As it nears its deadline at the end of the month, the much-accepted Cash for Clunkers program is almost done with 90 percent of the claims paid or approved. The popular yet controversial government project, which entitles motorists $3,500 to $4,500 in cash in for their old, gas-guzzling vehicles, seems to be on its way to mission accomplished.

Technically, around $2.3 billion (or 534,598 claims) have been paid out. And there are still 76,775 claims, or $322 million are still not paid but approved already.With a week to go, the Dept. of Transportation still has to pay out $615 million, summing to a total of nearly $3 billion in payouts and 681, 426 C4C deals.

With those numbers, I really don’t know if the program is rousing success or falling short of its expectations. I’ll try to read and browse the interwebs for mor einfo. Meanwhile, check out this news article from Automotive News for the details.

About 186, 000 GM mid-sized Colorado and Canyons, along with other Isuzu variants, are being recalled for faulty brake lights. Either they stay on or don’t have any at all.

According to a press statement via NHTSA, dealers will inspect and replace the components free of charge. Parts will be available by February 2010. Owners will also have to return the part in order to swap it for a new part when it becomes available. The vehicles were either originally sold or currently registered in 14 states and territories via a program to cover other locales.

Read the press release after the jump.

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):

CHEVROLET / COLORADO 2004-2009
GMC / CANYON 2004-2009
ISUZU / I-280 2006
ISUZU / I-290 2007-2008
ISUZU / I-350 2006
ISUZU / I-370 2007-2008

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. Mfr’s Report Date: JUL 28, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V310000
RQ09001

NHTSA Action Number: RQ09001
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Potential Number of Units Affected: 185903

Summary:
GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, PUERTO RICO, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND UTAH. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A BRAKE LAMP SWITCH THAT MAY NOT WORK AS DESIGNED DUE TO CONTAMINATION IN THE SWITCH.

Consequence:
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER’S INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY FEBRUARY 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME. IN THE INTERIM, OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE CAN OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR, HOWEVER THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO RETURN WHEN THE NEW DESIGN PART BECOMES AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Notes:
GM RECALL NO. 09049. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

My, what was I doing when I was three? Sucking pacifiers, maybe? But this toddler, Demetrius Jones from British Columbia, Canada, is already setting his sights on a career in driving. How’s this for kicks: on his 3rd birthday, this little boy went out missing from a campground riding on his battery-charged toy pickup truck.

As Autoblog reports, he went as far as eight miles driving his four-wheeled ride. Two hours of searching,the boy was found floating atop of his overturned truck on Peace River unharmed. He was brought back to his parents. Then later that night, he was back at the steering wheel having fun driving within the premises of their home.

When you got cool parents like that, you can get away with everything. Even if you’re three!