The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has grown its investigation into certain Toyota models to cover a full 1.4 million cars and trucks. Reuters reports the government safety agency has upgraded the investigation to a full-blown engineering analysis, which may eventually lead to a recall. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: 3 of 4 major rental car outfits won’t pledge not to rent or sell recalled vehicles
In 2004, Raechel and Jackie Houck were killed when they were in a fiery accident in the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser they had rented from Enterprise. The girls’ mother, Cally Houck, sued Enterprise when it was discovered that their Chrysler was the subject of a recall to repair a power steering hose leak over a potential fire issue, yet the car hadn’t been reparied before it was rented. The five-year trial concluded in 2010, with Enterprise admitting negligence, at which point it was ordered by a jury to pay $15 million in damages. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Honda recalling 50,000 new Civic models over driveshaft fear
Honda has issued a voluntary recall of its 2012 Civic over a potential issue with the left driveshaft. There are 50,000 cars that might be affected by an improperly assembled part. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: 2009 Kia Borrego recalled over brake pedal issue
Kia is warning owners of its 2009 Borrego (all 21,912 of them) that the SUV’s brake pedal mounts could present a problem. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Jeep recalls nearly 68,000 Wrangler models over… skid plate fires?
Chrysler is recalling 67,872 Jeep Wrangler models over a potential issue with the transmission skid plate. The recall deals solely with Wranglers from the 2010 model year, equipped with automatic transmissions. Funk Flex
