that the right-front passenger's-side air bag had torn during inflation in a 1998 Chevrolet Venture and a 1999 Pontiac Montana. Agency investigators said a pillar-mounted door switch that operates the power sliding door on the passenger side appeared capable of tearing the side air bag as it inflated from the seat back. NHTSA estimated the problem could affect 490,000 vehicles, including 1998 and 1999 model years of the Chevrolet Venture, Pontiac Montana and Trans Sport, and the Oldsmobile Silhouette.

A preliminary investigation was opened into seat belts in some Ford Explorer SUVs after reported failure of the seat belts in a fatal rollover crash. NHTSA said it had received information involving the death of a person in the front passenger seat of a 2000 model year Ford Explorer XLS. "It is alleged that the webbing of the buckle portion of the seat belt assembly failed during the crash," NHTSA said. The occupant was partially ejected from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries.

A Ford spokesman said the company was aware of the investigation and was cooperating fully with NHTSA. back to questions

 

back. From the front, the all-wheel drive Escalade EXT resembles the redesigned Cadillac Escalade full-sized SUV. But like the new Chevrolet Avalanche, which goes on sale this quarter, the cargo bed can be extended to 97 inches by folding down the midgate behind the rear seat and removing the rear window.
 

The Escalade EXT will compete against the Lincoln Blackwood, the first entrant in the luxury sport-utility truck (SUT) segment. The Blackwood, which has a 56-inch-long cargo box, is scheduled to go on sale in the spring and is expected to sell for more than $50,000. Lincoln plans on limited sales of 8,000 to 10,000 annually. Cadillac expects to move 20,000 of the new Escalade EXTs, which will sport a price tag comparable to the Escalade SUV. The EXT will go on sale later this year.

The 2002 Escalade EXT will share the same powertrain as the AWD Escalade, Cadillac's exclusive version of the high-output LQ9 V8. This high compression engine generates 345 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 380 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm. The engine links to a new Hydra-Matic 4L60-E HD (heavy-duty) electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. Standard on the EXT are StabiliTrak, Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist, front side-impact air bags and premium level OnStar.

The Escalade EXT will be available in three colors -- pewter, sable black, and white diamond.back to questions

 

questioned agreed or strongly agreed that it is important for police to enforce the seat-belt laws. Ironically, only two-thirds of Americans actually use their seat belts, according to government statistics. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45 percent and reduce the risk of serious injury by 50 percent.

Forty-nine states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico now have seat-belt use laws, and just over a third provide for standard enforcement procedures. Standard enforcement allows a police officer to stop a vehicle and issue a citation when the officer observes an unbelted driver or passenger.back to questions

 

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