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On the Front Lines of Safety

Jason LevineExecutive Director

November 13, 2019Orlando, Florida

Your independent voice for automotive safety, quality and fuel economy.

1825 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 330, Washington, DC 20009

www.autosafety.org

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“Hey Lara.

Your car has another recall. See the attached article from Chris. I guess we will soon be getting a letter from GM. FYI Love Dad”

“Oh great, one thing after another with that car. Thanks for the heads up! See you in a couple of days!”

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“Hey Lara.

Your car has another recall. See the attached article from Chris. I guess we will soon be getting a letter from GM. FYI Love Dad”

“Oh great, one thing after another with that car. Thanks for the heads up! See you in a couple of days!”

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RECALLS

TAKATA

• California

• Texas

• Louisiana

• Pennsylvania

• South Carolina

• Florida

• West Virginia

• Arizona

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Our MissionThe Center for Auto Safety is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for auto safety and quality on behalf of our members and all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

In 1970, following the recall of the Corvair, the Center was founded by Consumers Union and Ralph Nader in order to create a dedicated, independent outside watchdog to protect drivers because automakers and the government were not adequately regulating safety.

In order to be close to those entities most in need of oversight—Congress and federal regulators—the Center has always called Washington, DC home.

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Since 1970 the Center has Fought to:• Improve the safety of new vehicles by advocating for advanced required

minimum performance standards;

• Enact lemon laws in every state, and the District of Columbia, that make it easy to return a defective car;

• Enact State laws to force disclosure of secret warranties on cars that can save consumers billions of dollars each year;

• Save vital consumer, safety, and environmental laws under assault by industry by taking legal action against government agencies;

• Make recall repairs free of charge to consumers;

• Stop the sale of unsafe new, rented, or used vehicles, or parts.

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Standards Written/Safety Required Advocated for by the Center for Auto Safety

• Seat Belts (helped to keep standard – and pass state requirements for using them)

• Airbags (original standard & subsequent improvements)

• New crash tests (Side Impact Standard) improved safety inside car during crash

• Stronger Roof Standard resulting from roof crush tests sponsored by Center for Auto Safety saving lives from Rollovers (over steady and continued industry objection)

• Improved standards for Window Glazing – reducing ejection during Rollovers

• Electronic Stability Control required – reducing propensity of Rollovers or crashes

• Side curtain airbags widely adopted

• Power Window switch standardization to prevent strangulation

• Emergency exits on School Buses

• Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards

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Major Recalls Achieved

• 1971: 7 million Chevrolets for defective engine mounts

• 1978: Ford Pinto for exploding gas tanks

• 2000: 23 million Firestone tires

• 2013: 5 million Jeep Grand Cherokees prone to fires

• 2014: 750,000 GM vehicles for defective ignition switches

• 2018: All 2017-18 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles for stalling engines

• 2019: 500,000+ Hyundai and Kia vehicles for non-crash fire risk

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Ongoing Investigations• 2017-2018: Nissan Rogue for defective Automatic Emergency Braking

• NHTSA opened investigation in response to Center petition

• 2011-2018: Ford Explorer for Carbon Monoxide leak• Center has petitioned NHTSA for a recall following multi-year investigation

• 2011-2015 Various Hyundai and Kia Vehicles for non-crash fires• NHTSA has opened investigation in response to Center petition• This is in addition to 500,000 vehicles recall for same hazard

• Tesla: All Models/MYs for misleading “Autopilot” feature• Have requested investigation by FTC, states, & NHTSA

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Not Cosmetic

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“When the Office of the Inspector

General – that’s the internal watchdog

at the NHTSA – says that the NHTSA

is doing a subpar job at overseeing its

recalls, that’s something that should

concern all of us,” says Jason Levine

with the Center for Auto Safety.

Levine’s group has been critical of

NHTSA’s handling of recalls. “Recalls

only happen for two reasons: there’s

a defect on that car that’s dangerous,

or a violation of a federal regulation.

They’re not done for cosmetic

reasons.”

70 MILLION Unrepaired Recalls

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Source: 2018 Cox Automotive Service Industry Study

62%

8%

6%

7%

8%

4%

< 2

Year Old

Vehicles

Dealerships

General Repair/Service

Station

QuickLube

Tire Store

Retail

Body Shop

Specialist

5%

56%

11%

11%

9%

5%

2-5

Year Old

Vehicles

Dealerships

General Repair/Service

Station

QuickLube

Tire Store

Body Shop Other

SpecialistRetail 1%

4%3%

29%

27%

13%

14%

7%

5%

> 5

Year Old

Vehicles

Dealerships

General Repair/Service

Station

QuickLube

Tire Store

Retail

Body Shop Other

Specialist

3%2%

Dealership Usage Declines as Vehicles AgeSHARE OF SERVICE VISITS BY VEHICLE AGE(AMONG THOSE WHO PURCHASED FROM A DEALERSHIP)

% Under Warranty 91% 60% 8%

Free to the Consumer

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WHAT DO I DO IF MY CAR IS RECALLED? When you receive a notification, follow any interim safety guidance provided by the manufacturer and contact your local dealership. Whether you receive a recall notification or are subject to a safety improvement campaign, it is very important that you visit your dealer to have the vehicle serviced. The dealer will fix the recalled part or portion of your car for free.

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Dad dies saving daughter from icy pond. The car had been recalled for a brake problem.

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Heroes

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Heroes

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Heroes

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CONTACT INFO

Jason LevineExecutive Director, Center for Auto Safety

Email: jlevine@autosafety.orgWebsites:

www.autosafety.org, www.fixautorecalls.com

Twitter: @CTR4AutoSafety Facebook: CenterForAutoSafety