Toyota recalls 2.17 million more vehicles over possible pedal entrapment

Toyota has announced that it will recall about 2.17 million vehicles because of possible problems pedal strangulation. In case you forgot about massive recall by Toyota from last year, does this new edition over 2.17 million vehicles in the driver's side floor mat is a potential danger can be. Uh oh.
In October 2009, Toyota recalled nearly five million vehicles because of possible problems with the floor mats. In January 2010, the automaker recalled an additional 2.3 million due to a problem with jump accelerator.
This latest rash of recalls affecting:

     * 2003-2009 Toyota 4Runner (603 000 units)
     * 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid (397 000 units)
     * 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4 (761 000 units)
     * 2008-2011 Lexus LX 570 (17,000 units)
     * 2006-2007 Lexus GS 300 and 350 all-wheel-drive models (20,000 units)
     * 2004-2007 Lexus RX 330, 350 and 400 h (372 000 units)
Toyota is sending notices to vehicle owners by first class mail and dealers will fix the problem at no cost to the owner. As I write this, Toyota says that he knows nothing of accidents or injuries related to this new series of product recalls. The automaker's official press release is available after the jump.

Ford recalling 150,000 F-150 models for faulty airbag deployment

Ford has announced that she calls 150 000 2005-2006 F-150 pickup trucks for air bags that can be used without warning. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration had originally opened an investigation into 1.3 million vehicles for the disorder. Ford says that the risk of an air bag lifting off for no reason is quite small, although NHTSA has received notification of 238 applications resulting in accidental injuries in 77th

The airbags were supposed seconds was started after the vehicle, and in one case, the driver jumped out of the vehicle while the truck was still parked in a driveway.

Ford says it limits the number of vehicles are being recalled because it is that the problem only with my head on vehicles, raised the discovery of the first layer at its Norfolk, Virginia assembly plant established. The problem occurs because of an improperly installed wire, can cause a short circuit, providing the airbag in the process. The automaker says that the wiring was changed in 2006 to eliminate the potential problem. As a result, the recall applies only to vehicles manufactured in Norfolk between November 2004 and June 2005.

Video: Semi Truck + Overpass = Snowpocalypse on the Interstate

Who security cam shots of the Minneapolis Metrodome roof collapse has seen, knows how powerful snow can. It was amazing footage, something that rarely captured on camera. But in the age of cell phone camera, are amazing videos less and less rare, as this video clearly shows.

The driver turned amateur filmmaker cruised down the road when a semi with several cubic meters of snow on top of the cargo box saddled caught his eye. Despite the inherent danger of driving while video recordings were the drivers not resist snagging a few shots of the strange deep snow snack. Fortunately for us that currently, if taken just a bad idea (distracted driving sucks) turned in some amazing shots. As you can see from the screen cap above, won the release of the battle, but the exploding snow makes the video worth watching. Make the jump to see for themselves.

Toyota launches Collaborative Safety Research Center in Michigan

Toyota constantly preaches that safety is a top priority. To further back up those claims, the automaker has announced a new research program: The Collaborative Safety Research Center. Located at the Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the CSRC examines the science of safety with the goal of reducing the number of traffic fatalities and injuries on American roads. The best part about the program is related to the first word in its name – collaboration. Toyota isn't keeping this data in-house, instead sharing it with top universities, hospitals, research institutions, federal agencies and other projects or groups whose goal is to make driving a safer experience.

Researchers from North America and Japan will work together at the Michigan location testing everything from driver-distraction to vehicle, passenger and pedestrian safety. Toyota estimates that it will spend $50 million on the CSRC over the course of the next five years. A full press release is posted after the jump.