Category: Vehicle safety

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

Three reasons why you need a roadside assistance package

Roadside assistance I recently re-upped my contract with my roadside assistance provider. A change in banks blocked an automatic payment so I had to pay more attention to matter. And it got me thinking — there are three very good reasons why every driver today needs a roadside assistance provider. 12-volt Battery The first is …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/08/three-reasons-why-you-need-a-roadside-assistance-package/

Ford recalls its recalls

Ford recalls While going through a Consumer Reports piece on recalls they noted a case that required four returns to the dealer to be finally fixed properly. This brought to mind that there seemed to have been a number of Ford recalls in the last few weeks that were repeats. Sure enough, a review of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/08/ford-recalls-its-recalls/

Dodge adds to growing list of troublesome electronic latches

Electronic latches In 2024, the Dodge Charger went electric and electronic. The company’s first electric vehicle (EV) also follows the troublesome and rather pointless trend of using electronic latches in the doors. We say pointless because of course, the company had to create a mechanical back-up in case of a failure of the 12-volt battery, …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/06/dodge-adds-to-growing-list-of-troublesome-electronic-latches/

NHTSA piles on the recalls

Recalls I missed three days of tracking traffic on X and getting caught up wound up reposting a full 24 recalls from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Today found another six, including another air bag recall, this time from Mazda. What initially got our attention were three back-up camera recalls. These devices have …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/06/nhtsa-pile-on-the-recalls/

Complaint filed with NHTSA

Pitted rotor

NHTSA A few days ago, I alluded to attempting to work with Kia on what I believe should be a warranty issue. I was rebuffed by both a local dealer and the company itself. So today a detailed complaint was filed NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. I will give you a detailed account …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/05/complaint-filed-with-nhtsa/

Recall GM Coupes Before Someone Else Dies!

Trapped in an XLR

An Actual Death Trap Yet another cringe worthy headline showed up on Twitter recently (September 2018). A man trapped in his car because the battery was dead. And for 14 hours. He was very, very lucky that the car wasn’t outside in the sun, or the outcome would have been very, very different. This one …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2018/09/recall-gm-coupes-before-someone-else-dies/

Recall Trend Highlights Electronic and Safety Systems

Recall Trend A disturbing trend appeared in the recalls (2015) we tracked since our last newsletter. Six recalls were issued involving automated electronic systems, including safety systems directly and indirectly. And they simply got more troublesome through the course of the month. First, GM recalled 51,000 Spark, Sonic models for radio, warning glitch. The warning …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2015/07/recall-trend-highlights-electronic-and-safety-systems/