Houston Consumer Blog

Houston Auto Show

Check out the abc13.com photos of the Houston Auto Show! It's full of more new, concept and vintage cars/trucks than you can handle.

2008 Houston Auto Show photos

The 2008 Houston Auto Show is going on and I took some pictures. I focused on the Texas Debuts and concept cars. Enjoy!

CLICK FOR 2008 Houston Auto Show photos

 

Texas Car Voucher Program - It's finally here!

If you need a new car, the state of Texas may have money for you.

A couple of months ago we first told you about a new program designed to get older cars off the road and cut down on pollution.

Now the program is up and running and it will help you put up to $3,500 toward the purchase of a new or used car.

READ FULL STORY

Click here to check apply for a voucher:

www.driveacleanmachine.org

Or call:

800-913-3321

Unlocking the secret of opening cars

by Michael Finney

If thieves want in to your vehicle bad enough they'll get in, armored cars are broken into. How scary is that? Especially with the holiday shopping season coming, when our cars will be filled with gifts.

But most consumers don't know just how easy it is to get inside, and we are not talking about breaking windows or using a burglary tool we are talking about breaking in while looking totally legit.

I am opening the back of this Chevy Astro van. I have a key and permission. But I am not using the key that goes with this van.

ABC7's Michael Finney: "Look at that, smooth as silk."

Robert Axelrod: Let me see the key. There is no comparison what so ever."

See for yourself. The key on the left is the van's actual key the one on the right is a GM key I've borrowed these guys -- Alex and Eddie Kamand from Kamand Locksmith Services.

"Basically what you are doing here is picking the lock. You are picking it with a different key," said Eddie Kamand from Kamand Locksmith Services.

They are showing me on their own van, how this works. Keep in mind these two keys have not been altered, they are standard issue GM keys.

Alex Kamand: "This is Eddie's car we are trying it again and it works, right. We put in the other key and it doesn't but then you jiggle and wiggle it and it turns."

ABC7's Michael Finney: "Would it do it on another car?"

Eddie Kamand: "If they were close enough, yes."

I wanted to try this for myself, and that's how I ended up in this parking lot with those two keys. 

Robert Axelrod: "How did you get that key? You can't get that key."

ABC7's Michael Finney: "This is just a key to another van; that's all is all it is."

Robert Axelrod: "You are kidding me? I am shocked I am actually really shocked."

Now, it certainly doesn't work every time, and I was never able to get a GM passenger car door to open.

ABC7's Michael Finney: "Do you mind if I try these to try and open up your door?"

Driver: "Go for it."

ABC7's Michael Finney: "No it doesn't work."

However on this one used car lot, between two keys and 13 GM products, I was able to open three vehicles.

"For 25 years, I have been in this kind of business and I am, really for me, surprised," said auto broker Louis Hernan.

But not everyone is surprised. I was unable to open Loretta Liu's Suburban, but she had once pulled this stunt herself.

"Yeah, it happened to my brother's car. It was a Chevy and I used my keys to open it. It was a Tahoe," said Loretta Lui.

Which brings us back to our locksmiths.

"They all do it, but GM it is more likely to work," said Alex Kamand.

They tell me GM makes a lot of cars and GM locks don't use standard tumblers.

And what does GM say? A Chevrolet spokesperson told says: "That he has never received a complaint about this, and that without knowing these vehicles' history the company can't comment that the locks on 2007 trucks have been changed."

Robert Axelrod: "We left $600 a dollar tool in there last night."

ABC7's Michael Finney: "Don't do that tonight."

Robert Axelrod: "We won't. I am amazed, thanks for showing me that. I can not believe that. Would you try that one more time?"

ABC7's Michael Finney: "Sure, go ahead and lock it up so you know it's locked. Can you hold that?"

Robert Axelrod: I'll hold that. You just wiggled it a little bit, there it goes. Oh, Man."

It is hard to nail down which vehicles are at risk. No government entity is keeping track and many locksmiths are hesitant to talk about their secrets.

That said, at least with our keys and GMs, the years at risk seem to be late 90s through 2004 models of SUVs, trucks and minivans.

wear and tear is becoming less of a problem because so many of us use a key fob to open our doors but keep in mind locks do wear out over time and become less secure. The cost to replace? About $150 dollars.

There is some good news; this does not work on ignitions. And finally one of the reasons we are reporting this is because some insurance policies won't pay if there is not a visible means of entry. if you get ripped off, use this report as proof entry could have occurred.

Copyright 2007, ABC7/KGO-TV/DT.

Toyota and Nissan issue safety recall

Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it was recalling optional "all-weather" floor mats in 55,000 Lexus ES 350 and Toyota Camry passenger cars because the mat could interfere with the gas pedal and lead to a crash.

      The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a consumer advisory about the heavy-duty rubber floor mats, noting that if unsecured, the mat could move forward and trap the gas pedal, causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably.

      In a separate move, Nissan Motor Co. said it was recalling nearly 420,000 sport utility vehicles because of possible corrosion in the tube where motorists pump gas.

      The recall involves Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4 SUVs from the 1997-2001 model years. More than 370,000 of the vehicles under recall were originally sold or are currently registered in 22 "cold weather" states and the District of Columbia. Another 45,000 vehicles are in Canada.

      In the Toyota recall, NHTSA urged drivers of other vehicles, including the Avalon and Prius, to check the driver-side floor mats to ensure they were properly installed. NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson said it was taking the step "because we believe potentially it is a very serious safety issue."

      Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong said the automaker had not received any complaints about the Avalon and Prius. In some cases, he said the floor mats - used to collect rain water, mud and snow - were stacked on top of the original carpet mats and wedged up against the accelerator.

      The vehicle has hooks on the floor that can only secure one mat at a time.

      Toyota has received 22 complaints and learned of six accidents allegedly connected to the issue. Kwong said they did not know of any injuries linked to the mats.

      The Japanese-based automaker plans to notify owners in early October and expects replacement mats to be available at dealerships by late November.

      In a statement, Toyota advised owners to regularly check that their floor mat is properly secured and said "under no circumstances should more than one floor mat ever be used in the driver's seating position."

      Owners can contact Toyota at (888) 270-9371 or (800) 331-4331 and Lexus owners can call (800) 255-3987 for more information.

      Nissan said its recall was prompted by an inadequate amount of coating on a bracket by the fuel filler tube assembly. In states that use road salt during the winter, a mixture of snow, water and salt could cause corrosion on the bare metal part of the tube and allow fuel to leak.

      Nissan spokesman Fred Standish said there were no reports of fires or injuries.

      The states covered by the recall include: Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

      Nissan dealers will replace the fuel filler tube assembly with a new one with an improved coating process. Owners will be notified beginning in late November. For more information, owners can contact Nissan at (800) 647-7261.

      National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

      Toyota Motor Corp.: http://www.toyota.com/

      Nissan Motor Co.: http://www.nissanusa.com/

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Top Ten list of thieves' most wanted vehicles in Houston

Go see the HPD top ten list of the most stolen cars in Houston for August 2007.

SUVs show improvements in rollover ratings

Many new sport utility vehicles, equipped with anti-rollover technology, are less of a risk for rollover crashes than their predecessors, the government says.

Rollover ratings issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for 2007 model year vehicles show SUVs making progress over past vehicles. The ratings give consumers information on the likelihood of a rollover, which kill more than 10,000 motorists in the United States every year, more than a third of motorists killed in the country annually, despite accounting for only 3 percent of all crashes.

Seventy-eight 2007 model year SUVs received a four-star rating in the rollover tests, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. More than half of the 2007 SUVs had four-star ratings, compared to 48 of the 2006 SUVs that earned four stars out of 103 SUVs rated. Only one SUV received four stars in 2001.

To guard against rollovers, automakers have increasingly installed electronic stability control into their vehicle lineup. The anti-rollover technology, which was first introduced by Mercedes-Benz in 1995, automatically applies brakes to individual wheels when the vehicle begins skidding off course, helping to steady the vehicle.

Eighty-six percent of 2007 SUVs have stability control as standard equipment, up from 43 percent in 2005, the government reported.

In NHTSA testing, no SUV has earned a top five-star rating. Under the ratings system, a vehicle with five stars has a rollover risk of less than 10 percent. A four-star vehicle has a 10 percent to 20 percent risk and a three-star vehicle has a 20 percent to 30 percent risk.

Newly tested 2007 SUVs receiving the four-star rating include: Infiniti FX35, Mazda CX-7, Ford Edge and Explorer Sport Trac, Hyundai Santa Fe and Veracruz, Jeep Compass, Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Touareg, Acura MDX and RDX, Suzuki XL7, and Saturn Outlook.

The 4X4 version of the Kia Sportage and the 4X2 version of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited also earned four stars. Test results were carried over for vehicles that were unchanged from the previous model year. A full listing can be found at http://www.safercar.gov/.

Federal statistics show some progress in reducing rollover deaths. In 2006, 10,698 motorists were killed in rollovers, a 1.6 percent decline compared to the previous year. The rate of rollover deaths in 2006 per 100,000 registered vehicles was 4.55, a 3.6 percent decline.

In April, the government said electronic stability control would be required in all new vehicles by the 2012 model year, estimating it could save between 5,300 and 9,600 lives a year once it is fully deployed into the nation's fleet.

For pickup trucks, 74 of the vehicles from the 2007 model year earned four stars out of 89 pickups rated. That compares with 53 pickups from the 2006 model year earning four stars out of 71 pickups rated.

Government studies have found stability control reduces single-vehicle sport utility crashes by 67 percent and one-car crashes by 35 percent compared to the same models sold in previous years without the technology.

NHTSA's Rollover Ratings: http://www.safercar.gov/

 

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Car crash-test videos now available online for free

Consumer Reports sent us this release about its new crash test video web site:

Consumers now have free access to more than 200 crash test videos as part of a collaboration between Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). These online videos bring a new level of research detail to shoppers looking for a new or used car, minivan, truck, or SUV.

Footage of some 200 vehicles tested at IIHS' state-of-the-art Vehicle Research Center (VRC) in Ruckersville, Virginia, can be found at www.ConsumerReports.org/crashtest. Visitors to the Web site can search by make, model, and year to witness how well the new or used vehicle they are considering - or even their current vehicle -protects occupants in frontal offset and side-impact collisions. Details of crash results, such as overall performance and potential injuries, are explained by Jeff Bartlett, deputy autos editor of www.ConsumerReports.org. CR will add more crash-test videos as the IIHS continues its testing.

Most consumers are probably familiar with the IIHS crash tests, and have likely seen some of their crash-test videos on television. On the CR web site, these videos are accompanied by a verbal description of the test to help the consumer better interpret what they are seeing. "These videos bring the crash test data to life, showing the real safety differences between a Good car and a Poor one," Bartlett said. "Rest assured, you will demand side air bags on your next car after watching these videos."

Top ten stolen vehicles in Houston for July 2007

The Houston Police Department sent us the following information you might want to know:

The following is a rundown of the "Top 10" makes of vehicles that   were stolen during the month of July 2007. The models stolen most often   are listed in parenthesis:

  1. Ford Trucks                  240
 

  2. Dodge Trucks               176

  3. Honda Cars                  145
  (Civic, 48.65%)
  (Accord,44.59%)

  4. Chevrolet Trucks           138

  5. Ford Cars                      89
  (Taurus, 59.46%)
  (Mustang 10.81%)

  6. Dodge Cars                    86
  (Intrepid,43.90%)
  (Stratus,21.95%)

  7. Toyota Cars                   57
  (Camry, 42.86%)
  (Corolla,33.33%)
   

  8. Chevrolet Cars                45            
  (Cavalier, 30.00%)
  (Malibu, 20.00%)

  9. Chrysler Cars                  41            
  (Sebring, 42.86%)
  (Cirrus,21.43%)

  10. GMC                            38

Texas shop goes back to the future to revive DeLorean cars

HUMBLE, Texas (AP) -- In a nondescript warehouse in east Texas, mechanic and entrepreneur Stephen Wynne is bringing a rare sports car back to life. If he succeeds, he almost certainly has Michael J. Fox to thank.

   A quarter century after DeLorean Motor Co. began making its glitzy, $25,000 two-seater -- an operation that collapsed after two years -- Wynne's small automotive outfit plans to bring the vehicle back into limited production at a 40,000-square-foot factory in this Houston suburb.

   The creation of renowned automotive engineer John DeLorean, DMC eventually made fewer than 9,000 cars, distinctive for their gull-wing doors, stainless-steel exterior and rear-engine design. An estimated 6,500 remain on the road.

   Despite DMC's flop, the car has persevered, gaining notoriety largely as the time machine Fox drove in the blockbuster 1985 movie, "Back to the Future," and its two sequels.

   The trilogy's enduring popularity on cable TV has exposed countless viewers -- and potential customers -- to a souped-up version of the DeLorean.

   "There isn't a day somewhere in the world that 'Back to the Future' isn't playing as a rerun," said Wynne, president of the new, privately held DeLorean Motor Co.

   Wynne formed the company in 1995, when the bulk of his business was working on original DeLoreans at a Houston garage. Still, he needed a name, and because there was nothing legally preventing him from using the original, he decided to give it a shot. He even called John DeLorean, who wished him luck.

   A dozen years later, Wynne hopes to parlay the car's celebrity -- along with the world's biggest stash of DeLorean parts and engines -- into a niche production business that begins hand-making two DeLoreans a month sometime next year. They've just started taking orders.

   Already, the Humble operation will take an existing DeLorean, strip it to the frame and rebuild it for a base price of $42,500. Wynne's staff can rebuild one every couple of months.

   The company also handles routine maintenance, such as oil changes and tuneups, and ships between 20 and 50 parts orders a day to mechanics and individual owners worldwide.

   But because the original models are roughly 25 years old, finding suitable candidates to refurbish has become increasingly difficult.

   So Wynne figured: Why not use the thousands of parts and hundreds of engines sitting in his massive warehouse and build the cars from scratch?

   "Everything seems to evolve around here, and that seemed to be the next logical step," said Wynne, a Briton who began working on DeLoreans in the 1980s in Los Angeles, becoming an expert in their mechanics and equipment. He eventually expanded to suburban Houston and opted to make his base here, in part because of the lower cost of living.

   Like other DeLorean mechanics at the time, Wynne bought replacement parts from an Ohio company, Kapac Co., which had acquired the original inventory when DeLorean failed. In 1997, when Kapac wanted out of the parts business, Wynne bought the supply for himself, though he declined to say how much he paid.

   A decade later, he's decided to take the company to the next level: Niche automaker.

   The handmade cars will feature about 80 percent original parts. The other 20 percent will be new, supplier-made parts from companies such Valeo SA and the Bosch Group, said DeLorean vice president James Espey.

   The one limiting factor is the doors. The company has enough for about 500 cars, though it's important to keep some in stock for repairs and such. Beyond that, Espey said, the company is studying its options.

   Enhancements to the new cars will include an improved stainless-steel frame, a stronger but lighter fiberglass underbody and electronics upgraded from the disastrous systems in the early DeLoreans. A peppier engine -- the original cars' 135 horsepower was a downer for performance enthusiasts -- will be available as an option.

   "After working on these cars practically every day for 25 years, we've identified most of the issues and replaced them," Wynne said. "If there's a better part available, we'll use it. If there's a better way to install it, we'll do it."

   The base price of a new DeLorean is expected to be $57,500 -- roughly the same price a 1981 DeLorean would have cost in today's dollars. The company will sell the cars from its shop in Humble and affiliate shops in Bonita Springs, Fla., Crystal Lake, Ill., Bellevue, Wash., and Orange County, Calif. DMC also has a shop in the Netherlands for European owners.

   "It's taken years to get the wheels moving, and they're moving slowly, but we've got motion," Wynne said.

   Ken Baker likes the company's direction -- so much so that the Bentley and Rolls Royce sales executive in Fort Lauderdale drives his own original DeLorean and heads that region's DeLorean owners group.

   A car guy to the core, Baker says he became enamored with John DeLorean in high school after reading DeLorean's book, "On a Clear Day You Can See General Motors," the author's critical look inside his former employer.

   DeLorean was the antithesis of the buttoned-down auto executive of his day, sporting designer suits, dating models and moving in celebrity circles. While at GM in the 1960s, he created what some consider the first "muscle car," putting a V-8 engine into a Pontiac Tempest and calling it the GTO.

   When DeLorean began making his own car in Northern Ireland in 1981, Baker says he fell in love with it. Of course, as a teenager, he wasn't able to shell out $25,000. Now, at 41, Baker is a proud DeLorean owner.

   "You have to understand it's a car that never got to its full development because it was gone before it really hit its prime," Baker said. "And you have to realize it's 25 years old. But understanding that, it's fun to drive and very comfortable."

   Unfortunately, DeLorean simply couldn't sell enough of the cars to sustain the business. The company folded in 1983, a year after DeLorean was busted in a drug trafficking sting and accused of conspiring to sell $24 million worth of cocaine to salvage the venture. He used an entrapment defense to win acquittal, but legal entanglements plagued him for years to come. He died in 2005 at age 80.

   Kevin Smith, editorial director for the automotive Web site Edmunds.com, said he's interested to see if the Humble effort fares better than the Irish debacle. He said quality control is often an issue with limited production, "but I'm always optimistic for people who want to make new and interesting cars."

   The newest version of the DeLorean will certainly be interesting and exclusive, Smith said, "and for some people with means, that's enough."

   www.delorean.com

   (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Clearing up confusion over cash for car

   

CLICK HERE FOR THE WEB SITE!

By Jeff Ehling

(8/10/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - If you have an old car, you may have heard the state of Texas has money for you, but there is plenty of confusion about who qualifies and when the program begins.

Robert Carlson's 1992 Plymouth Laser is on the state's wanted list. Any car made in 1995 and before are going to qualify for a $3,000 voucher from the state of Texas.

"It's a good program for a lot of people who can't afford to fix their car," he said.

It sounds like a good deal, but there are a few things you need to know about the program first.

Regional program director Ronnie Barnes is clearing up the confusion over the vouchers one caller at a time.

"We've been answering those calls, trying to ward off the onslaught, but we are fighting a losing battle because they keep coming," said Barnes.

First off, the program doesn't even start until December.  Next, it's only for people who live near Houston, Dallas and Austin. In our area, you must have lived in Harris, Ft. Bend, Brazoria, Galveston or Montgomery Counties for one year to be eligible.   And then there is the income requirement.

"Three-hundred percent above the federal poverty level for family size," said Barnes.

Here's how the annual financial requirements breaks down if you live in the designated counties:

• Singles making less than $30,630
• Couple making $41,070
• Families of three making $51,510
• Families of four making $61,950

   With your voucher, there are limits on what kind of car you can buy.

"The vehicle has to cost less than $25,000," said Barnes. "It has to be a current model year vehicle if it's a car, current model or three years old."

And you must have had the old car registered in your name for a year. The idea is to get polluters off the street, are replace them with smaller, cleaner burning vehicles.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

H-GAC
3555 Timmons Lane
Suite 120
Houston, TX  77027
Phone: 713-627-3200
http://www.h-gac.com

(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

CLICK HERE FOR THE WEB SITE!

State to help low-income Texans replace old vehicles

CLICK HERE FOR THE WEB SITE!

(8/09/07 - AUSTIN, TX) - Low-income drivers in 16 Texas counties will soon be eligible for financial aid to replace old vehicles.

By the end of the year, the state will begin offering up to $3,500 in vouchers to replace pre-1996 vehicles, some of the heaviest polluters on the roads.

The program will be available in 14 Texas counties surrounding the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston areas, as well as Travis and Williamson counties in the Austin area.

Owners who agree to "retire" their vehicles will get $3,000 vouchers that can be used toward buying a new car or truck or a late-model used vehicle. If they opt to buy a hybrid, they can get $3,500. The program is voluntary.

"By cleaning up some of the old cars and getting them off the road, you could put a real dent in the pollution numbers," said state Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco, who led the bill through the Legislature.

Starting in 1996, automakers equipped U.S. vehicles with more sophisticated and precise fuel-injection systems, better sensors and improved computers to meet increasingly stringent clean-air standards. In the years since, most vehicles have gotten significantly cleaner.

Averitt estimates old cars and trucks emit 20 to 30 times as much pollution as a new vehicle. Jim Marston, regional director of Environmental Defense, estimates that number is closer to 10 times as much pollution.

Vehicles must have passed a state inspection within the last 15 months to be eligible, and an owner's annual income cannot exceed $61,000 for a family of four. For cars that qualify, a $3,000 voucher will be issued that can be used as a down payment on a new vehicle that cannot cost more than $25,000. The voucher can also be applied to used vehicles that are no more than three model years old.

The 16 counties are Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis and Williamson.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

CLICK HERE FOR THE WEB SITE!

255,000 Chinese-Made Tires Recalled

(NEWARK, N.J.) - A tire importer said Thursday it would recall 255,000 Chinese-made tires it claims were defective because they lack a safety feature that prevents tread separation.

The recall involves half the number of tires that the importer, Foreign Tire Sales Inc., had identified in June as possibly posing a risk.

The models involved are steel-belted radial replacement tires for pickups, vans and sport utility vehicles that consumers bought from early 2004 through mid-2006, Foreign Tire Sales said.

The small company, based in Union, was ordered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in June to recall as many as 450,000 tires that it bought from Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. since 2002.

"Consumers should know that the affected tires meet all federal motor vehicle safety standards. But we went the extra mile by testing them and determining that they did not meet our standards, which are more rigorous," Richard Kuskin, president of Foreign Tire Sales, said in a statement.

Hangzhou Zhongce said it fully cooperated with NHTSA and "has not found any evidence that the ... tires at issue contain any structural defects or are missing any safety features."

The recall is among a series of recent problems involving imports from China. Products including toys, toothpaste, seafood and pet food have been recalled.

Information on the tire recall was to be posted at Foreign Tire Sale's Web site, http://www.foreigntire.com. Consumers can also call a toll-free number, 888-899-9293.

The recall applies to Westlake, Compass and YKS brand tires in these sizes and models:

Size LT235/75R-15, models CR861 and CR857, with a DOT number beginning 7DT5FTS.

Size LT235/85R-16, models CR860, CR861 and CR857, with a DOT number beginning 7DT2FTS.

Size LT245/75R-16, models CR860, CR861 and CR857, with a DOT number beginning 7DT3FTS.

Size LT265/75R-16, models CR860, CR861 and CR857, with a DOT number beginning 7DT4FTS.

Size LT31X10.5 R-15, models CR857 and CR861, with a DOT number beginning 7DT6FTS.

Although Foreign Tire Sales did not make the tires, it is responsible for the recall, under U.S. law.

NHTSA ordered the recall after Foreign Tire Sales told the agency that some of Hangzhou Zhongce's tires were made without a safety feature, called a gum strip, that helps bind the belts of a tire to each other. Some of the tires had a gum strip about half the width of the 0.6 millimeter gum strip Foreign Tire Sales expected, the importer said.

It said it contracted for Hangzhou Zhongce to provide gum strips, but the manufacturer changed the design without informing Foreign Tire Sales.

Hangzhou Zhongce has denied that, asserting that the design did not include a gum strip. It also called the basis for the defect determination by Foreign Tire Sales "highly questionable."

The manufacturer has also told NHTSA that it has received just 11 claims for property damage from the nearly 450,000 tires purchased by Foreign Tire Sales, a rate it called "extremely low." The repairs averaged $1,722, "which is consistent with minor fender well damage," Hangzhou Zhongce said.

Hangzhou Zhongce also said it paid just 1,540 warranty claims for such items as ride disturbance and sidewall issues, which are not related to the alleged defect.

The details of the recall come a month later than Foreign Tire Sales had initially expected. Company spokesman Andrew Frank attributed the delay to gathering information from the manufacturer.

"The recall was complicated," he said.

Tread separation was what prompted the nation's largest tire recall, which involved 17 million Firestone tires in 2000.

Foreign Tire Sales alerted federal authorities of potential problems after it became embroiled in litigation involving the tires and Hangzhou Zhongce.

Foreign Tire Sales said it became concerned about Hangzhou Zhongce tires in October 2005 amid an increase in warranty claims. It began talks with the Chinese company, then commissioned its own tests.

It sued Hangzhou Zhongce in U.S. District Court in Newark on May 31, charging that its tests found that the tires may fail earlier than tests provided by Hangzhou Zhongce showed.

Foreign Tire Sales was sued May 4 by the families of two men killed when a van they were riding in crashed near the town of Jim Thorpe, Pa., in August 2006. The driver and another passenger in the van are also suing.

Hangzhou Zhongce said it made three of the four tires on the van, but they were not the recommended size for that vehicle. The fourth tire, a Michelin, was the proper size, but mismatched tires pose a risk, the Chinese company said. The company added that it has not yet been allowed to examine the vehicle and does not know if the accident was caused by tire failure.

Foreign Tire Sales does not have a warehouse. It has tires shipped directly to distributors, who in turn send them to retail outlets.

On the Net:

Foreign Tire Sales: http://www.foreigntire.com

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Ford to recall 3.6 million vehicles over cruise control switch

Ford Motor Co. said Friday it is recalling 3.6 million passenger cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans to address concerns about a cruise control switch that has led to previous recalls based on reports of fires.

   Ford said the recall covered more than a dozen vehicle models built from 1992-2007. The company said it was responding to concerns from owners about the safety of their cars and questions about the speed control deactivation switch in the vehicles that is powered at all times. 

   The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker previously had recalled nearly 6 million vehicles beginning in January 2005 because of engine fires linked to the cruise control systems in trucks, SUVs and vans. 

   "Customers remain concerned about the long-term durability of the speed control system and about the safety of their vehicles," said Ford spokesman Dan Jarvis. 

   He said the automaker had received "a few reports of fires" in Ford Crown Victoria passenger cars prior to the recall. He did not have a precise number. 

   The recall involves the following vehicles: 1998-2002 Ford Ranger, 1992-1997 Lincoln Town Car, 1992-1997 Ford Crown Victoria, 1992-1997 Mercury Grand Marquis, 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII, 1993-1995 Taurus SHO, 1999-2001 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer. 

   Also covered are the 2001-2002 Ford Explorer Sport, 2001-2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, 1992-1993 E150-350 vans, 1997-2002 E150-350 vans, 1993 Ford F-Series pickups, 1993 Ford Bronco, 1994 Mercury Capri, 2003-2004 Ford F-150 Lightning, and 1995-2002 Ford F53 motor homes. 

   An additional 177,000 vehicles in Canada, Mexico and Europe are covered by the recall. 

   Jarvis said there have been no deaths, injuries or accidents associated with the recall. 

   It was Ford's sixth recall, involving a total of more than 10.4 million vehicles, conducted since 1999 because of problems with the speed control system, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

   The nation's largest single recall involved 7.9 million Ford vehicles in 1996 to replace an ignition switch. 

   Texas Instruments Inc. supplied the speed control switch in all of the vehicles covered under Friday's announcement, Ford said. A TI spokeswoman could not immediately comment. 

   Owners will begin receiving recall notices on Aug. 13. Jarvis said the parts for passenger cars would not be available until early October. In the meantime, owners can take their vehicle to a dealer to have their cruise control deactivated until the parts arrive. The parts are available for trucks, Jarvis said.    

Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control electrical system or replace the deactivation switch if its found to be leaking. 

   Owners with questions about the recall can contact Ford at (888) 222-2751.

   (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Texans Urged to Check for Potentially Dangerous Tires

The Office of the Attorney General sent us this warning:

The Office of the Attorney General is urging Texas drivers to check their vehicles for potentially dangerous tires. The tires were sold from 2002 to 2006 for light trucks, sports utility vehicles, and vans, and could be in danger of tread separation. The tires were made by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. ("HZ") in China and distributed in the United States under several names, including Westlake, YKS and Compass.
According to Foreign Tire Sales, Inc. (FTS), - 1 - the U.S. distributor, at least 270,000 tires may have insufficient or missing "gum strips," an important safety feature on certain tires that helps prevent tread separation. More than 50,000 of the potentially unsafe tires are believed to have been sold in Texas.

If you have any of these tires, immediately contact the dealer where you bought them. If the dealer is more than 50 miles away, ask the closest tire shop or mechanic to inspect your tires. In the interest of public safety, the Office of the Attorney General is asking tire dealers not to charge for such an inspection. Consumers who purchased these tires should not drive for long distances on hot roads and should avoid overloading their vehicles.
If an inspection indicates that the tires may be unsafe, consumers should immediately file an online complaint with the Office of the Attorney General at www.oag.state.tx.us or call (800) 252-8011 to receive a form by mail. Consumers can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at (800) 327-4236 and FTS at www.foreigntire.com.
Consumers should check the sidewalls of their tires for the brand name, size, model, and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number. If the DOT number contains "FTS" as part of the number, the tire may be subject to a recall in the future.

How to Read Your Tires
(Image provided by the NHSTA)
Specific tire sizes and models affected:
o LT235/75R-15 CR861 CR857
o LT245/75R-16 CR860 CR861 CR857
o LT225/75R-16 CR 861
o LT265/75R-16 CR860 CR861 CR857
o LT235/85R-16 CR 860 CR861 CR857
o LT31X10.5R-15 CR861 CR857

At this time, NHTSA has not ordered a recall of any of these tires and no replacement program has been instituted. However, consumers should regularly check the NHTSA, FTS and Attorney General's Web sites for updates.

As part of general tire safety, consumers should keep the following tips in mind:

o Inspect tires at least once a month and before every long trip for patterns of uneven wear. Check tire inflation pressure in accordance with manufacturer recommendations.
o Do not overload your vehicle. Excess weight can place extra stress on your tires. Check your tire placard or vehicle owner's manual for the maximum amount of weight your vehicle can safely carry.
o Develop safe driving habits. Observe speed limits and avoid fast stops, starts, and turns. Avoid contact with potholes, debris, and curbs when driving or parking your vehicle.
o Keep your vehicle properly maintained. Rotate tires regularly, get wheels balanced, and get a front-end alignment if necessary.
o Use the proper tires for your vehicle. Check the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations before replacing a tire with a different size and/or construction.
o Be aware of how the outside temperature affects your tires. Hot weather can be especially hard on tires.
o Have any tire problems checked out by professionals. If you find that one of your tires is losing pressure, take it to a tire expert for a complete internal inspection.
o Avoid buying used tires. You might be getting previously recalled or otherwise dangerous ties.

Auto parts dealer accused of selling defective wares

(6/04/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has indicted a Houston auto parts dealer for selling defective products.

The indictment names Brian McCutcheon and John Scott Sandell, who are accused of falsely advertising on various web sites that their business, ASAP Motors and Parts Systems, sold high-quality, low-mileage parts from Japan.

State prosecutors claim hundreds of customers, including mechanics, complained that ASAP sold rusted or cracked motors and transmissions. Investigators say they found records indicating ASAP bought the parts from local Houston junkyards.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

New crash test on the safety of convertibles

If you are looking to cruise the Houston highways with the wind flowing through your hair or you are having a mid-life crisis...read this:

      Test scores being released Thursday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found several affordable convertibles that offer better crash protection than their more expensive competitors.

   Conducting tests on 10 new midsize convertibles for the first time, the Institute gave its top scores to two expensive convertibles -- the 2007 Saab 9-3 and 2007 Volvo C70. Both vehicles, which start at nearly $40,000, received the highest scores on front, side-impact and rear crash protection tests.

   "The performances of the 9-3 and C70 are impressive," said Adrian Lund, the Institute's president. "These cars combine what convertible buyers should look for if they're shopping with safety in mind."

   Convertibles, a luxurious second car for many owners, are a small part of the new car market, comprising about 2 percent of vehicle sales, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

SEE THE REST

Flash when the tires are low

Call me paranoid, but I do worry about the air pressure in my tire.  The New York Times found a cost effective way to stay calm:

It’s hard to ignore a flashing red light. Air Alert valve caps, from Aviation Upgrade Technologies, blink when the pressure drops significantly in the tires they are mounted on. The L.E.D.’s are bright enough to be seen in daylight, and really catch your eye by night. The set of four is $25, and it is available in auto supply stores and online at www.aviationupgrade.com.

SEE MORE

'Consumer Reports' retracts car seat reviews

OK, so I guess we know this Consumer Reports study wasn't quite what it seemed.

Consumer Reports: Many car seats fail high-speed tests

If you have a child that uses a car seat...read this:

All car seats must meet government standards, but Consumer Reports decided to subject infant car seats to even more rigorous tests — and was shocked at what they found.

Every child car seat sold in the United States must pass a 30 mph frontal crash government test. But Consumer Reports tested the car seats at higher speeds — 35 mph in front crashes and 38 mph in side impact crashes.

- See the results
- Ratings: Best and Worst Infant Car Seats

An Inconvenient Expense

By: jeffehling

 New car dealers are always looking for ways to add a little extra to the bottom line. Often that means slipping in extra costs to consumers, in the industry they are known as dealer add ons. 

Recently M. Jones from Houston noticed a charge in her new car contract that is a perfect example of a dealer add on. It was called an "Environmental Protection Warranty". Now that sounds great! Who would not want to save polar bears and stop the deforestation of the rain forest? But Ms. Jones soon discovered the warranty has nothing to do with the air we breath and everything to do with protecting her CAR from the environment. 

The dealer charged her $599.00 for an exterior weather coating and interior finishing. The warranty promised if she got a stain on the paint or fabric, the dealer would clean it off. Ms. Jones says the dealer pushed so many papers at her to sign during closing that she could not possibly read through all the fine print. So she signed on for the Environmental Protection Warranty and drove away. 

A few days after getting home a package with car wax, shampoo, glass cleaner, and a chamois cloth arrived. For $600 Ms. Jones got car wax, and whatever it is the dealership applied to the car. Ms. Jones thought that was too much and called us to see what could be done. After we called the dealer, the General Manager returned Ms. Jones her $600.

 Be careful on the car lot folks, dealer add ons can cost you and even if it takes all day, never sign a single piece of paper at the dealership you have not read thoroughly.

 

New crash test shows downside to economy cars

The Associated Press has the new economy car crash tests:

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave its lowest rating of poor in side-impact protection to four vehicles: a version of the 2007 Toyota Yaris without side air bags, the 2006 Scion xB, and 2007 models of the Hyundai Accent and the Kia Rio, which share similar underpinnings.

See the rest of the results.

U.S. insurance industry releases list of safest vehicles

The US insurance industry has released its list of the 13 safest cars, and none of them are from the US.

Towing questions and answers

We've already started to receive towing questions from our viewers after airing Towing 101.

Tony called in and asked:

"What about stores that have "reserved" painted on the curb?  Is that enough for a legal tow?"

We went to our Houston towing expert, Jeanette Rash who said:

In the Chapter – 684, it must be marked in accordance with the code and have signs, too.  The only towing without a sign is disabled spaces (clearly marked); blocking entrance or exit; or fire lanes (clearly marked by city or state standards). 

There are about 60,000 private property tows a year within the city limits. 

Towing 411

Today at 4:55 pm, Jeff Ehling gave you a lesson in towing 101 around Houston.  Here's the deal, just because a store has a tow sign in front of it, doesn't mean you can't park there.  Many times those signs aren't legal and we were told by some stores they won't actually call a wrecker. (READ FULL STORY)

Here is an example of a legal sign:

But be careful, just because the tow sign isn't legal, doesn't mean you won't get towed.  If you are towed, head over to Harris County Tow Court - click here.  This way you can see a Justice of the Peace about getting your money back.

Now you have to decide if it's worth parking in a space that doesn't have a legal sign. 

When Your New Car Isn't Really Yours

Would you be angry if you bought a new car and the dealership wanted it back?  Elisabeth Leamy of ABC News takes a look:

In spot deals, the dealership looks at your credit and makes a guess as to what kind of financing the bank will offer you. That's how your contract is drawn up. Often the dealer guesses wrong, and the bank refuses to give you the loan. That's when you get the call demanding that you return the car. It's an obnoxious practice. And it happens all the time.

Americans' girth adds to extra gasoline consumption, study says

Want to spend less on gasoline?  Some researchers are saying lose weight, not in your car, but on your waist line.  I feel insulted:

That's the implication of a new study that says Americans are fueling their cars with nearly one (B) billion more gallons of gasoline each year than in 1960 because of their expanding waistlines.

University of Illinois researcher Sheldon Jacobson says if drivers reduce the weight of their cars -- either by removing excess baggage or by losing weight -- they'll see a drop in their fuel consumption.

Here is the study. 

Do red cars get ticketed more?

Snopes.com is looking into an age old question:

Red cars are ticketed for speeding more often than vehicles of other colors.

Find out the site's answer.

Auto Auction Fraud

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has a warning about auto auctions:

The IC3 has received a significant number of recent complaints regarding Internet auction fraud involving the sale of automobiles purported to be located outside of the United States. The typical fraud involves an auction for a vehicle said to be in Europe, and for which the buyer pays with Western Union or other wire transfer mechanism. The buyer does not receive his or her automobile in these auctions, and the money is not recoverable.

The IC3 wishes to caution all potential buyers of vehicles which are located outside of the United States. The IC3 encourages consumers to do considerable research before purchasing an automobile on an auto auction Web site when the vehicle is listed as being located in a foreign country. Unless the dealer selling the automobile is personally known to the buyer as being reputable and the money transfer is handled through a legitimate escrow service, there is a high risk involved in engaging in a purchase. Automobile shoppers are also cautioned to be wary of "second chance auctions" and other schemes in which a "seller" of a vehicle e-mails a potential buyer to inform the buyer the high bidder on the auction defaulted and the vehicle can be purchased by the buyer at his or her previous bid or at a discount. This tactic has been used in many auto auction frauds.

If you have received this, or a similar hoax, please file a complaint at www.ic3.gov.

Is Your Dealer Issuing Silent Recalls?

Is your car's maker issuing technical service bulletins or T.S.B.?  Chances are you wouldn't know about it says WPVI:

Ken Belli, and automotive investigator, says, "The consumer never knows about it. They're not sent anything for a T.S.B. The only reason logically I can think of is cost. I mean, you know the manufacturer is saving money by not repairing every vehicle."

You can search for T.S.B.s by going to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration web site by entering the make and model of your car. But experts say dealers may have more up to date information.

Dana Lynn Tarquini and David J. Gorberg Esq. tell Action news, "The best thing for a consumer to do is to be vigilant - be aggressive - ask for these things. You're entitled to know. And the government for the time being isn't going to force them to do it."

Here is the NHTSA web site.