Have new technologies made cars less safe?
There’s an old saying that any publicity is good publicity — but tell that to a company that’s been hit with a safety recall. Product recalls can cover anything from toys coated with lead paint to bacteria-tainted food. But in recent years, problems with technology have led to several automotive recalls. For example, in 2009, Volvo recalled vehicles because onboard software wasn’t sending the right signals to the fuel pump, which could cause stalls and crashes. Around the same time, Yamaha recalled motorcycles manufactured between October 2004 and April 2005 because of problems with the throttle position sensor, which could also lead to stalls and crashes [source: NHTSA, October 2009]. Not long after, Daimler Trucks recalled some Thomas school buses because of problems with LED wiring t
