Mark Rosekind, the new head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, promised earlier this week to take more aggressive action on auto recalls that have been moving slowly. This action is part of the NHTSA’s ramped up efforts to improve safety for drivers across the country.
In particular, Rosekind called out Fiat Chrysler for failure to make timely recalls on more than 1 million Jeep vehicles that were recalled due to potentially dangerous gas tanks that could explode in the event of a rear end collision. He also criticized Takata for failing to fully cooperate on the recall of millions of vehicles containing defective airbags.
To speed up Fiat Chrysler recalls, the NHTSA may require the auto manufacturer to adjust their process for repairing these defective vehicles. The NHTSA is also looking into expanding the Jeep recall to cover additional vehicles that may also pose a danger to drivers.
While there hasn’t been a specific plan laid out for how to expedite the Takata recalls, the airbag manufacturer is being fined $14,000 a day for their poor compliance with recall repair protocol. This is the maximum daily fine allowed by law.
We experienced a record number of vehicle recalls in 2014, nearly doubling the previous record for recalls in a year. When auto manufacturers cut corners to place profits over consumer safety, the consequences can be disastrous. If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by a defective auto, you have rights.
The Tenge Law Firm has been fighting for the rights of car accident victims in the Denver area since 1992. Mr. Tenge has extensive experience handling cases involving defective autos, and he can help you hold these negligent auto manufacturers accountable for your injuries.
Please contact the Tenge Law Firm online or call (303) 502-5587 today to schedule your free car accident consultation. We serve clients in Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins, Colorado.