it returned as registered to a Toyota. You can see in the footage everything is calm as the Dodge pulls into a gas station and the trooper follows, switching on his lights. Probably the suspect wanted to see if he was being tailed or not. Realizing he was, the guy steps on it and things get wild in a hurry. Our suspect wastes no time in dropping the hammer and doesn't loose it on some sweeping turns in the road. The car is definitely packing a Hemi and from the exterior trim, which has obviously been modified, it appears to be a Scat Pack. In other words, the GSP trooper has his work cut out for him. The Charger narrowly misses colliding with a Jeep, goes the wrong way on a one-way road, and blows through a red light, dusting his pursuer. But the trooper doesn't just give up as backup arrives in the area and they start combing for the muscle car. It doesn't take long for another trooper to spot the speeding Mopar and the chase is back on. Hopelessly outgunned as well, he struggles to even keep the fleeing Dodge in sight. Thankfully, by that point Atlanta Police Department's Phoenix air unit is tracking the suspect so troopers know where to turn. Troopers are still hard pressed to keep up. Our camera car at one point even catches some nice air off a railroad crossing. The chase takes them onto narrow residential streets with cars parked on the shoulders, requiring some tight maneuvering to get through. Sure enough, following directions from Phoenix, one of the troopers happens across the Dodge Charger just driving along at low speeds, like nothing happened. The suspect probably thought he lost the troopers since he hadn't seen any for a while, clearly not realizing an eye in the sky had been tracking him. Taking off again, the guy pushes the stolen muscle car, but his luck starts to run out. Approaching a narrow and busy intersection, he hits two cars, the Scat Pack sustaining damage as one of the tires slips the wheel rim and comes off. Desperate to get away, he keeps pushing the Charger, but the bare metal of the wheel rim causes him to lose control as he wrecks out big time into another vehicle, then slams nose-first into a power pole. Unfortunately, the car our suspect hits at the end careens off the road and into a ditch. At least the driver was caught after he fled on foot. To nobody's shock he apparently has a criminal history, including breaking into cars. Image via State Boyzzz/YouTube Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford's Massive Recall History: Why Are They #1 in Car Recalls?
Read the full story on The Auto Wire Car recalls are a significant measure of automotive reliability and manufacturer accountability, spotlighting safety risks and the responses manufacturers take to protect consumers. Among all manufacturers, Ford stands out distinctly, holding the record for the most unique recalls issued throughout automotive history. Ford Motor Company, an iconic name in American automotive manufacturing, has issued a staggering total of 3,086 unique recall campaigns over its history. While recalls often indicate proactive safety measures, the volume reflects persistent and diverse issues encountered by the automaker. The model most frequently recalled by Ford is the immensely popular F-150, with a total of 115 unique recalls. Given that the F-150 is among the best-selling vehicles in the United States, these frequent recalls are particularly notable. Common problems prompting these recalls include issues with automatic transmissions, seat belts, and brake systems, highlighting a range of safety and functionality concerns. Ford isn't alone in frequent recall activity. Chevrolet, another American automotive giant, has issued 2,127 unique recalls. European luxury manufacturer Mercedes-Benz closely follows with 1,860 recalls, demonstrating that luxury vehicles are not immune from significant defects. Dodge has also had its share, issuing 1,503 recalls over the years. Two of the largest recalls ever recorded, judged by the sheer number of vehicles involved, notably included major Ford incidents: Ford (1970-1980): In one of the most extensive recalls ever, Ford recalled over 21 million vehicles from model years 1970-1980, encompassing Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln brands. The issue centered on a potential failure of the parking gear, which risked vehicles rolling away even when shifted into park. Remarkably, Ford's remedy involved sending warning labels to vehicle owners rather than fixing the mechanical issue itself, illustrating a controversial approach to recall management at the time. Ford (1996): Another substantial recall in 1996 affected 22.7 million Ford vehicles due to ignition switches prone to short-circuiting, potentially leading to fires. This recall highlighted severe implications for vehicle safety and consumer trust. While Ford dominates recall numbers, General Motors holds the record for the most financially impactful recall in automotive history. Between 2006 and 2014, GM issued a massive recall affecting approximately 30 million vehicles due to defective ignition switches. The issue caused engines to shut off suddenly, disabling airbags and other safety features, resulting in fatal accidents and substantial legal action. Ultimately, GM paid over $2.5 billion in settlements, underscoring the catastrophic financial and reputational risks associated with automotive recalls. Although not tied to a single automaker, the Takata airbag recall is arguably the most infamous, involving faulty airbags capable of exploding and causing serious injuries or death. This recall affected over 41 million vehicles globally, spanning multiple manufacturers, and cost Takata over $24 billion, marking it as the costliest recall ever recorded. Other recent notable recalls include Hyundai's recall of approximately 82,000 electric vehicles at an estimated $900 million due to fire risks, and GM's recall of nearly 70,000 Chevy Bolts for battery fire risks, expected to cost around $800 million. Automotive recalls, while costly and damaging to reputations, remain critical to ensuring consumer safety. They also serve as vital indicators for consumers evaluating vehicle reliability and manufacturer responsiveness. Ford's historical record underscores the importance of transparency and timely responses to automotive defects, serving as a benchmark and a cautionary tale for the entire automotive industry. Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Heart Pounding Video: Dump Truck Plows Into A House
Read the full story on The Auto Wire Scary dashcam footage shows the heart pounding moment when a dump truck veers off a road and right into a house. While the video is shocking, key to understanding what happened is to know the driver suffered a medical accident happened in Woodbury Heights, New Jersey and the footage is going viral. After the dump truck slammed into the house, demolishing it, the driver was trapped in the cab for two hours before first responders could get to him. Somehow the driver as well as the owner of the house weren't seriously injured. That alone is a miracle. In the footage, you see the dump truck driving along a two-lane road when it just gradually crosses the median line, a car coming the opposite direction veering out of its way. Then the large commercial vehicle jumps the curb, hits a power pole and snaps it in two, misses some parked cars, then drives across lawns before hitting the house square on. According to multiple reports, authorities are saying the driver suffered a Grand Mal seizure and lost control of the 73,000 lbs. dump truck. That's a scary situation which could've ended even worse than the awful outcome. We don't know anything about the dump truck driver other than he's named 'Timmy' and apparently is a veteran of the business. We're assuming the driver and his employer had no idea he was at risk for seizures, so the crash was quite the shock. Our takeaway from this is what we've said so many times before: as a driver, you need to be ready for literally anything to happen. The one driver who came across the dump truck going the wrong way was fortunately able to avoid a head-on collision. Had that driver not been alert, he might have been turned into a pancake. Image via CoconnellFox29/X Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Triumphant Return: Pontiac Could Be Coming Back
Read the full story on The Auto Wire It's been 15 years since the Pontiac brand was officially retired by a bankrupt General Motors. While we've talked about how dumb it was to keep Buick while ditching the performance arm of GM, it seems the automaker might be regretting that decision. In fact, the word on the street is Pontiac is going to be stirs up all sorts of emotions in us and undoubtedly does in you as well. After all, that's one thing Pontiac excelled at during its entire history, which is why we would love to see it come back. The industry has become so boring lately, we need a little excitement. Pontiac is the brand credited with inventing the muscle car and kickstarting a horsepower war among the Big Three in the 60s and early 70s. With Dodge at least temporarily out of the muscle car segment, the Camaro dead, and the Mustang as the lone offering on the market, Pontiac is very much needed. Helping to fuel the rumors that Pontiac is being resurrected are reports GM has renewed its trademark for the brand name. We know automakers will sit on names, not doing anything with them sometimes for decades, but this action has given enthusiasts hope. Can you imagine what Pontiacs would be like now? What would the design language be? Would the brand have a full model range or would it just focus on muscle cars? Would a sports car be in the mix? We hate to ask this, but it's a thing these days, but would electrification be used in Pontiacs? That could be a hybrid powertrain or fully-electric cars. Just keep in mind right now that Pontiac's return isn't for sure. But if everyone makes enough noise, that might help seal the deal. Image via Eddie Gran/Facebook Marketplace Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
