Jacksonville, FL – It’s the latest luxury offered in newer cars: push-start ignitions with a wireless key fob. But there is a hidden danger that experts say is taking lives.
The old-fashion way, you actually have to use a key to turn the ignition off. With this new technology, you’re key free, and if you don’t push the button to turn off the engine, you may not realize it’s still running. In enclosed spaces, prolonged exhaust puts people at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.
From 2009 to 2016, at least 20 deaths blamed on carbon monoxide poisoning from keyless ignition systems, according to records from KidsandCars.org. Of those deaths, 10 have occurred in Florida. There have also been 48 other carbon monoxide poisoning incidents nationwide during that same time period where people were injured. (See list of cases below that involve at least one death)
Consumer Reports researchers say some vehicle brands have an audible alert to let a driver know the engine is still running, but others don’t.
Some brands with vehicles that have an audible alert include:
Ford
GM
Honda
Hyundai
Mazda
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Subaru
Toyota
Some brands with vehicles that have no audible warning include:
Chrysler
Land Rover
Mercedes-Benz
Volkswagen
Volvo
News4Jax obtained a class-action lawsuit filed in 2015 against Toyota, Ford, Nissan, Honda, General Motors, BMW, Volkswagen, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Kia claiming the automakers ignored the risks associated with keyless ignitions.
According to Consumer Reports, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been attempting to make the audible alert mandatory but some automakers were against it arguing the proposed sound level was “much too loud” and would be an annoyance.
There are vehicles that do have an automatic shutoff, which if the car is left idling for a determined period of time, the vehicle automatically turns off. But that safety feature is not mandatory either.
Many of the documented carbon monoxide poisonings linked to keyless ignitions occur when the driver puts the vehicle in the garage and closes the door — not realizing the engine is still running.
News4Jax is working with the Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters to bring you a live event on Wednesday night to show you just how quickly carbon monoxide can fill a garage to what’s considered deadly levels. Firefighters also show how that poisonous gas can seep through the walls inside your home.
The even starts live Wednesday on the 10 O’Clock News