Toyota recalls 21,700 Camry, Lexus models on fire risk

Toyota Motor North America is recalling 21,700 vehicles in the U.S. after discovering two defects that could lead to fires.

The separate recalls affect 11,800 2018 Toyota Camry sedans and 9,900 Lexus vehicles including, RC F vehicles from 2015-18 model years, GS F vehicles from 2016-18 model years, and 2018 LC 500 vehicles, the company said Wednesday.

The Toyota Camrys could have fuel pipes and fuel hoses in the engine compartment that were connected improperly, which could lead to a fuel odor or leakage and possibly result in a fire, Toyota said in a notice. read more »

Dirtier than VW dieselgate: EPA expands loophole for rebuilt trucks

A newly expanded federal loophole is fueling the growth of semi trucks retrofitted with rebuilt, older engines that produce diesel emissions far greater than the combined emissions of all Volkswagen diesels equipped with fraudulent emissions controls, a New York Times investigation shows.

The trucks, which use new truck bodies from Peterbilt, Freightliner and other manufacturers mated to rebuilt engines exempt from pollution standards, are known as "gliders." They're cheaper than semis equipped with modern, emissions-compliant engines, may get higher fuel economy and are less expensive to repair and maintain. But they emit toxins and tiny dust and soot particles blamed for causing asthma, lung cancer and other diseases. And their ranks are growing, with about 10,000 sold in 2015, the last year for which data are available, up from fewer than 1,000 in 2010.

An analysis by staff members at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that gliders emitted nitrogen oxide levels during highway driving that were 43 times as high as those from trucks with modern emissions-control systems. read more »

Trump administration questioned on NHTSA readiness

Democratic members of the U.S. House questioned Wednesday whether the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is capable of effectively regulating the nation’s auto industry at a time when self-driving cars are beginning to hit highways.

They noted during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that President Donald Trump has not nominated a candidate to run NHTSA on a full-time basis in over a year, and they said the agency has been caught flat-footed in previous high-profile auto investigations.

“There are legit concerns that NHTSA is not prepared and is not keeping up with the quickly changing automotive industry,” U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., said. “It’s troubling that NHTSA doesn’t have the resources, people or expertise it needs to fulfill its mandate. It’s also concerning that the administration clearly does not see this agency as a priority as we have yet to hear about a possible nomination for the role of NHTSA administrator.” read more »