Category: Blog

Millions of Defective Cars Rolling & Endangering Drivers, Passengers, Pedestrians, and Cyclists


Millions of Defective Cars Rolling & Endangering Drivers, Passengers, Pedestrians, and Cyclists

June, 2014

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

This may be a record year for recalls — nearly 28 million vehicles this year so far.  Clarence Ditlow is warning that “there is no such thing as a minor recall”.  An excellent article is at 

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2014/06/is-your-car-concealing-a-deadly-defect/

And a good current Forbes article is at http://www.forbes.com/sites/billkoenig/2014/06/16/general-motors-recalls-another-3-16-million-vehicles-boosts-quarter-recall-tab-to-700-million/

Summer is the most dangerous season for crash victims.  This year we have more to worry about with all these recalled but unfixed vehicles still out there yet to be fixed.  Check out the status of your car at http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Owners

Lou

 

Fathers of Safety Creativity


Fathers of Safety Creativity

June, 2014

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members: A great story of how auto safety creativity advanced has been published byGood – Creative Solutions for Living Well + Doing Good. See an Unreasonable Car at http://magazine.good.is/articles/an-unreasonable-car

Two Fathers of Safety Creativity are described – Ralph Nader and his father Nathra Nader.

I met Mr. Nathra Nader in the early 1970’s and asked him if he had any advice on raising my young boys,  He said he taught his children to never look down on anyone and never look up to anyone — which I thought was good advice.

A personal auto safety story of mine is that for my first new car we bought a new 1961 VW Beetle.  As we drove it out of our driveway in Connecticut early Mondaymorning it was a little icy.  The VW Beetle spun out of control so suddenly that in a shockingly split second we found our selves with the rear end of the car up an embankment.   I realized that the rear engine vehicle had a weight distribution imbalance problem — too much weight in the rear relative to the front where the trunk was.  I went to a hardware store and purchased a bag of sand to add weight to the front.  Over the next decade of driving we never experienced another such rear spin out — but we did witness several other Beetles spin out of control.

We need to apply more humanistic safety creativity at the corporate, governmental, and individual levels to build a Safer America.

Lou

 

GM Ignition Feinberg Compensation Plan – 2 Key Numbers Missed


GM Ignition Feinberg Compensation Plan – 2 Key Numbers Missed

June, 2014

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Yesterday the Feinberg GM Ignition Recall Plan was announced.   See C Span video of the conference athttp://www.c-span.org/video/?320219-1/gm-ignition-switch-compensation

See documents handed out at http://www.gmignitioncompensation.com/

What the documents and the Press Conference by Mr. Feinberg showed is that both time and information are not on the side of crash victims.  There are numerous hurdles and hoops that crash victims will have to race through — just to have a chance to obtain some degree of compensation in return for a promissory note releasing GM from future legal liability.

Two Key Missing Numbers

First, the Feinberg team, in devising their compensation plan,  did not consider the DOT guidance on the higher value of a statistical life of $9.1 million.  Although Mr. Feinberg did ask for that information to be submitted for their consideration.  So yesterday I submitted the attached DOT Policy Guidance document.

Second, Mr. Feinberg was asked by Detroit reporter David Shepardson about the GM figure of 3,500 potential crash victims who experienced non-deployment air bag crashes.  No source of information on that number was provided publicly.  

Perhaps coincidentally, I wrote last month that using GM data, published by NHTSA in 2007, one might estimate as follows:

“Extrapolating 10 years of data from the 2005 GM data, there may have been nearly 3,500 frontal air bag non-deployment crashes that met the GM crash severity threshold for deployment.”

See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/assets/MonthlyReport-May2014.pdf

This is an important number because with the millions of GM vehicles that will be on the roads with this defect unfixed for many more months to come we are all in danger.   Both occupants of GM vehicles and all others are endangered because when the ignition switch turns to accessory or off positions the driver loses power, power steering, power brakes and control of the vehicle — and airbag protection.
The 3,500 number over ten years equals about one such airbag non-deployment crash per day in the U.S.A.  
I believe it is fair to say that neither NHTSA nor GM are handling this with the urgency required for protecting the American people.  Both Senator Blumenthal and Markey are right to call for a “Park It Now” safety advisory that NHTSA and GM have failed to issue so far.
Lou

 

GM Board of Directors Warned of Safety Defects in 2002


GM Board of Directors Warned of Safety Defects in 2002

June, 2014

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Reuters reports more evidence of cover-up:

“(Reuters) – A former head of General Motors corporate quality audit warned the company’s board in a letter in 2002 that it needed to “stop the continued shipment of unsafe vehicles” and “recall suspect vehicles that were already in customers’ hands.”

The letter from William McAleer shows that GM’s directors and top management were told about serious safety defects in vehicles that were coming off the company’s production lines more than 11 years before GM recalled millions of vehicles for faulty ignition switches linked to at least 13 deaths. The contents have not been previously published….”

“Lawmakers in a hearing this week grilled GM CEO Mary Barra and outside lawyer Anton Valukas, who investigated GM’s response to the switch issue. In a report published June 5, he found widespread  incompetence and negligence in many GM divisions, but he said that senior GM officials and its board of directors were unaware of the problems.

The report said that the Valukas team reviewed all board correspondence dating back to 2003. McAleer’s letter to the board is from July 2002.”

See: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/21/us-gm-recall-idUSKBN0EW02O20140621

 

More Tragedies of Americans Burned to Death in Jeep Crashes – While NHTSA Fiddles

More Tragedies of Americans Burned to Death in Jeep Crashes – While NHTSA Fiddles

June, 2014

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members: Here is the Center for Auto Safety’s letter to NHTSA today.  July 2, 2014 The Honorable David J. Friedman Acting Administrator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear Administrator Friedman: Over a year has passed since Chrysler agreed to perform a limited recall (13V-252) of some Jeeps prone to being consumed by post-collision fires due to a defective fuel tank system.  Model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Liberty vehicles were recalled on June 18, 2013. To date, not a single Jeep has been remedied under this recall while at least 4 people have died and 2 more have been seriously burned in Jeep fire crashes.  This toll does not include other Jeep fire crash victims in NHTSA’s 2013 FARS database which has yet to be released. As revealed in NHTSA’s Special Order to Chrysler < http://www.autosafety.org/sites/default/files/imce_staff_uploads/NHTSA% 20Special%20Order%20on%20Recall.pdf  today, the first few repairs will not take place until August 1, 2014.  Other consumers may have to wait for years for a replacement part.  Based on NHTSA’s calculations using Chrysler production data, the agency believes it will take 4.7 years for Chrysler to produce the repair part for the recalled Grand Cherokees, and 2.6 years for the Liberty.[1]  Clearly the agency must exercise its authority under 49 CFR 573.14 to require an accelerated recall with additional suppliers and repairs opened to independent repair shops. The agency should not wait for Chrysler to respond to the Special Order while more consumers burn to deaths in Jeeps. While Chrysler and NHTSA continue to wrangle over the details of the year-old recall, crashes, deaths and injuries continue to mount: *         On November 10, 2013, Skyler Anderson-Coughlin was killed in Longmeadow, MA, when his 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee was struck from behind and erupted into flames. *         On December 12, 2013, Reed Whittaker burned in his Jeep Cherokee in Livermore, CA after being rear-ended by a Hummer. The fire quickly spread to the Hummer but the occupants of that vehicle had just enough time to escape their vehicle. *         On March 11, 2014, Joseph and Esther DiGiovanni died when their 2004 Jeep Liberty was struck from behind by a pickup truck in Maryland.  The impact ruptured the Jeep’s fuel tank, causing a fire and explosion that consumed the DiGiovanni vehicle. *         On April 5, 2014, Magdaleno and Raymundo Sanchez of Texas were traveling in their 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee when it was struck from behind, resulting in severe burn injuries to both. While CAS is pleased to see NHTSA conducted some crash tests  http://www.autosafety.org/sites/default/files/imce_staff_uploads/NHTSA% 20EA12-005%20Crash%20Test%20Report.pdf  of Chrysler’s proposed remedy, those crash tests bear small resemblance to the more rigorous crash tests conducted for NHTSA when it disapproved Ford’s proposed remedy for the Pinto.  The Pinto was subjected to the then new FMVSS 301 test procedure applicable to 1977 models but not to the recalled 1971-76 Pinto’s.  The tests released by NHTSA today are not comparable to the new FMVSS 301 which took effect in 2007 and requires a 50 mph 30% offset from a 3015 pound moving barrier with low front end.  This test is far more severe than the ones NHTSA did with a Neon and Cadillac Deville for the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty for fuel system integrity at 40 mph and 35 mph with crash energy levels of about 150,000 lb-ft versus 253,000 lb-ft for the new FMVSS 301.  At best, the trailer hitch fix provides limited protection in low speed crashes while most Jeep victims have died in higher speed but survivable fire crashes. Other Jeeps still under investigation in EA12-005 have yet to be included in the recall, despite experiencing the same failures as the recalled models.  1999-2004 Grand Cherokees and 1993-2001 Cherokees are not addressed under recall 13V-252; over a million owners of these unrecalled vehicles will be stuck without even an inadequate trailer hitch repair.  NHTSA asked Chrysler to voluntarily recall the 1999-2004 Grand Cherokees but Chrysler refused.  There is no evidence in the public record that NHTSA intends to pursue an expansion of the recall population to include these vehicles.  In fact, other than the information released today, NHTSA’s Special Order and EA12-005 Report on NHTSA-conducted crash tests of recalled models, nothing has been placed in the public investigatory file for the past year. To date, there have been at least 370 fatal fire crashes of 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees, < http://www.autosafety.org/sites/default/files/imce_staff_uploads/JeepFA RSLog_6.pdf  1993-2001 Jeep Cherokees http://www.autosafety.org/sites/default/files/imce_staff_uploads/JeepCh erokeeFARSLog_2.pdf and 2002-2007 Jeep Libertys http://www.autosafety.org/sites/default/files/imce_staff_uploads/JeepLi bertyFARSLog_1.pdf  that have resulted in 503 deaths, at least 167 of which are deaths due to fire.  To stem the tide of deaths by fires in Jeeps, Chrysler must recall all the above Jeeps with a remedy that will ensure all Jeeps pass the new FMVSS 301 which took effect beginning with 2007 models. Sincerely, Clarence Ditlow Executive Director Center for Auto Safety 1825 Connecticut Avenue NW Ste 330 Washington DC 20009-5725

[1] NHTSA Special Order Directed to Chrysler Group LLC, July 2, 2014. 2 Attachments

Where is President Obama?  Why does he not care?  How many more tragedies will he permit?

Lou

U.S.: Record Year for Recalls Passed in Just 6 Months


U.S.: Record Year for Recalls Passed in Just 6 Months

June, 2014

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

The LA Times reports the U.S. has just set a new annual record for recalls.  In just 6 months!.

When will all these vehicles be fixed so Americans are safe?  
Your Life and/or Your Money?
The safety of their lives on the roads and the safety of their money in the repair shops?
The Washington Post reports:“It’s becoming the year of the recall: Automakers have recalled more than 28 million vehicles in the United States this year–more than one in 10 vehicles on the road — putting the industry on track to trample the 2004 record of 30.8 million….”

“The cost of recalls can put a financial strain automakers. GM estimates that its recalls will take $2 billion off its bottom line this year.

But for automakers and dealers, there is also an upside. Analysts say that at least two in three recall notices is fulfilled, meaning that dealers get to have their old customers back in the showroom. There, they can show off the new models, and, at minimum, be in a position to sell drivers on some repairs they previously were not considering.”

See http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/06/23/more-than-one-in-every-10-vehicles-on-the-road-has-been-recalled-since-january/

Sudden Loss of Power and Control = Wipeout
Imagine your GM vehicle, or passing another GM vehicle, that is not yet fixed, suddenly losing power.  Imagine sudden stalling, loss of power steering, loss of power brakes, and loss of airbag protection.   Quick!  What would you do?  What could you do?  What if the driver is a teenager?  In your car?  In a passing car?
Will we get all these GM cars fixed before another wipeout occurs?
In the U.S. each day, we are suffering nearly 100 crash deaths and another several hundred more serious injuries.    President Obama:  We can and must do better protecting Americans now from the clear and present dangers we face here in the U.S.A. today.  And since President Obama took office, more Americans have died of their crash injuries than died in the Afghanistan, Iraq, Viet Nam and Korean wars — combined.
President Obama: Please send in Special Forces to clean up the DOT and NHTSA.  You have the powers, responsibility and duty to act to protect Americans.
Lou

 

GM Recalls: GM VP Knew of Switch Problem in 2005, Delphi Investigation, & New Numbers


GM Recalls: GM VP Knew of Switch Problem in 2005, Delphi Investigation, & New Numbers

June, 2014

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Bloomberg reports Barra Confidante knew in 2005

“A top product-development executive still working atGeneral Motors Co. (GM) was, as an engineer, involved in deliberations about a deadly ignition flaw kept from the public, newly released documents indicate.

Doug Parks, a vehicle chief engineer for the Chevrolet Cobalt in 2005, was involved in the debate over whether it was worth the cost to redesign a faulty ignition switch that had been installed on millions of cars, according to company e-mails and documents released yesterday by congressional investigators. He would later become vice president of global product programs under Mary Barra, now GM’s chief executive officer.

Barra, who rose from product development to become CEO in January, has tried to manage the fallout over the delayed switch recall by assuring lawmakers that GM’s corporate culture regarding safety has changed. While GM has ousted 15 people over the switch defect and two other senior engineers involved retired, Parks remains.” 

See  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-26/gm-documents-show-engineer-went-against-company-panel.html

NY Times reports Senate Investigating Delphi

“Senate investigators are widening the scope of the inquiry into General Motors’ decade-long failure to recall cars with a defective ignition switch to also focus on the supplier that made the flawed part.”

See http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/27/business/parts-supplier-is-scrutinized-in-gm-flaw.html?emc=edit_tnt_20140626&nlid=37926955&tntemail0=y

NY Times also publishes Graphic showing that in North America in 2014, the total number of GM Recalled vehicles currently = 20,013,649.  Now NHTSA needs to publish numbers of vehicles still unrepaired on the roads endangering Americans.  NHTSA also needs to publish the data it has on Recalls by each automaker.   See NY Times Graphic on GM at:http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/Recalls-Running-Total.jpg?action=click&contentCollection=Business%20Day&module=RelatedCoverage&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article 

These reports hold promise of more safety progress as the public learns more about the enormity of the problem and the focus moves up the chain of command.  Hopefully America will do as well with these “Safetygate” investigations as we were able to do with Watergate.

Lou