Issues

Honda Fined $50,000 by NHTSA

June 2, 2004

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

June 2, 2004

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

June 2, 2004

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

June 2, 2004

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

June 1, 2004

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 26, 2004

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

May 26, 2004

 

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.

GM Piston Slap Lawsuits – Articles

May 24, 2004

Click here to view the articles in .pdf format

Senator Clinton Call For Increased Safety Measures For Crown Victoria Police Vehicles

May 21, 2004

March 3, 2003

Washington, D.C – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today released a letter calling upon the U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to take immediate steps to protect the thousands of police officers – across the state and the country – who are currently driving Crown Victoria police vehicles.

U.S. Proposes Tougher Crash-Safety Tests

May 13, 2004

May 13, 2004

By DANNY HAKIM

WASHINGTON, May 12 – Federal regulators proposed a major overhaul of side-impact crash tests on cars and trucks today.

The new test procedures would reinforce the industry’s voluntary commitment, by the end of the decade, to equip almost all new vehicles with inflatable curtains and other side air bags that protect people’s heads.

But the government’s research raises doubts whether current designs for side air bags with head protection – some only protect the chest and midsection – are advanced enough.