Issues
Mitsubishi Motors Admits Decades-Long Defect Cover-Up
Japanese automaker adds 26 defects to four made public in 2000.
11:26 AM CDT on Wednesday, June 2, 2004
Associated Press
TOKYO Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors hid 26 defects in its cars from regulators for years in addition to four problems it publicized in 2000 to avoid issuing recalls for the vehicles, the company said Wednesday.
The automaker said it would immediately start recalling the affected cars, estimated at over 160,000 and most of them sold in Japan.
Toyota Fined $250,000 by NHTSA
On April 25, 1994, Toyota Motor Corporation was fined $250,000 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for failing to timely recall 1981-89 Land Cruisers for defective fuel tanks..
Honda Fined $50,000 by NHTSA
On October 4, 1996, American Honda Motor Company agreed to pay a fine of $50,000 to NHTSA for failure to timely recall 3.7 million 1986-91 vehicles equipped with defective seat belt buckles made by Takata Corp.
Ford Fined $425,000 by NHTSA
On March 11, 1999, Ford Motor Company agreed to pay a civil penalty of $425,000 to NHTSA for inaccurate or incomplete responses in investigations PE92-069, PE94-034, PE94-078 and EA95-002 of steering column and underdash fires and for failure to timely recall 7.8 million vehicles made between 1988 and 1992 for replacement of ignition switches.
Chrysler Fined $400,000 by NHTSA
On July 19, 2000, DaimlerChrysler corporation was fined $400,000 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Judge Sends Cop Car Suits to State Courts
Ford’s request to keep Crown Vic class actions together is declined
May 27, 2004
BY MARGARET CRONIN FISK
BLOOMBERG
Ford Motor Co. must face state court trials in 15 class actions filed by police departments over its Crown Victoria police vehicle, a federal judge said.
Lawsuits: This Year’s Model
May 30, 2004
By DANNY HAKIM and NORM ALSTER
FORT WORTH
JUST before dark on Halloween night in 2002, Dereck Lopez turned her red Chevrolet Cavalier onto Hemphill Street, a long road that runs from downtown Fort Worth to the outskirts of the city. Ms. Lopez, 18, was heading to her brother’s house to take her nieces trick-or-treating.
Letter to Administrator Runge re: Rollover Safety Standards
May 24, 2004
Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D.
Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Dear Dr. Runge:
Ford Cited for Holding Key Evidence
Judges warn company about failure to provide court papers
WASHINGTON It was far from an isolated incident when a Texas judge fined Ford Motor Co. $44,000 in February for failing to produce internal documents about substandard pickup truck door handles.