2002 Dodge Durango 4x4 Slt Engine Noises As Is , No Reserve Runs And Drive on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Brand new cars are being sold with defective Takata airbags

If you just bought a 2016 Audi TT, 2017 Audi R8, 2016–17 Mitsubishi i-MiEV, or 2016 Volkswagen CC, we have some unsettling news for you. A report provided to a US Senate committee that oversees the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and reported on by Automotive News claims these vehicles were sold with defective Takata airbags. And it gets worse. Toyota and FCA are called out in the report for continuing to build vehicles that will need to be recalled down the line for the same issue. That's not all. The report also states that of the airbags that have been replaced already in the Takata recall campaign, 2.1 million will need to eventually be replaced again. They don't have the drying agent that prevents the degradation of the ammonium nitrate, which can lead to explosions that can destroy the airbag housing and propel metal fragments at occupants. So these airbags are out there already. We're not done yet. There's also a stockpile of about 580,000 airbags waiting to be installed in cars coming in to have their defective airbags replaced. These 580k airbags also don't have the drying agent. They'll need to be replaced down the road, too. A new vehicle with a defective Takata airbag should be safe to drive, but that margin of safety decreases with time. If all this has you spinning around in a frustrated, agitated mess, there's a silver lining that is better than it sounds. So take a breath, run your fingers through your hair, and read on. Our best evidence right now demonstrates that defective Takata airbags – those without the drying agent that prevents humidity from degrading the ammonium nitrate propellant – aren't dangerous yet. It takes a long period of time combined with high humidity for them to reach the point where they can rupture their housing and cause serious injury. It's a matter of years, not days. So a new vehicle with a defective Takata airbag should be safe to drive, but that margin of safety decreases with time – and six years seems to be about as early as the degradation happens in the worst possible scenario. All this is small comfort for the millions of people who just realized their brand-new car has a time bomb installed in the wheel or dashboard, or the owners who waited patiently to have their airbags replaced only to discover that the new airbag is probably defective in the same way (although newer and safer!) as the old one.

Will the Chrysler 300 go front-wheel drive?

FCA chief executive Sergio Marchionne hinted last week that the strapping rear-wheel-drive Chrysler 300 sedan could go front-wheel drive for its next generation using the underpinnings from the Chrysler Pacifica minivan. Speaking at the Pacifica's production launch in Windsor, ON, Marchionne said, "this plant and this architecture is capable of making the 300 successor, the front-wheel, all-wheel-drive successor," Reuters reported. Perhaps realizing he appeared to be announcing a dramatic shift in product strategy, Marchionne backpedaled in response to a follow-up question, noting only that the Ontario factory is "capable" of making the sedan. "It's capable. It's not a commitment," he said, according to Reuters. The 300 is currently built in Brampton, ON, alongside the mechanically similar Dodge Charger and Challenger. The platform, known as LX in enthusiast circles, is an evolution of Mercedes-based chassis pieces that date to the DaimlerChrysler era. Marchionne's comments didn't cover the Dodges and left a lot open to interpretation. The 300 could switch to front- and all-wheel-drive and focus on a more civilized, elegant ride character, leaving the Charger and two-door Challenger as traditional rear-wheel-drive muscle cars. That strategy would further differentiate the Chrysler and Dodge car lines. Additionally, the Charger's RWD platform makes it a popular police vehicle, and both Dodges are offered in top trim as 707-horsepower Hellcats. Switching to front-wheel drive would seemingly complicate both of those endeavors. Rumors have also swirled that Alfa Romeo could contribute RWD underpinnings for Dodge. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2015 Chrysler 300 View 92 Photos Design/Style Chrysler Dodge Off-Road Vehicles Performance Sedan chrysler pacifica

Viper owners raising money to retake the Nurburgring lap record

Nurburgring lap times – unofficial as they may be – are the locker room comparison contest of the automotive world. For several years, the lap record of 7:12:13 was held by a 2011 Dodge Viper ACR. The Viper and America were the rulers of the roost until the usurper, the Porsche 918, came in a stole the crown. The death knell is ringing for the Viper, and a group of owners are raising money to send the car to the 'Ring for one last chance at glory. The current Dodge Viper ACR is an astonishingly capable car. All of the flaws that make it miserable to live with everyday - stiff suspension, obnoxious exhaust, speed-bump-gouging splitter - make it one of the most formidable road-legal track machines ever created. Unfortunately, that single-purpose nature turned off a lot of customers, and slow sales have led to the end of Viper production. The Viper holds lap records on more than a dozen of tracks, but, like a driver winning the Indianapolis 500, only one belt notch truly matters. The ViperExchange is willing to supply two ACRs and two drivers well versed in the Nurburgring in order to retake the record. The problem with attempting to set the record is mostly down to logistics. According to the GoFundMe page, the total cost to send the cars, pay for the track, the supplies, and operating expenses is about $150,000 and $200,000. The group says this is entirely a volunteer effort and are asking for donations to fund the Viper's return. Those wishing to help replant the stars and stripes and fill the forests of Germany with the truck-like roar of an odd-firing V10 can donate online. If they fall short, donations will be returned. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: GoFundMe Auto News Dodge Coupe Racing Vehicles Performance dodge viper acr nurburgring record lap record