Investigations News

G.M. Deems Steering Issue Unworthy of Recall – 4/10/15

As awareness grew last year of General Motors’ failure to disclose a dangerous defect in millions of older cars, its executives had a clear message for the public: Safety was G.M.’s first priority.

By the end of the year, G.M. had recalled a record number of vehicles — 30 million in North America — and overhauled its safety practices.

But the company’s handling of a recent steering issue sheds new light on where G.M., and regulators, draw the line at what constitutes a safety issue worthy of a recall.

The Register’s Editorial: Feds’ auto safety agency needs to get in gear – 11/2/14

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/11/03/registers-editorial-david-friedman-national-highway-traffic-safety-administration/18394701/

Probe finds NHTSA moves slowly on investigation requests – 8/11/14

DETROIT — People are waiting longer than they should for an answer when they petition the government to open an investigation into what could be serious safety problems.

The Associated Press reviewed all 15 petitions filed by drivers with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since 2010 and found the agency missed the legal deadline to grant or deny the requests 12 times. One petition from 2012 has yet to be resolved.

DOT Inspector General Audits of NHTSA’s Defect Investigation System
Testimony
CAS Fact Sheet: NHTSA Shutdown Endangers American Drivers

October 8, 2013

Fact Sheet: NHTSA Shutdown Endangers American Drivers (.PDF)

The American public has been forced to assume the risk due to the furlough of employees at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).   The agency has furloughed 333 of 597 regulatory staff, issuing the following statement:

Vehicle safety complaints not investigated during shutdown

October 9, 2013
David Shepardson
The Detroit News

Washington— The nine-day government shutdown has forced the nation’s auto safety regulator to halt most vehicle safety programs, prompting a House Republican to introduce a bill to fund its operations.

Last week, when an all-electric Tesla Motors Model S caught fire in Washington state, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was unable to send investigators, as it normally would have done.

Changed auto recall accounting methods raise questions – 2/25/13

Federal auto safety regulators are counting what used to be considered multiple recalls as one, undercutting their boast that defect investigations are leading to record nu

Auto safety concerns often stay secret – 2/25/13

Herman Ray Evans was killed when the tread separated on his 2001 Ford Explorer’s tire, the vehicle rolled over into the median and he was ejected, according to the Daphne, Ala,.

NHTSA limping along, some say – 2/23/13

 

Published: Feb. 23, 2013 at 10:51 AM

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