Articles by David Shepardson

Honda Recalls 750,000 Vehicles Over Air Bag Defect

Honda Motor Co said on Tuesday it was recalling 750,000 vehicles in the United States over a defect involving air bags which could deploy unintentionally during a crash. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing …

NHTSA Upgrades Probe Into Tesla Power Steering Loss

U.S. safety regulators have upgraded their probe into Tesla TSLA.O vehicles over power steering loss to an engineering analysis – a required step before the agency could demand a potential recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Friday …

White House AI Council Meets as Legislative Action Stalls

The White House artificial intelligence council is meeting Monday, three months after President Joe Biden signed an executive order that aims to reduce the risks AI poses. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed, who will convene the council …

Ford Recalls 2.24M Ford Explorer SUVs Over Trim-Retention Clips

Ford Motor said Wednesday it was recalling 2.24 million older Explorer sport utility vehicles worldwide because trim retention clips may not be properly engaged. The recall includes 1.89 million SUVs in the United States and covers 2011 through 2019 model …

FAA Steps Up Scrutiny of Boeing With Calls for Checks on Another 737 Model

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recommended that airlines operating Boeing 737-900ER jets inspect door plugs to ensure that they are properly secured after some operators reported unspecified issues with bolts upon inspections. Regulators have stepped up scrutiny on …

FAA Launches Probe of Boeing 737 MAX 9 After Mid-Air Panel Incident

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is launching a formal investigation into the Boeing 737 MAX 9 after a cabin panel blew off an Alaska Airlines flight last week in mid-air, forcing an emergency landing, the regulator said on Thursday. The …

Cummins Agrees to Record-Setting Engine Emissions Settlement

Truck engine maker Cummins agreed to settle a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the Justice Department and California and pay a record-setting fine of about $1.65 billion for installing defeat devices on hundreds of thousands of engines. In December, the Justice …

Loss of Alaska Airlines Cockpit Recording Rekindles Industry Safety Debate

The cockpit voice recorder data on the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet which lost a panel mid-flight on Jan. 5 was overwritten, U.S. authorities said, renewing attention on long-standing safety calls for longer in-flight recordings. National Transportation Safety …

New Contractor Rule to Be Unveiled Soon That Could Upend Gig Economy

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden will release a final rule as soon as this week that will make it more difficult for companies to treat workers as independent contractors rather than employees that typically cost a company more, …

Truck Engine Maker Cummins to Pay Record $1.675 Billion US Environmental Fine

Truck engine maker Cummins Inc. has agreed in principle to pay a $1.675 billion fine for installing devices on hundreds of thousands of engines to allow them to emit excess pollution, the largest-ever civil penalty for a Clean Air Act …