Keyless ignition death lawsuits

[jtvang125]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/26/us-autos-ignition-lawsuit-idUSKCN0QV1PH20150826

Legitimate issue or darwin awards?

I would say the latter. This is my first car that had it and never did I once thought I wouldn't have to turn it manually. But I guess to protect the stupid we should implement an auto shutoff feature.

 

[nakedfrog]

Certainly not the manufacturer's issue.

 

[Jimzz]

I bet none of them read the owners manual that told them how to turn the car off. Nope; I'll just assume it works the way I think it does...

 

[Fenixgoon]

darwin. if the car is running, shouldn't you be able to hear the engine, and see that the tachometer does not read 0?

 

[vi edit]

Darwin indeed. Admittedly I've almost done that a few times with my C-max. But the biggest offender there is that it's a hybrid and running on EV mode when you pull in to the garage. Put it in park and get out and there's not even an engine running. It's silent and no engine vibration. But I always stop myself because all of the instrument panels are still lit up as a "HEY DUMBASS I'M STILL ON!!!" indicator.

 

[Nashemon]

I bet none of them read the owners manual that told them how to turn the car off. Nope; I'll just assume it works the way I think it does...

I hope the actual complain includes the term "on/off" button like the article does. The button actually says "On/Off" on it. They just assume it must work like the automatic lights in their garage since they park it in the garage?

Also lol @ claiming it reduces the resale value. It only would reduce it if they change it as you are asking them to, so yours would no longer meet the standard. Idiots, the whole lot of them.

 

[Demo24]

That's just incredibly stupid. Why would you not turn the car off and instead just walk away with it on??

I think my Mazda will warn you for awhile and then maybe turn off if the key is out of range too long (not positive, as it could also be dangerous). My VW will not turn off if the key is out of range, and has various things stating this in the manual with safety precautions.

 

[LTC8K6]

It's pretty difficult to kill yourself with CO from any modern car, though.

A working CAT removes over 99% of CO from a car's exhaust.

 

[cabri]

For a pure combustion engine; how can you exit the vehicle in a garage and not know that it is not running - you were using it.

It you were using a hybrid, will the combustion start up automatically when the electric side is no longer able to power up the engine?

Either way, Darwin - RTFM

 

[Murloc]

if the cars didn't behave like this, I bet some people would complain that they can't leave the car on (some people still do this if they aren't paying for the gas).

 

[vi edit]

That's just incredibly stupid. Why would you not turn the car off and instead just walk away with it on??

I think my Mazda will warn you for awhile and then maybe turn off if the key is out of range too long (not positive, as it could also be dangerous). My VW will not turn off if the key is out of range, and has various things stating this in the manual with safety precautions.

Mostly because you are so used to grabbing keys and walking away. With keyless you grab the keys and walk away and it still runs. Can't do that with old school ignitions.

 

[Viper GTS]

What happens in a start/stop equipped or hybrid car if you walk away with the keys while it's in park but on (with the ICE off)? Will it restart the ICE when it depletes its battery to the point at which it needs charging? Or does it recognize the key is gone and just shut off instead?

Viper GTS

 

[jtvang125]

Mostly because you are so used to grabbing keys and walking away. With keyless you grab the keys and walk away and it still runs. Can't do that with old school ignitions.

I'm not sure if every manufacturer has it and I'm thinking most do but my bmw will nag me with a visual message and beeps when I leave the engine on and I step out with the key fob on me. How anyone would miss that warning I don't know.

 

[vi edit]

If I get a foot or two away from my C-Max the horn audibly honks twice (loudly) if it's still running and I walk away with the key. But the engine will continue to cycle on and off to keep the battery cycling. It won't allow the car to actually be driven in that state, but it will run indefinitely.

 

[SSSnail]

That's one feature of the car that I actually like. On hot days, I'd just start the car and A/C, then walk off for a few minutes and come back to a cooled car.

Seriously, I really think that modern technologies are helping to dilute the gene pool. These idiots wouldn't have survived long enough to learn to drive... But I digress...

 

[Pulsar]

I didn't see where anyone has actually died from this. Definitely a Darwin award and a bunch of nanny-stater type folks pushing for cash.

 

[KentState]

This is a pure cash grab by lawyers. There is a ton of stuff in my house, if left running, is just as dangerous as a small amount of CO in the garage. Irons, ovens, stoves, coffee pots, portable heaters, charging lithium ion batteries, garbage disposal, running water, curling iron, fireplace, Xbox 360, Hitachi Magic Wand, etc. Some have auto shut off features but a lot will go until they either melt down or worse.

At some point, people have to be accountable for operation of things they own. This isn't a manufacturing defect in the least like Takata airbags or poorly made ignition switches.

 

[DaTT]

This would be a perfect frivolous lawsuit to have all the lawyers suspended from the bar for 6 months to prove a point against these silly suits....i hope the judge has a set of balls.

 

[RLGL]

It's too bad the public has little or no common sense. Hence the lawyers jump on things like this.

 

[RU482]

I almost want to counter sue them for stupidity

 

[Raizinman]

Every home should have a carbon monoxide detector. You can purchase one at Walmart for about $25. Not just for accidently leaving your car running in the garage, but also for gas furnaces and other things.

 

[Meghan54]

Mostly because you are so used to grabbing keys and walking away. With keyless you grab the keys and walk away and it still runs. Can't do that with old school ignitions.

Dunno. I had an old Ford and an old Plymouth that you could remove the keys from the ignition....at any time, running or not....the keys and switches were so worn. Start the car, pull keys out, stick 'em in your pocket, drive off.

 

[Demo24]

Mostly because you are so used to grabbing keys and walking away. With keyless you grab the keys and walk away and it still runs. Can't do that with old school ignitions.

I understand what's going on, etc. I've done it temporarily if say I forgot something in the house. It takes both my cars a decent amount of time to complain about the lack of key.

What I don't get is why anyone would think that what they are supposed to do is just put it in park and then walk away. I do get how on a hybrid it could be more confusing. I'd also wonder just how long a typical hynrid would take to make enough co2 to kill someone.

 

[KeithP]

More lawyer BS. That being said, here is another story with some details of actual deaths, http://www.wxyz.com/news/national/k...regulators-and-auto-manufacturers-slow-to-act

I don't understand why the people aren't filing lawsuits against the home builders? As I understand it, building codes are such that gases from the garage aren't suppose to be able to get into the living area. If that is happening, there is clearly I problem with the home's design.

-KeithP

 

[Bacstar]

Sad to say: I did this once in my Chrysler 300. I had an incredible craving for pancakes one morning after moving into my new place, so rushed to the store to buy everything needed to make them. Parked in the garage, and completely forgot to shut off the engine.

Made and ate my pancakes and decided to take a nap on the couch...little did I know I was probably drowsy due to the CO building up. All of a sudden all my CO alarms start going off. It then dawned on me that I may have left the car running. For some reason, I remember wondering why I heard an engine or maybe a lawn mower running. It was probably 45 or so mins since I got back. Walked into the garage, full of exhaust, car sputtering probably due to lack of oxygen...

Mind you this is middle winter Anchorage Alaska, but I still had to open all my windows and doors to air out the house. Plus I had to disconnect all my fire/CO detectors to keep the alarms from going off continuously...took a few days before I could plug them in without them going off. Made for a funny story when I had the safety minute at a manager's meeting at work