NHTSA is concerned because the repair rate for both campaigns is far lower than the agency deems acceptable.
Honda, one of several manufacturers recalling vehicles for faulty Takata airbag inflators, recently investigated a fatal incident that occurred in January that the company believed to be linked to a faulty airbag. The company launched a voluntary ad campaign in March to reach Honda and Acura owners who may be driving vehicles that have been recalled and not yet fixed.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles lost a lawsuit over the death of a four-year-old passenger in a Jeep Grand Cherokee that ignited after its fuel-tank ruptured in a collision. Chief executive Segio Marchionne made a bold deposition in the case, arguing that the Jeeps with fuel tanks mounted in the rear crush zone are safe even without a recall. The jury apparently did not agree, resulting in a $150 million judgement against the company.
The company agreed to install trailer hitches on more than 1.5 million vehicles, including the 2002-2007 Liberty and 1993-2004 Grand Cherokee, all of which were built with the fuel tank unprotected behind the rear axle. The campaign was initiated due to government pressure, but FCA has consistently argued that the vehicles were not defective.
Measures to speed up both campaigns are expected to be announced within two weeks, citing concerns over owners whom the agency deems to be at risk due to continued operation of vehicles that are subject to ongoing safety recalls.
NHTSA previously threatened to reopen the investigation that lead to the Jeep recall, citing concerns from safety advocates that the recall does not cover all models potentially susceptible to what is seen as a design flaw. FCA responded by citing data submitted to the safety regulator when it concluded its report and issued the recall. “Real-world data show the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a lower incident rate than 57 other vehicles from its era. NHTSA concluded from its investigation that the vehicles do not pose an unreasonable risk to safety,” FCA said in a statement. “No events that have occurred since NHTSA closed its investigation should affect this conclusion.”
NHTSA appears to be more concerned with the low response rate to the campaign for existing vehicles than expanding the scope of the Jeep recall. Administrator Mark Rosekind told Reuters at a conference today, “[T]he numbers came out, they’re horribly low. Those translate into lives at risk, and more lives have been lost and people hurt. That’s unacceptable.”
“We’re going to look at every option, and we’ll be as aggressive as possible,” Rosekind said.
Leave a Reply