Consumers rely on manufacturers to deliver quality products free from defects, and they also rely on the government to provide oversight of all auto manufacturers to ensure that they not only deliver safe products, but notify the public in a timely manner if something goes wrong. However, years like 2007 which saw a 30% increase in auto recalls can cause consumers to wonder if the system is really working.

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Who’s Looking out for Vehicle Safety?

As consumers, we rely on manufacturers to deliver quality products free from defects, and we also rely on our government to provide oversight of all auto manufacturers to ensure that they not only deliver safe products, but notify us in a timely manner if something goes wrong. However, years like 2007 which saw a 30% increase in auto recalls can cause consumers to wonder if the system is really working.

Auto Recall Irony in 2007

Leading the recall pack in 2007 was the Ford Motor Company, with more than 5.5 million recalls. 69% of Ford’s recalls were because of a faulty cruise control switch, which caused over 10 million recalls in the last 10 years, including 3.6 million in August 2007 alone. However, while Ford had the highest number of recalled vehicles last year, they did finally make the list of top Insurance Institute of America (IIHS) safety picks for the first time. Despite being the recall frontrunner, Ford has been praised by IIHS and Consumer Reports for their improved focus on vehicle safety. This might cause you to ask – if the manufacturer with the most recalls is being praised for their safety record, what about the manufacturer with a low number of recalls? Surely they must have a strong and proven commitment to quality and safety.

Strangely, this doesn’t seem to be the case. Toyota fared very well as far as recalls in 2007, however their recent growth spurt has left some wondering if they are sacrificing quality for quantity. In 2007 Toyota experienced a little over 583,190 recalls, which was down dramatically from their 2005 recall record of about 2.1 million. However their growth has not been without controversy, and many auto industry analysts believe their previously impressive dedication to safety has been slipping as they vie with GM to produce the most automobiles worldwide.

Consider two lawsuits brought against Toyota late last year. In November 2007 an auditor at a plant jointly run by Toyota and GM brought suit against Toyota, alleging that bonus pay was tied to a reduction in defects which led to managers covering up potential defects rather than risk halting production to make changes. The lawsuit also alleges that the whistle-blowing employee was harassed and punished for speaking up. Then in January 2008 a California jury found that Toyota was not at fault for the death of a man trapped by an alleged faulty seatbelt; the victim’s family plans to appeal their case.

Fueling the fire, Consumer Reports removed several Toyota models from its list of recommended vehicles, adding that Toyota was “showing cracks in its amour”. CR also dropped Toyota from first to fifth place in their rankings of average predicted reliability, putting Honda, Acura, Scion and Subaru ahead.

How is Toyota reacting to all of this criticism? They appear to be taking it seriously, as their president Katsuaki Watanabe made a rare appearance at the Detroit Auto Show to publicly urge Toyota workers to step up their commitment to quality. It remains to be seen if Toyota can get past the stigma of the recent lawsuits and turn around current perceptions about their lack of focus on quality.

Safety Advocates – The Main Players

Concerned about all the recent recalls? Wondering where to look for vehicle safety information? There are a number of federal, public and private organizations which purport to keep an eye on manufacturers and safety standards. These organizations track recall information, monitor manufacturing processes and defect rates, test vehicles for safety, and provide consumers with safety and reliability ratings. If you’re thinking about a new car or just wondering about your current vehicle’s safety, these organizations are a good place to start.

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – a federal agency with an annual budget of over $815 million whose stated mission is to ”Save lives, prevent injuries and reduce economic costs due to road traffic crashes, through education, research, safety standards and enforcement activity.” NHTSA is responsible for safety performance and fuel economy standards, licenses auto manufacturers and importers, and maintains an impressive amount of safety and fatality data. Their website provides in-depth information about traffic safety, vehicle and equipment safety, information on laws / regulations / guidance, vehicle safety research, and statistical information from NCSA.
  • National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) – an office founded within NHTSA in 1976, NCSA collects statistical and analytical data about traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities. They also publish state and federal fact sheets and reports.
  • Safecar.gov – a website maintained by the NHTSA which provides vehicle safety information for consumers. From their website you can easily search for tips on becoming a safer driver, crash test and rollover rating information, and defect and recall information. You can also file a complaint about your motor vehicle, child restraint system, tire, or motor vehicle equipment from their website.
  • Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – a non-profit research organization funded auto insurance companies, the IIHS’ mission is to focus on human, vehicular, and environmental factors in crashes and look for ways to reduce losses by finding interventions that can occur before, during, and after crashes. Consumers can find information on their website about vehicle ratings, safety research and statistics, and auto industry laws and regulations. They also provide consumer brochures and videos.
  • Consumer Reports (CR) – a non-profit whose mission is “to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves”. The CR cars website contains a great deal of vehicle and auto accessory information and ratings, some of which requires membership to view.
  • JD Power and Associates – Since 1968, JD Powers has conducted quality and customer satisfaction research based on survey responses from millions of consumers worldwide. Their rankings differ from Consumer Reports in that they do not perform any in-house testing.

The attorneys at Dulaney, Lauer, and Thomas, LLP care about your safety on Virginia’s roads and highways. If you or somebody you love is unfortunate enough to be involved in a serious auto accident, our law firm wants to help. Please contact Dulaney, Lauer, and Thomas to discuss your case for no cost and no obligation. We can help you recover from the shock of a serious auto accident injury and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.

DULANEY, LAUER & THOMAS, LLP

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