Issues
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.
Senator Clinton Call For Increased Safety Measures For Crown Victoria Police Vehicles
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
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.
2004 Car Book Best Bets
Subcompact
Hyundai Accent
Mini Cooper
BMW Z4
Kia Spectra
Compact
Audi A4
Honda Civic
Hyundai Elantra
BMW 3 Series
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix
Saturn Ion
Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Golf/Jetta
Intermediate
Acura TL
Chrysler Sebring/Dodge Stratus
Hyundai Sonata
Infiniti I35
Saab 9-5
Totota Avalon
Toyota Camry
Volvo 60 Series
Large
Chrysler 300M/Concorde/Intrepid
Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis/M
1997-00 Ford F150/250, Expedition, Lincoln
Ford Motor Company and Victims' Legal Team Settle Texas Door Latch Case
Thursday April 29, 4:42 pm ET
Door Latch Failure Blamed for the Deaths of Two Texas Women
2004 CAS Comment on “Reforming the Automobile Fuel Economy Standards Program”
April 27, 2004
Docket Management
U.S. Department of Transportation
Room PL-401
400 Seventh Street SW
Washington DC 20590
Re: DOT DMS Docket No. 2003-16128, "Reforming the Automobile Fuel Economy Standards Program"