This has prompted many car companies to initiate recalls before problems are reported by customers in order to avoid the large class action lawsuits Toyota is now facing and the massive fines that governments are not shy about levying to punish for dishonest behavior that might put their citizens in danger. But apparently not every car company has learned its lesson.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began a massive investigation into a very serious problem regarding 293,787 Mazda3 cars from the 2007 to 2009 model years and 48,764 BMW Z4 sports cars from 2003 to 2005.

The NHTSA initiating an investigation prior to a recall does not bode well for either car manufacturer and could lead to massive fines and a wider recall later this year.

NHTSA Investigation

Both investigations stem from a serious problem with the power steering which fails typically occurring at higher vehicle speeds over 45 miles per hour and at warmer temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

The government agency said it received 33 complaints about Mazda3 vehicles that alleged a loss of power steering assist while driving. The sudden defect required excessive force by the driver to maintain control of the vehicle. Three of the complaints alleged that the loss of steering control caused car crashes.

Mazada3 vehicles use an electrically actuated hydraulic power steering system, the agency said.

The NHTSA also said it received 107 complaints alleging a loss of power-assisted steering in BMW Z4s. The complaints stated that the steering wheel sticks, binds or locks up, requiring increased steering effort to maintain control and increasing the potential to over-steer the vehicle.

The problem has not caused any reported fatalities as of yet, but now that the problem has been revealed there may be new investigations into previously unexplained fatal car accidents that have led to wrongful death.

Both Mazda and BMW have not made statements on their websites regarding this very serious investigation.

Defective Design Lawyers

Investigations like this are going to become much more prevalent. In fact, the investigation may be a little late in coming if the NHTSA has received this many complaints and suggests that perhaps the investigation may have needed to be begun earlier.

Also the investigation and number of complaints to the government regulatory agency leaves one to wonder just how many complaints went directly to the car companies, how they dealt with them, and how many of the complaints they relayed to the NHTSA within the week period as dictated in the NHTSA rules.

These types of concerns are what consumers may want to bring up if they are Mazada3 or BMW Z4 owners who are potentially at risk for being effected this summer as they drive on the freeway at highway speeds in higher temperatures this summer.

If you or a loved one is affected by faulty power steering that lead to car accidents and/or serious personal injuries then it is extremely important that you contact a skilled attorney with experience in negotiating with car companies regarding defective product lawsuits. Call Phillips Webster from where ever you are in the country and get your free consultation into your legal options.

Learn More About:

• Manufacturer Defect Lawsuits and Liability
• Recall
• Defective Design

Campbell Soup Company recalled 15 million pounds of SpaghettiOs with meatballs on Thursday. The SpaghettiOs are believed to be undercooked, because of a cooker malfunction at one of the company’s Texas plants.

For you to identify the recalled products look for “EST 4K” as well as a use-by date between June 2010 and December 2011 on the bottom of the can. There are believed to be 35,000 of the cases of SpaghtettOs on the market now.

Many of the cans are believed to have been consumed by now, but perhaps you may have stocked the pantry or fall-out shelter full and just haven’t had a chance to work your way through all of them.

Either way, undercooked meat can cause very serious illness, especially in children and elderly people who may have a lowered immune system. Undercooked meat can cause serious intestinal problems and may also lead to other gastrointestinal complications.

If you or a loved one has been severely sickened by any of the SpaghettiOs with meatballs products and that has lead to serious complications or other more serious problems then it is important that you find a legal representative that is experienced in Product Liability Lawsuits. Call Phillips Webster for a free consultation.

Learn More About:

• Manufacturer Defect Lawsuits and Liability
• Recall
• Defective Design

Now, Toyota is again eclipsing Honda in the news with recalls associated with the sudden acceleration of most of the models they offer. Being in the news all of the time has prompted Toyota to offer zero percent financing for 24 months on cars that are actually still on their recall list and may or may not be fixed. People don’t seem to care because they’re buying  Toyotas anyway, leaving Honda shrugging and as jealous as a 4^th place Olympian.

So Honda has announced recalls, loudly. Usually these recall announcements come on Friday afternoon at around 4:59 pm when all of the news people have already hit 4 pm happy hour. But not this time. Honda wants the publicity. The old saying goes, and Toyota has proven it, “there’s no such thing as bad press.”

Honda Recall Details

Honda has recalled more than 410,000 Odyssey minivans and Element small trucks. They are having braking system problems that could make it harder to bring the vehicle to a stop if not repaired, Honda spokesman Chris Martin said.

These types of brake problems can make an owner have to stamp on the brakes and may cause longer than normal stopping distances. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported three crashes due to the problem with minor injuries and no deaths, Martin said.

Honda notified NHTSA of the recall on Monday, he said.

The recall includes 344,000 Odysseys and 68,000 Elements from the 2007 and 2008 model years.

Honda said that over time, brake pedals can feel “soft” and must be pressed closer to the floor to stop the vehicles. If left as it is, the problem could cause a major loss of braking power and possibly an accident.

“[The brake line is] definitely not operating the way it should, and it’s safety systems, so it brings it to the recall status,” Martin said.

This is not the first recall of the Honda Odyssey. Honda recalled some in February of last year for faulty emergency brakes. This problem caused no injuries and was considerably smaller than this problem.

Recalls on the Rise

In a perfect world all cars would work perfectly straight off of the production line. This is certainly not a perfect world, but voluntary recalls help get us closer.

Nissan, on March 3^rd, announced the recall of more than a half a million saying, “the recall covers the Titan, Armada and Infiniti QX56 built from 2005 to 2008, and the Frontier, Pathfinder and Xterra produced between January and March 2006 and between October 2007 and January 2008.” Apparently the brake pedals could have faulty components that cause the pedals to wobble.

Just two days earlier General Motors recalled 1.3 million Chevrolet and Pontiac compact cars sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to fix power steering motors that can fail. The recall affects 2005 to 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts, 2007 to 2010 Pontiac G5s, 2005 and 2006 Pontiac Pursuits sold in Canada and 2005 and 2006 Pontiac G4s sold in Mexico. They say that the cars can become difficult to steer under 15 mph.

In the past these problems were called “quirks”. Unless people were dying then they either had to live with it or get out the old tool kit and fix it themselves. That is until Ralph Nader came along in the late 70’s and changed all of that. Since then car companies have been learning hard lessons over and over again about putting profit before their customer’s safety. Yet they keep on doing it. Toyota is no different this time.

Luckily for the consumer recalls have risen and perhaps with this gargantuan Toyota fiasco, the car manufaturers have finally learned their lesson, because as the chart below shows, recalls are rising and on the heals of the Toyota recalls have shot through the roof.

Defective Automobiles

The difference between the Honda recalls and the other recalls this month is that the Odyssey is a very popular vehicle to transport children. It is the quintessential family travel machine and the NHTSA has given it an impressive 5 star crash safety rating. Unfortunately, with brake problems it will need it.

The point is that, if you are a safe defensive driver, then barring other people’s erratic driving habits, you should be able to rely on your car to get you to your destination safely. Of course every car eventually has engine troubles, but driving down a hill toward a busy intersection and finding that your brakes have failed is not “engine troubles”. It is a life or death situation that can lead to serious personal injury or even wrongful death.

If you or someone you know has been adversely affected by a defective automobile it is essential that you contact legal council that is experienced in defective product litigation. Call Phillips Webster to speak with a legal professional about your legal options.

Learn More About:

• Toyota Recalls
• Crashworthiness
• Defective Tires

Now Lifescan has issued a voluntary recall of 8 items in their product line. Lifescan is a subsidiary of medical equipment and pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson.

On their website, Johnson & Johnson confirmed the recall and elaborated that the Lifescan Onetouch meter that these strips go to was discontinued both in Canada and the US in 2006, but the company remained providing strips for them. They added that their new Onetouch is vastly different technology and superior, suggesting that it is time for an upgrade.

Lifescan OneTouch SureStep Recall Details

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an open letter to the public and health care providers such as nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, and other facilities regarding using SureStep®Pro®, SureStep®Flexx® or OneTouch® SureStep® Hospital Systems. These glucose measuring systems use SureStep®Pro® Test Strips.

The full list of recalled products include:

• 100-ct – OneTouch SureStep  # 2969251
• 100-ct – OneTouch SureStep  # 2969798
• 100-ct – OneTouch SureStep  # 2982369
• 100-ct – OneTouch SureStep  # 2983467
• 50-ct – OneTouch SureStep  # 2969795
• 50-ct – OneTouch SureStep  # 2982566
• 50-ct – Medicare/Mail Order # 2969481
• 50-ct – Medicare/Mail Order # 2998193

These products may produce false low readings when the blood glucose reading is greater than 400 mg/dL. The FDA and LifeScan has advised healthcare facilities of the appropriate actions to take in order to continue to use these SureStepPro Test Strips.

It has been advised that healthcare facilities with access to alternative means of testing should consider discontinue using SureStep Systems until non-defective replacement test strips are available.

Consumers are advised to use alternative methods if available. If none are available, continue using the strips and contact a physician if levels are greater than 400 mg/dL.

Lifescan OneTouch SureStep False Readings Side Effects

Recently in February, 2010 a diabetic professor at a college in Washington state was standing in the hall of his college and he had no idea where he was. He had gone into diabetic shock. He approached a colleague as if they were a stranger and ask the way outside. She realized by his glossed over look that there was something seriously wrong.

In the hour that followed medical crews arrived and proceeded to physically fight with the professor as his worst nightmares rushed to his head, not being able to recognize that they were trying to help him. They got him sedated and to the hospital just in time. He very well could have slipped into a coma. This is an extreme case, but extreme cases are what happens when a diabetic’s warning system isn’t working effectively.

The side effects that tell a diabetic that they have not properly regulated their glucose and insulin levels can be very subtle. As you might realize from the story about the professor above, the side effects can sneak up and have dire results. Watch for some of these side effects when using the Lifescan Ontouch Surestep product line:

• shaking
• sweating
• irritability
• headache
• tingling
• hunger
• blurred vision
• dizziness and confusion
• numbness of the lips
• nausea or vomiting
• fast heart rate
• sudden tiredness
• seizures
• pale appearance
• frequent sighing
• personality change
• confusion or poor concentration
• loss of consciousness

Protect Yourself from Harm from Recalled Products

This is a voluntary recall by Lifescan because of reports from healthcare providers and consumers. Though Johnson & Johnson has stopped producing these machines does not mean that they are not liable for their correct operation, particularly in life threatening situations such as the most dangerous of side effects of misread insulin levels in diabetics.

If you or a loved one have found yourself a victim of this recall or other defective medical devices it is important that you get representation that has proven experience with defective product litigation when dealing with large companies that have endless resources. Call Phillips Webster to review your legal rights and find out your legal options.

We’ve been posting about the details of the issues involving Zicam lately, but some are wondering why anosmia is something to be concerned with, when other products have been known to cause cancer and death. However, basic research will tell anyone that the loss of the sense of smell, particularly if it’s permanent, can be a dangerous condition for several reasons.

When someone cannot smell, the most obvious danger it creates is that those people may not be able to sense dangers that include smoke from a fire or poisonous substances or gas leaks. However, there are other problems associated with anosmia, and they are directly correlated with the longer duration of this condition.

Those who cannot smell will often fall into a depression, as they understand that they are physically limited and are also concerned about their lack of ability to detect the dangers described above. Medical experts have also noted that those with anosmia will slowly lose weight as a result of a loss of appetite, and this can create many other medical problems that are high-risk in nature.

Ultimately, anosmia is a serious enough side effect that the FDA ordered the makers of Zicam to stop marketing the product and for Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., the manufacturer, to voluntarily pull the products from the shelves. If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of using Zicam, contact the defective drugs lawyers at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Today, Matrixx Initiatives, Inc. responded by voluntarily pulling the products in question from retail shelves across the United States until the matter is resolved. The three specific products within the overall product line that were pulled include:

• Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel (15mL, NDC 62750-003-10)
• Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs (20 swabs, NDC 67250-003-20)
• Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (20 swabs, NDC 67250-003-21)

To reiterate the warning issued by the FDA yesterday, you should immediately stop using these products if you have them in your home.

The reason this issue arose is because the FDA received at least 130 reports of consumers using the Zicam products listed above and developing ansomia, which is the loss of the sense of smell. Consumers reported the development of this side effect soon after use, and while no duration of the condition has been defined, some reported that it took several months for their sense of smell to return.

It’s believed that zinc, one of the ingredients in Zicam products, was the reason for this side effect, as it has been known to create similar problems in people who have been exposed to it in the past. If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of using Zicam, contact the defective drugs attorneys at Phillips & Webster immediately to schedule a free initial consultation.

• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Capsules
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Capsules
• Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
• Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
• Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
• Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
• Hydroxycut 24
• Hydroxycut Carb Control
• Hydroxycut Natural

The products were recalled because of at least 23 reports of serious side effects developing in consumers who purchased more than 9 million containers of it within the past year. The side effects involved serious damage to consumers’ kidneys and livers, and one 19-year-old man died after using Hydroxycut.

Hydroxycut was a popular product line because it marketed itself as a ‘natural weight loss’ solution that used natural products. However, it has yet to be determined which ingredient or ingredients are responsible for these side effects, as the ingredients seem to have changed several times.

If you have been using any of these products, you need to stop using them immediately, as was stated by the FDA. If you’ve been injured as a result of using them, you need to contact the defective drugs lawyers at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.