Issues
Consumer Groups Commend General Motors’ Commitment to offer Recall-Free Vehicles on the CarBravo Platform
March 30, 2022 Contacts: Jack Gillis, CFA, 202-939-1018 Rosemary Shahan, CARS, 530-759-9440 Too Many Car Dealers Sell Dangerous Recalled Used Vehicles Washington, D.C. — In a rare move for auto safety advocates, leaders of nonprofit consumer groups that are usually at odds with auto manufacturers today publicly commended General Motors for the auto giant’s recently…
High-tech cars take the pain out of recalls, but there’s a catch
“We’re getting into the area where humans are used as beta testers and guinea pigs, and it’s not somewhere we want to be,” Michael Brooks, chief counsel at the Center for Auto Safety, told CNN Business. By Matt McFarland March 23, 2022 Tesla recently issued four vehicle recalls in a 12-day span. But Tesla owners…
Sudden braking in 2 VW SUV models draws regulatory scrutiny
“We all want to have technology,” said Michael Brooks, chief counsel for the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety. “But if it doesn’t work and it actually causes other safety issues like phantom braking, then it suggests they need a bit of a performance standard for all of these AEB systems.” By Tom Krisher March 15,…
Federal Vehicle Safety Rating Update Won’t Get Megacars Off the Road
“That’s the real question: can they get enough done right now at NHTSA to ensure these safety advancements actually make it into new cars?” said Michael Brooks, acting executive director of the Center for Auto Safety. By Kea Wilson March 8, 2022 A new plan to update federal consumer safety ratings for cars won’t do…
Auto Industry Fines Archive
Auto Industry Fines Fine Summaries NHTSA List of Civil Penalties 1999-2012 Safety Act Settlement Summaries 1985-1995 Safety Act Settlement Summaries 1969-1985 Auto safety agency labors to keep pace Safety Act Settlement Summaries 1996-2009 Fines in the News NHTSA reviewing policy on publicizing automakers’ recall fines – 8/22/13 NHTSA reviewing policy on publicizing automakers’ recall fines…
3G shutdown coming at cost to car safety features
Michael Brooks from The Center for Auto Safety said the impact to safety features is a big concern. “I think it’s inevitable that it’s going to reduce the quality and efficiency of medical care that folks receive when they’re in crashes and there’s no one else around with them,” Brooks said. By David Johnson, WPXI-TV…
Automatic-Braking Failures Sow Doubts Over Safety Tech’s Rollout
“We need a federal safety standard that ensures proper” automatic braking system performance, said Michael Brooks, acting executive director and chief counsel of the Center for Auto Safety. “NHTSA enforcement is cleaning up the room when effective standards could have prevented a mess.” By Keith Laing February 25, 2022 Automatic emergency braking systems were once…
Tesla braking issues spur second U.S. probe related to Autopilot
“While it’s encouraging to see NHTSA’s recent enforcement actions after years of turning the other way, Tesla continues to release software onto U.S. roads that is not tested and validated to assure safe performance,” said Michael Brooks, acting executive director and chief counsel of the Center for Auto Safety. By Keith Laing and Craig Trudell…
Tesla’s recalls keep piling up. No one’s sure what happens next.
While NHTSA is upping its scrutiny of Tesla’s releases, the company continues to “play a little fast and loose” with the safety of its features, said Michael Brooks, acting executive director for The Center for Auto Safety. “They seem to like to ask for forgiveness rather than permission a lot,” Brooks said. By Nat Rubio-Licht…
3G shutdown means many Georgia drivers lose car safety features this month
Michael Brooks with the Center for Auto Safety said impacted drivers should be frustrated because features like SOS buttons and automatic crash detection are important. “I think it’s inevitable that it’s going to reduce the quality and efficiency of medical care that folks receive when they’re in crashes and there’s no one else around with…