Safety Advocates Say Driverless Car Regulations Bill Falls Short

Consumers don’t have much confidence in the safety of autonomous vehicles. But the federal bill that would create the country’s first driverless car regulations puts auto manufacturers’ needs over consumer safety. 

"US Pilot Program Targets Unfixed Recalls"

Does your vehicle have a recall issued for it? One in four vehicles on American roads today do. Now a US pilot program in Maryland is targeting those unfixed recalls by providing additional notices to drivers. Find out if you are affected, and what to do if you have unfixed recalls on your vehicle.

NHTSA Self-Driving Vehicle Regulations Put Passenger Safety in Auto-Makers’ Hands

The push to create the first completely self-driving vehicle is getting intense. Auto makers are already testing prototypes in Michigan and across the country. This has prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue revised safety guidelines for the industry. But the revisions take away significant protections for consumers and passengers.

1 in 4 U.S. Vehicles Subject to Recall, Study Finds

Is the car you are driving safe? If yours is one of the 63 million vehicles subject to recall across the country, you and your family could be taking an unnecessary risk.

NHTSA Urges Cell Phone Manufacturers to Fight Distracted Driving

Every year, thousands of people in America die because of distracted driving. But when laws against texting while driving don’t work, how can the government get motorists to put the phone down? The NHTSA says it’s up to cell phone manufacturers to take the next step.

Fatal Crash with Tesla Autopilot Draws National Scrutiny

The push to get autonomous vehicles like the Tesla Model S on the road, is that they are safer because they remove the chance for human error. But a recent fatal crash involving Tesla’s autopilot technology has drawn the attention of federal regulators, and could slow down the march toward driverless vehicles.

Takata Airbag Defects Explained

The Japanese airbag manufacturer, Takata, has been covering up defects in its airbags since 2004. Now the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the cause of the defect. The investigation has sparked another recall of 30-40 million vehicles that could close the company.

Fiat Chrysler Recalls 1.1 Million Cars for Transmission Problems

2016 is promising to continue the trends of intense automotive regulation and massive recalls. On April 22, 2016, Fiat Chrysler announced a recall of over 1.1 million vehicles. The transmission problems have been tied to 24 injuries already, and more could be on the way.

Where should the steering wheel be in a car that is driven by a computer? Google asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to clarify this and other issues recently, and the results might surprise you.

NHTSA Investigates Ford F-150 Brake Failure

Federal regulators are investigating claims that Ford F-150s, one of the most popular vehicles in the nation, is prone to defective brake failure. The investigation stems from many recent complaints, some involving crashes.

Takata Emails Show Blatant Data Manipulation

Takata, the company that made airbags for Honda and other auto manufacturers, was in hot water throughout 2015 as regulators and legislators held them under the microscope for airbag defects. Now a private lawsuit has revealed emails showing the company engaged in blatant data manipulation about the safety of their products.

In 2015, Takata faced legislative hearings, regulatory investigations, and ultimately fines because airbags it made explode, sending shrapnel into the passenger cabin. Takata airbag defects have killed 8 people and injured hundreds more.

All of this culminated in November 2015 when Honda fired Takata and the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) imposed a $70 million penalty on the company. Both entities listed data manipulation as a reason for their behavior.

But evidence of Takata's manipulation of mandatory safety data had never been public before. That is, until a Florida woman sued the company for a 2014 accident. The aggressive deployment of the Takata airbag left her paralyzed. In investigating her private lawsuit, the plaintiff's lawyers discovered emails that showed how deeply data manipulation was ingrained in Takata's corporate policy. Those emails were unsealed and shared with the New York Times, who hired experts to review them.

Back in 2005 Takata airbag engineer Bob Schubert had reported in an internal memo that he had been “repeatedly exposed to the Japanese practice of altering data presented to the customer,” which the business called “the way we do business in Japan.”

But one year later, Schubert was encouraging fellow employees to engage in data manipulation himself, saying “Happy Manipulating!!!” The Times reported:

“Hey, I manipulated,” Mr. Schubert responded. The objective, he said, was to help disguise that some of the inflaters performed differently from the rest — a dynamic referred to as “bimodal distribution.”

“I showed all the data together, which helped disguise the bimodal distribution,” Mr. Schubert wrote. “Nothing wrong with that. All the data is there. Every piece,” he added. But then he suggested using “thick and thin lines to try and dress it up, or changing colors to divert attention.”

But Linda Rink, a former senior staff scientist for airbag manufacturer Autoliv, disagreed that nothing was wrong with manipulating data to hide problems with performance:

“If they would disguise inflater data sent to the customer, there is a serious problem with ethics within that company,” she said. “Having a bimodal distribution requires an explanation and a root-cause analysis, not a cover-up.”

If the plaintiff's attorney in Florida can show Takata knew about the dangers of their airbags, it could open the door for more lawsuits. Motorists hurt in Hondas and other vehicles equipped with the Takata airbags could find the way cleared to be compensated for their injuries.

Dani K. Liblang is an attorney for The Liblang Law Firm, P.C. She defends the victims of defective vehicle crashes against auto manufactures who dodge safety requirements. If you or someone you know has been hurt by a defective vehicle, contact The Liblang Law Firm, P.C., today for a free consultation.

Fiat Chrysler Takes Another Hit for Safety Reporting Failures

 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration isn't pulling its punches when it comes to safety reporting failures. Earlier this month, the agency hit Fiat Chrysler with its second multi-million dollar fine. The hope is the fines will make the industry more proactive when it comes to consumer safety.

Fiat Chrysler in Hot Water for Failing to Report Claims to NHTSA

2015 has been a tough year for auto makers. In July, Fiat Chrysler paid $105 million and agreed to three years of close monitoring to settle charges by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the company had not met recall requirements. Now, that close scrutiny has revealed the company significantly under reported defect claims to the agency, a mistake that could cost them even more in fines and recalls.

Safety Administration Calls Out Fiat Chrysler

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has called Fiat Chrysler to appear at a public hearing tomorrow, July 2, 2015, to address safety concerns. The administration says the Michigan auto maker didn't issue recalls fast enough to address key safety issues.

The NHTSA is in charge of monitoring automotive manufacturers selling cars in the United States to make sure they build their cars safely and respond to reports of defects appropriately. But according to the NHTSA, Fiat Chrysler hasn't done either. According to a public notice released ahead of tomorrow's hearing:

"NHTSA has tentatively concluded that Fiat Chrysler has not remedied vehicles in a reasonable time and has not adequately remedied vehicles."

At the public hearing, Fiat Chrysler will have to answer how it met its duty to send vehicle owners notice of safety issues and recalls. At issue are 22 safety campaigns, including 20 different recalls applying to 11 million vehicles. The recalls cover everything from ignition switches to fuel tanks, air bags to axles. Some of the safety issues could affect the way Fiat Chrysler vehicles steer, brake, and handle.

This isn't the first time that the NHTSA has called Fiat Chrysler out for safety issues. After the administration sent the automaker 12 pages of questions earlier this year, Fiat Chrysler provided over 5 million pages of safety documents. The manufacturer asserts that this documentation eliminated the need for any hearing. According to Fiat Chrysler spokesperson Eric Mayne:

"The initiatives described in our response to NHTSA's Special Order reflect a deep commitment to thorough investigation and the timely remedy of safety defects. . . . While this commitment has helped FCA US LLC achieve positive results, we will not be satisfied until we firmly re-establish the trust our customers place in us."

But the mountain of documents does not explain why Fiat Chrysler failed to notify owners of safety concerns within the 60 day window provided by the NHTSA. In one case, notices in an air bag recall were over five months late. In at least 2 recalls, notices have yet to go out at all.

If the NHTSA isn't satisfied with Fiat Chrysler's responses at the Washington hearing scheduled for 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, the administration could require the automaker to pay over $700 million in fines and to replace or buy back defective vehicles.

By failing to provide prompt recall notices to its auto owners, Fiat Chrysler put millions of drivers at risk. Accidents caused by these defective vehicles could cost motorists thousands of dollars, and even their lives.

Attorney Dani K. Libliang of The Liblang Law Firm, P.C., is an auto accident attorney with a passion for protecting the victims of automotive defects. If you or someone you know has been in a serious auto accident, contact The Liblang Law Firm, P.C., today for a free consultation.

Chrysler Forced to Pay for Jeep Fire That Killed 4-Year-Old

What happens when a child dies in a Jeep fire as the result of a defective fuel tank? For one family in Georgia, a jury forced Chrysler to pay $150 million. But the company has yet to admit it did anything wrong.