Press Releases

Energy Bill Extends Oil-Wasting Fuel Economy Loophole

Center for Auto Safety
Natural Resources Defense Council
Public Citizen

PRESS RELEASE

Aug. 11, 2005

Energy Bill Extends Oil-Wasting Fuel Economy Loophole

Legislation Shields Automakers From Legal Challenge, Will Increase Oil Consumption

August 12, 2005
NHTSA Gambles With Focus Owners’ Lives



NHTSA Gambles With Focus Owners’ Lives; No Recall Is Bad Law and Bad Safety 

November 25, 2003
Ford’s warranty on Focus extended; engines can stall

11/20/03

Christopher Jensen
Plain Dealer Auto Editor

 

Ford has extended the warranty for the fuel delivery system of the 2000 and 2001 Ford Focus for 10 years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating thousands of reports that the Focus "stalls unpredictably." But Ford has told the federal government a recall is not needed because stalling is not a safety problem.

Stalling is a serious safety defect, said Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen and a former NHTSA administrator.

November 24, 2003
2004 F-150’s Have Door Problems

 

By Christopher Jensen

Plain Dealer Auto Editor

Friday, November 14, 2003

Ford has notified its dealers of a problem on some of its 2004 F-150 pickups that could make it impossible to open the doors from the inside.

Clarence Ditlow, head of the Center for Auto Safety in Washington, D.C., said Ford should consider this a safety problem and recall all the F-150s.

"In the event of an emergency . . . you need to be able to open the door to get out," Ditlow said.

November 14, 2003
RETROFIT DEVELOPED FOR GM SIDE SADDLE PICKUPS – press release

GM Fights Class Action Remedy Designed

to Save People From GM’s Rolling Firebombs

November 9, 2002
Fords Trouble Prone Focus Hit With Safety Recalls, Service Campaigns & Investigations

With 12 safety recalls to date and 7 defect investigations, the Ford Focus proved to be an embarrassment to Ford Motor Company and its President William Clay Ford, who was trying to stress quality in the wake of the Ford Explorer/Firestone ATX, Wilderness AT tire debacle. Not since General Motors introduced its ill-fated X-car in 1980 (Buick Skylark, Chevrolet Citation, Oldsmobile Omega and Pontiac Phoenix) which had 13 recalls in its first two years has a manufacturer had so many recalls.

September 9, 2002