Author Archive for Jason Lancaster

NHTSA Expands Ford F150 Exploding Airbag Investigation

A few months ago we posted an article about the 10 most outrageous truck quality problems of the last decade. In that article, we mentioned that some F150 owners had complained about exploding airbags. According to some 2005-2007 F150 owners, the driver’s airbag went off the minute the key was put into the ignition. While there are definitely some humorous aspects to this concept (talk about a bad way to start the day), it’s a serious issue. So serious, in fact, that NHTSA has expanded their investigation into these complaints.

Are F150 airbags spontaneously exploding?

As part of their decision to expand the investigation into the F150, NHTSA has released documents showing that a little more than 1.5 million F150’s made between 2004 and 2006 could have this problem.

80% of NUMMI Workers Upset With The UAW

We got a tip last week from a NUMMI employee who is hoping mad with the UAW. It turns out that there are quite a few NUMMI workers who are upset by the fact that the UAW was protesting against Toyota’s decision to close NUMMI. In an open letter to Sergio Santos (President of the UAW Local 2244), one NUMMI worker said the following:

I find myself taken aback by the union’s behavior in recent months. Your continued efforts to petition Toyota to keep NUMMI open are not only futile, but it has angered the membership at large who feel that asking Toyota to keep the plant open at this point is a waste of time and money

Another NUMMI worker wrote an open letter to UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, demanding that the UAW stop trying to politicize NUMMI’s closure and start working on an exit package for NUMMI workers:

Truck Safety Then And Now – 1990 vs 2010

Pickup trucks have evolved quite a bit in the last 20 years. In 1990, fuel injection and automatic locking hubs were “new” technology, most trucks were available with manual transmissions, and the most powerful engine in a half-ton was Chevy’s 454 V8 with 255 hp. Safety standards have changed a lot too – a 1990 Toyota pickup had just a one-star safety rating in a driver’s side frontal-impact test (yikes!).

Trucks have changed a lot in the last 20 years

Pickup truck safety, along with fuel economy and performance, has improved a LOT since 1990.

New Toyota Accelerator Mechanism Recall A Bad Sign

For the last few months, Toyota has led the public to believe that any incidents of unintended acceleration were caused by out-of-position floor mats. While this was most likely the cause of a fatal Lexus crash in California last August, many investigations failed to prove that floor mats were the root cause of unintended acceleration complaints. Today, Toyota has announced yet another recall (on top of the original floor mat recall) to repair or replace approximately 2.3 million throttle mechanisms. From Toyota’s press release:

Gale Banks Engineering Monster Exhaust System

There are a lot of performance companies out there hawking parts for your Toyota Tundra, but not all of them boast the kind of history that Gale Banks Engineering can claim. Headquartered in Azusa, California the man behind the company is Gale Banks himself, a legendary figure in the world of automotive performance who began setting records with his outlandish vehicles in the 1960’s. Not only did Banks compete in NHRA drag racing, but he also tackled powerboat racing and top speed titles on the Bonneville salt flats.

Motorsports icon Gale Banks

Staying at the helm of his own company longer than most other go-fast magnates of his era, Gale Banks has seen his vehicles top 275 miles per hour in street trim, while specialized record-setting models have gone as fast as 432 miles per hour on their way into the record books.