The probes — both opened after just three complaints — are the latest examples of how federal safety regulators are opening more investigations into potential safety issues than in recent years and moving faster than in the past.
In the first, NHTSA is investigating 150,000 2006 Honda CR-V models after reports of melting or burning of the master power window switch and related electrical system wiring components. All three complaints alleged fires in the driver's door related to the driver's master power window switch.
Honda spokesman Chris Naughton said Honda will fully cooperate. He declined to say if Honda has received any additional reports of fires.
Separately, NHTSA is also probing 41,000 2007 Kia Optima models over complaints that the automatic transmission shift cable may detach from the shifter assembly. If this occurs, the transmission gear shifter becomes inoperative.
NHTSA said it had received three complaints concerning automatic transmission shift cable detachment and inability to engage the gears (park, drive and reverse) in model year 2007 Kia Optima vehicles. "One of the complaints also reported is a rollaway incident after parking the vehicle," NHTSA said.
In 2007, Kia Motors issued a technical service bulletin concerning incorrectly installed automatic transmission shift cables in certain model year 2006 and 2007 Kia Optima vehicles. The bulletin said that over time these cables can detach from the shifter assemblies' dowel pins resulting in the inability to select or engage drive gears. NHTSA noted that difficulty engaging park may also occur.
Kia said in a statement it is not aware of any injuries and is cooperating with NHTSA in its investigation.
NHTSA came under harsh criticism from Congress earlier this year in the wake of Toyota Motor Corp.'s sudden acceleration issues and the disclosure that NHTSA had not done more to force Toyota to make fixes in response to complaints.
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