NHTSA Appearing to Get Tough on Defect Investigations
October, 2014
More NY Times good reporting – including documents – on airbag defects.
“Takata was alerted to the problem as early as 2004, when the airbag in a 2002 Honda Accord ruptured in Alabama, but neither Takata nor Honda told regulators, a New York Times investigationhas shown. The first recall for the airbags was issued by Honda in 2008, for about 4,200 vehicles.
“We are compelling Takata to produce documents and answer questions under oath relevant to our ongoing investigation into defective airbags they have produced,” David J. Friedman, the N.H.T.S.A.’s deputy administrator, said in a statement.” See
So will NHTSA now compel automakers “to produce documents and answer questions under oath”? Will NHTSA make the documents and answers public? Will NHTSA hold public hearings?
When will we see a grand jury investigation that puts NHTSA and auto company officials officials under oath for more than a decade of defective policies?
Just one example of NHTSA malfeasance. See attached FY 2013 NHTSA Budget Request authorized by former Administrator Strickland seeking a decrease in Defects Investigation budget. See pp 54, 59 – 61. Note: Mr. Strickland is now a lobbyist working for a company that represents Chrysler.
Other examples of “responsible” officials who have gone through the NHTSA and other governmental Revolving doors into and out of NHTSA are at https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/assets/CFCV-MonthlyReport-March2014.pdf
The American people can, and must, get to the bottom of this death and disability producing mess to protect themselves.
Lou
