Automotive recalls are a big deal. Just ask Toyota Motor Corp.
Toyota went from being the darling of the automotive manufacturing industry to being the ugly step child since recalling nearly 10 million vehicles worldwide in two major automotive recalls.
Fatal Car Crashes
More Americans under the age of 34 are killed in vehicle crashes than by anything else. There were more than 42,000 deaths on U.S. highways last year alone and least a few of those was due to vehicle malfunction.
Determining which ones were caused by malfunctions, alerting owners of those vehicles and getting these vehicles off the road is the job of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA sets the national standard for automotive safety. They can order an automobile manufacturer to repair safety-related problems at no cost to vehicle owners. There is no minimum or maximum to the type of problem the NHTSA can identify and force manufacturers to fix.
Recalls are Serious
The NHTSA does not take a recall lightly, however. A vehicle recall can cost the manufacturer millions of dollars in equipment and labor, it can also cause untold millions of dollars in costs attributed to the loss of consumer confidence and declining sales. Toyota has seen the effect a massive recall can have. Last year they were the only major car manufacturer who did not see an increase in sales from the prior year. Consumer analysts see that as a cause due to the massive recall.
Pinpointing the Problem
The NHTSA uses several methods to determine the exact cause of a problem with a vehicle. They employ engineers and scientists who test vehicles and systems for flaws. They also rely on outside contractors to analyze problems attributed to vehicles. For instance, NASA scientists assisted with the analysis of Toyota vehicles thought to have a problem with unintended acceleration caused by an electrical problem.
Despite their team of mechanics, engineers and scientists intent on determining the exact cause of a problem, the NHTSA still relies on consumers to alert them of a problem.
It Is Your Responsibility To Report a Problem
Anyone can contact the NHTSA about a problem with their vehicle. If you feel your vehicle has an inherent problem which is compromising the safety and security of yourself and your passengers you can call the NHTSA and let them know. If enough vehicle owners contact the NHTSA about the same problem or a similar problem, this may trigger a full investigation by the NHTSA.
Once an investigation has been initiated the NHTSA will usually send an officer from the Office of Defects Investigation to contact people who have submitted a claim and talk to them about the problem. If a recall is required by the NHTSA it is the ODI who will oversee the entire affair and make certain the manufacturer does what it is supposed to do and protect the consumer.