Counterfeit Airbag Information

NHTSA  has become aware of a problem involving the sale of counterfeit air bags for use as replacement parts in vehicles that have been involved in a crash. While these air bags look nearly identical to certified, original equipment parts—including bearing the insignia and branding of major automakers — NHTSA testing showed consistent malfunctioning ranging from non-deployment of the air bag to the expulsion of metal shrapnel during deployment. NHTSA is not aware of any deaths or injuries connected to counterfeit air bags.
While the full scope and scale of the problem of counterfeit air bags is uncertain from currently available data, NHTSA has identified certain vehicle makes and models for which these air bags may be available and believes this issue affects less than 0.1 percent of the U.S. vehicle fleet. Only vehicles which have had an air bag replaced within the past three years by a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership may be at risk.
Consumers whose vehicles have been in a crash and had their air bags replaced by a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership within the past three years or who have purchased a replacement air bag online should contact the call center that has been established by their auto manufacturer to have their vehicle inspected at their own expense and their air bag replaced if necessary. The full list of call centers and additional information are available at www.SaferCar.gov.
NHTSA is currently gathering information from automakers about their systems for verifying the authenticity of replacement parts and is working with the industry to make the driving public aware of the potential safety risk posed by counterfeit air bags. Moving forward, the agency will continue to monitor consumer complaints, police accident reports, and other sources for additional information.
CONSUMERS THAT SHOULD NOT BE AT RISK

• Consumers who purchased their vehicle new and have not had their air bags replaced
• Consumers who have full knowledge of the entire history of their used vehicle (including knowing whether the vehicle had been in a crash in the last three years and being certain that the air bag was replaced at a new car dealership)

CONSUMERS THAT MAY BE AT RISK AND SHOULD CONTACT THE CALL CENTER ESTABLISHED BY THEIR AUTO MANUFACTURER

• Consumers who have had air bags replaced within the past three years at a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership
• Consumers who have purchased a used car that may have sustained an air bag deployment before their purchase
• Consumers who own a car with a title branded salvage, rebuilt, or reconstructed
• Consumers who have purchased replacement air bags from eBay or other non-certified sources—especially if they were purchased at unusually low prices (i.e. less than $400)

While the full scope and scale of the problem of counterfeit air bags is uncertain from currently available data, NHTSA has identified certain vehicle makes and models for which these air bags may be available and believes this issue affects less than 0.1 percent of the U.S. vehicle fleet. Only vehicles which have had an air bag replaced within the past three years by a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership may be at risk.
Consumers whose vehicles have been in a crash and had their air bags replaced by a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership within the past three years or who have purchased a replacement air bag online should contact the call center that has been established by their auto manufacturer to have their vehicle inspected at their own expense and their air bag replaced if necessary. The full list of call centers and additional information are available at www.SaferCar.gov.
VEHICLES FOR WHICH COUNTERFEIT AIR BAGS MAY BE AVAILABLE:
http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/Air+Bags/Counterfeit+Air+Bags+General+Information

2013 Honda Accord Nominated to Car of the Year Short List

The all-new 2013 Honda Accord has only just gone on sale, but it’s already up for one of the U.S. auto industry’s most prestigious honors: The North American Car of the Year award, presented each year during the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.
The Accord took its first steps toward joining past Honda Car (and Truck) of the Year winners by recently being named to the award’s short list—a selection of the top new or significantly redesigned vehicles offered for North American buyers. The next stage in the process will occur in December, when three finalists are announced, with the overall winners scheduled to be revealed in January, at the opening of the 2013 NAIAS.
Certainly among the favorites for the honor, the Accord family actually includes two members: The sedan, on sale now for $21,680, and the coupe, on its way to dealerships with a starting price of $23,350. Both packages wrap the latest technologies in taut new sheet metal, and add increased power—and efficiency—over their 2012 counterparts. For example, the previous Accord sedan had a standard I4 engine that delivered 177 hp, 161 lb.-ft. of torque and EPA ratings of 23 mpg city/34 mpg highway/27 mpg combined with a five-speed automatic transmission; the completely redesigned 2013 model offers 185 hp (+4.5 percent), 181 lb.-ft. of torque (+12.4 percent), a six-speed automatic (+20 percent) and an EPA line of 27/36/30 (+11.1 percent in combined driving).
Other Honda vehicles that have come up big in the North American Car and Truck of the Year voting include:
2012—Honda CR-V (finalist)
2008—Honda Accord (finalist)
2007—Honda Fit (finalist)
2006—Honda Civic (winner), Honda Ridgeline (winner)
2003—Honda Element (finalist)
2001—Honda Insight (finalist)



Marietta Sixth Grade Academy Gets Donation of 1,000 Books

Over 1000 books were placed in Marietta Sixth Grade Academy (MSGA) classrooms, as a result of a donation from the Ed Voyles Automotive Group.

Over 1000 books were placed in Marietta Sixth Grade Academy (MSGA) classrooms, as a result of a donation from the Ed Voyles Automotive Group honoring Marietta City Schools Superintendent, Emily Lembeck.
The books for MSGA consist of six-pack sets of books that cover social studies and science standards while integrating reading and language arts instruction.
Similar books were purchased for fifth grade to address teaching and learning social studies and science standards. Each fifth grade class across the district will receive these materials.
Valery Voyles, president and CEO of Ed Voyles Automotive Group and Bill Brantley, President and Chief Operating Officer, Ed Voyles Automotive Group will join Emily Lembeck for a book donation ceremony, at the Marietta Sixth Grade Academy on Thursday.