Category: Vehicle safety

A gathering of posts that report on recalls and other safety issues.

Tesla customers create a rear door back-up exit fix

Model Y m back-up back-up

Rear door back-up exit fix Tesla‘s own customers, concerned about the safety of their back seat passengers in the event of a power loss, have created their own rear door back-up exit fix. My sister-in-law sent the two pictures that follow, which is a clever variation on solutions found on various Tesla forums for her …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2026/01/tesla-customers-create-a-rear-door-back-up-exit-fix/

Our focus on safety first finally nets its own category

Safety first We added a new vehicle safety category this week. It was a curious oversight given that we consider our primary purpose to be safety first — literally keeping people safe or at least feeling safe. Beginning with drivers being stranded with a dead key or upset about an unrecognized warning light, everything we’ve …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/12/our-focus-on-safety-first-finally-nets-its-own-category/

Rivian rear door back-up issue prompts letter to @NHTSA

Rivian rear door A post from several days ago discussed the inability to access Rivian rear door latch mechanical back-up. A snail mail letter has now sent off a letter to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) about the issue. Regular mail is the only option available in cases such as this where a third …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/12/rivian-rear-door-back-up-issue-prompts-letter-to-nhtsa/

Rivian rear door mechanical exit fails the test

Rivian rear door We got access to a Rivian R1T and tested front and rear door mechanical back-up open options and the Rivian rear door failed at every level. The front door works as advertised, with a handle that is easily accessed at the front of the arm rest on both sides of the vehicle. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/12/rivian-rear-door-mechanical-exit-fails-the-test/

Serious recalls hit Volkswagen Group

Recalls hit Volkswagen The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a spate of recalls in the last two days, but the most serious of the recalls hit Volkswagen Group pretty hard. And the ID.4 sits at the center of two of them. First up is a recall of some 2023-2024 ID.4, which have been …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/12/serious-recalls-hit-volkswagen-group/

More fire risk seen in new Jeep recall

Jeep recall On the heels of a recall item we posted yesterday noting a fire risk in Jeep hybrid vehicles and their high-voltage batteries comes yet another Jeep recall of hybrids with a fire risk, this time due to an issue with its gasoline engine. Unlike the earlier recall, a park outside recommendation is not …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/11/more-fire-risk-seen-in-new-jeep-recall/

Jeep follows BMW with a park outside recall

Park outside Earlier this month, Chrysler issued a recall for 320,065 Jeep plug-in hybrid vehicles because of a risk of fire while driven or parked. This resulted in a park outside and away from structures and other vehicles recommendation. This comes on the heels of a similar recommendation to some 200,000 BMW owners as well …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/11/jeep-follows-bmw-with-a-park-outside-recall/