7 Cars get top marks in the high-tech security check

NEW YORK: seven medium-sized vehicles earned the top score in a test of the insurance industry in the high-tech security features, to prevent the front end collisions.

The Cadillac ATS and SRX, Subaru legacy and Outback, Mercedes c-class and Volvo S60 and XC60 won "superior" ratings in tests Insurance Institute for highway safety.

The Institute tested 74 medium-sized cars and SUVs from model years 2013 and 2014th those who are equipped with front collision warning and automatic braking systems typically better. The systems can alert either the driver or the car automatically to stop when they detect a possible collision.

The Institute of IIHS, a non-profit research group of insurance companies has pushed funded, Federal agencies and automakers require or offer new safety systems such as antilock brakes as an option. The Group urges auto manufacturers to strengthen front end crash resistance.

Since the frontal-crash systems offer car manufacturers more and more models as the price of the technology falls. The systems use radar, cameras, Ultrasonic sensors and computer local objects before cars and determine whether a collision is possible. The system applies the brakes themselves, or a driver can be warned to take action.

The IIHS said that its data Institute usually are not found that the devices help to avoid crashes, but even so, drivers auto insurance companies offer discounts for people who buy them.

Insurance companies say, how the systems in certain models of more popular insurance claims will go back. These models will eventually see a reduced price.

In the tests, six other cars received second-best 'Advanced' reviews, while 25 'basic' get reviews. A further 36 received no rating because they had not the systems or their systems not the Institute standards.

The Institute says that the tests will help people who decide, what features to buy and to encourage car manufacturers to adopt the new technology faster.

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Are dangerous connected cars or a security feature?

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau - 1 day

When 18 year old Aaron Deveau last year sentenced vehicle for murder, the Massachusetts became jury to send a message to young drivers about the dangers of SMS at the wheel. It is not clear, the over, but receives.

According to new data from the Governors Highway Safety Association there was a 19% increase in the number of deaths at young teen in the first half of 2012 drivers and distracted driving a large part of the blame is contagious. It is of course limited, no problem for young drivers. Ray LaHood, which outgoing U.S. Transport Minister, has warned of an "epidemic" distracted, drive the various groups for more than 16% of all U.S. highway fatalities have held responsible.

So, why federal authorities with the automotive industry put even more electronics in cars, trucks and crossovers, which probably will buy you in the coming years? There is little doubt that drivers want more connections, despite the disturbing traffic statistics. But many experts betting that so-called connected car technologies can be used to reduce accidents, injuries and deaths on America's roads to work.

During a mobile Conference in Spain earlier this week announced General Motors to equip 'most' of vehicles, that it is in the United States with 4 g broadband functions from 2014-Avanti sold.

Among other things, passengers are can to open up that can handle up to eight different phones, table and laptop computers and other devices in an integrated WiFi hotspot.

"In addition to", so that consumers install and connect to personal mobile devices, the vehicle will also enable its own mobile device as an embedded vehicle functions, Mary says Chan, President, global connected consumer, General Motors.

There are the obvious choices to the integrated infotainment systems that allow passengers stream music or movies, for example. But there are additional safety and the manufacturer promised security services that can perform groundbreaking GM OnStar service to another level. Launched in 1995, a motorist can already in open the vehicle doors if the keys are locked inside. And the system can automatically call for help when the vehicle is in an accident is involved.

GM CEO Dan Akerson hopes, the number of trips that a motorist might require a dealer that performance monitor a vehicle with the partnership with AT & T from afar and update if necessary of its onboard software, when you say, the engine runs at the height, is not to reduce.

This is only the beginning, beat connected car advocates. More complex systems highway fatalities by more than two thirds of the nation according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reduced.

A consortium of automakers and suppliers, working with the U.S. Department of transportation and the University of Michigan, has begun to test different systems, speak the tomorrow's car to a roadside communications infrastructure - and even to other cars on the road could provide.

The one-year project can warn motorists about traffic or weather problems. It can also a warning to the vehicles another car - say approach to a junction, a teenager lead distracted during SMS - a red light will Flash be possible.

"The future is connected to vehicle-vehicle communication," Scott Belcher, President of the intelligent transportation society of America, which adds "Technology changes the way we operate," said a vehicle.

How far the technology could lead us through the State of Nevada last year signalled if it allowed special licensing for autonomous or self-driving cars. While Google and other advocates of what is possible with advanced cameras show, is radar and laser sensors, so that vehicles with each other talk may be essential to achieve autonomous driving advocates its ambitious targets.

"Such technology a few years ago seemed a dream and is now more and more plausible, says Mark Templin, President of Lexus at Toyota, which has been involved in a series of connected car programs in the United States and Japan.

The proponents of the connected car technologies are currently involved in a debate pitting NHTSA against the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC recently approved the use of new WiFi systems in a range of the radio band, supporters hoped had reserved exclusively for connected vehicle systems vehicle safety was going to be.

But few believe that this a fatal setback. There are other options, as shown in GM Alliance with AT & T. Audi has broadband in some of its products, and Chrysler will follow soon.

While drivers will appreciate clearly the possible security, decision makers use to hope on the additional costs with the same kind of benefits selling smartphone apps that they now offer.

"What is when you have been warned, if you in the car, which got needed an oil change, tells where you could get (half) on the way home, reserve it and you've also got a coupon?" asks Joel Kremke, senior Vice President at the information service company Covisint, which with the automotive industry on works associated with car technology.

Kremke believes there is a "cultural shift", as much as a technological underway and argues that in the not-too-distant future, drivers find it, as it now without their smartphones for many Americans has become so hard life to live connected car without.

Copyright © 2009-2013, the Detroit Bureau

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Security complaints plagues many popular car models

BMW Group

The Mini Cooper is one of the most complained-about auto models sold in the U.S., with concerns over steering comprising 41 percent of all Mini complaints lodged by consumers.

By Michael B. Sauter and Samuel Weigley, 24/7 Wall St.
Last year, the government received nearly 30,000 complaints from car owners concerned about potentially dangerous defects with their vehicle. Since 2007, the department responsible for auto safety — the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — has received more than 130,000 complaints.

The reports range from unintended acceleration to malfunctioning air bags. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed complaints recorded by the Traffic Safety Administration since January 2007 to identify the 10 car brands with the most safety complaints relative to the number of vehicles they sell.

Following receipt of a complaint, the Traffic Safety Administration determines whether a particular vehicle has a real, widespread safety issue. If it does, the agency works with manufacturers to issue recalls. While these recalls can force manufacturers to address safety concerns, they also serve to alert consumers to problems. According to several experts interviewed by 24/7 Wall St., once consumers become aware of a recall, they are much more likely to complain about the model to the Traffic Safety Administration.

In an interview with Panee Segal, senior manager of Data Syndication and Support at Edmunds, she explained that many drivers submit complaints about their cars because they discovered a problem through media coverage. Referring to the recalls issued by Toyota in 2010, she said, “the media will uncover a story — say for instance the floor mats and stuck accelerator — and consumers will become aware of the NHTSA being an avenue for consumers to file complaints. Consumers read the story and say ‘Hey, I have that complaint, too. Let me send in a complaint for the government to be aware of.’”

24/7 Wall St. reviewed the car models of the brands that received the most complaints recorded by the Traffic Safety Administration, based on data provided by online automotive information resource Edmunds.com. In nine out of the 10 cases, well-publicized recalls had been initiated on these vehicles. The Prius — part of Toyota’s unintended acceleration fiasco — was the brand’s most complained-about vehicle. Similarly, the Murano, Nissan’s most complained-about vehicle, had a 360,000-vehicle recall in 2009 due to air ducts that caused the engine to stall.

The effects of recalls, especially well-publicized ones, can be devastating to brand sales and perceived safety. In the first quarter of 2010, Toyota experienced a steep drop in sales following the company’s massive recall. According to a Consumer Reports annual study on consumer identification of auto brands, Toyota’s safety score fell substantially after the incident.

Shaking an image of inferior quality is hard to do, according to Jeff Bartless, deputy editor for Consumer Reports, even when the problem is not related to safety. Brands that are perceived to have general, nonsafety-related mechanical problems are also more likely to be considered unsafe, Bartless explained. As a result, these cars receive complaints regardless of recalls. Volkswagen and Jaguar, two of the cars with the most complaints — have been considered unreliable for years.

According to Bartless, while the Traffic Safety Administration bases recalls on safety risk, the car brands with the most complaints also develop issues that require repair unrelated to safety. “Certainly, the more a car breaks down — it is unreliable, problematic, and expensive — that’s definitely going to shape people's perception, depending on the nature of the problem,” he said.

Edmunds provided 24/7 Wall St. with a comprehensive list of safety complaints issues to the Traffic Safety Administration by brand and model between Jan. 1, 2007, and Aug. 31, 2012. Included were the most commonly complained about vehicle for each brand over that period, as well as the most common type of complaint given for each brand and model. 24/7 Wall St. also consulted Consumer Reports 2012 Car Brand Perception Report.

1. Mini

Complaints per 100,000 vehicles sold: 410.1Year-to-date car sales: 43,632Year-to-date complaints: 275Model complaint leader: Cooper
The Cooper, which represents more than half of the brand’s total sales, was the most complained-about Mini model, with concerns over steering comprising 41 percent of all Mini complaints. In 2010, the Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the 2004 and 2005 Cooper models following complaints that power-assisted steering often fails. Then in January of this year, parent-company BMW recalled 235,000 Minis following complaints to the Traffic Safety Administration of fires due to the overheating of the vehicle’s water pump. According to ConsumerReports.org, the Mini brand was tied with Scion and Ferrari as the worst brands for consumer perception safety.

2. Jeep

Complaints per 100,000 vehicles sold: 386.1 Year-to-date car sales: 325,945 Year-to-date complaints: 1,321 Model complaint leader: Wrangler
Wrangler, which represents roughly 30 percent of Jeep’s total sales, received the most complaints since 2007, with the fuel emission and exhaust system the source of the most common complaint. Jeep’s parent company, Chrysler, announced in May that it was recalling about 87,000 2010 model Wranglers after the Traffic Safety Administration noted that debris could get trapped in the exhaust system, potentially leading to a fire. Just a month later, Chrysler recalled approximately 347,000 Jeep Libertys due to concerns that the lower control arms in the SUV’s rear suspension can rust and cause the vehicle to crash. According to ConsumerReports.org, Jeep’s overall brand perception dropped between 2011 and 2012, but it was in the bottom 10 in both years.

3. Chrysler

Complaints per 100,000 vehicles sold: 292.3 Year-to-date car sales: 216,616 Year-to-date complaints: 693 Model complaint leader: Town & Country
Following the discontinuation of Dodge’s Grand Caravan, the Town & Country will be the sole minivan made by the Chrysler Group. But of the complaints about Chryslers to the Traffic Safety Administration since the beginning of 2007, no vehicle was more frequently mentioned than the Town & Country. The most common complaint was related to the car’s brakes, with drivers reporting premature wearing of pads. Chrysler’s sales were down by nearly 60 percent between 2007 and 2011.

4. Jaguar

Complaints per 100,000 vehicles sold: 240.5 Year-to-date car sales: 8,546 Year-to-date complaints: 15 Model complaint leader: XF
The Jaguar model with the most complaints was the XF, with 17 percent of complaints for that car involving the powertrain. Jaguar recalled about 18,000 X-Type cars in October 2011, which included the XF, due to problems with software. The company released a notice to customers, stating that there could be problems disengaging the cruise control. Sales of the XF were down 40.2 percent between 2008 and 2011.

5. Dodge

Complaints per 100,000 vehicles sold: 231.6 Year-to-date car sales: 344,556 Year-to-date complaints: 1,437 Model complaint leader: Grand Caravan
The Dodge model with the most complaints since 2007 was the Grand Caravan, with the most common issue being the interior electronics and hardware. In October 2011, Chrysler Group, the parent company of Dodge, announced it was stopping production of both the Grand Caravan and the Avenger. CEO Sergio Marchionne told Automotive News that Chrysler would release a crossover between the Grand Caravan and Avenger for 2013. Dodge’s market share has dropped in the past year, falling from 5.2 percent in July 2011 to 3.1 percent in July 2012. Sales were down 37 percent between 2007 and 2011.

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