NHTSA Upgrades and Expands Fuel-Tank Fire Probe of Jeep Models to 5.1 Million Units

A federal investigation regarding the fuel tank integrity of the 1993-2004MY Jeep Grand Cherokee has been upgrade to an Engineering Analysis and has also been expanded to include two more Jeep models, the 1993-2001MY Cherokee and the 2002-2007MY Liberty. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that the data it collected during a preliminary evaluation indicates that rear-impact-related tank failures and vehicle fires are more prevalent in said Grand Cherokee models than in the non-Jeep peer vehicles. In addition, the safety agency said that it found a higher incidence of rear-impact, fatal fire crashes for the three Jeep products than in similar vehicles from the same model years and which include the Chevrolet Blazer,...

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Posted in: Expands,FuelTank,Million,models,NHTSA,Probe,Units,Upgrades

BMW M3 E36 Converted to a Pickup Truck, Is it a Stud or a Dud?

Last year, BMW's M division had scoop photographers and news sites alike trying to figure out what was going on with the E92-based M3 targa-topped pickup truck testing at the Nürburgring. That was before the Bavarians revealed the car in the flesh on April 1 in what we had then described as, the "auto industry’s most expensive and elaborate April Fool’s Joke". While the white M3 "El Camino" was never intended for the public with BMW keeping it as a workshop transport vehicle for M GmbH, we found another M3 pickup truck that is listed for sale in Germany. This model is based on a 1993 E92 M3 Coupe powered by a 3.0-liter straight-six with an output of 282hp (286PS). Sure, you may not like the 'Indian rice' tanned interior and the truck bed area...

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Posted in: Converted,Pickup,Truck

Honda Recalling More than 50,000 2012MY Civics Over Faulty Driveshafts

A potential problem with a driveshaft assembly has prompted Honda to issue a voluntary recall of 50,190 Civics from the 2012 model year in the States. The Japanese carmaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] that the left driveshaft in certain 2012MY Civics may not have been properly assembled, and as a result, it could separate. "If separation occurs, the engine will no longer propel the vehicle in any gear, and the vehicle may roll away if the parking brake has not been set when the gear selector has been placed in the Park position, increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury," Honda said in a statement. The company added, however, that it is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to this issue. As...

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Posted in: 2012MY,50000,Civics,Driveshafts,Faulty,Honda,Recalling