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Consumer Union Calls for Auto Safety Reforms, Toyota Controversy Heats Up Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, has issued a call Feb. 23 for urgent changes to strengthen U.S. auto safety regulation in the wake of the massive recall by Toyota. The influential consumer advocacy group said that the U.S. safety regulatory system should be reformed to become more transparent and that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration should have more funding and the ability to impose tougher sanctions. The group also urged a number of safety mandates it said should be imposed on all automakers to address the risk of unintended acceleration of the kind now under investigation for Toyota. U.S. safety regulators should require that all cars have brake override systems, simple controls that turn off the engine in
an emergency, clear and simple labels on transmission shifters and a minimum clearance between floor panels and accelerator pedals, Consumers Union said. Toyota has faced criticism on all of those points in the run-up to a sweeping recall for accelerator-related problems that totals over 8 million vehicles globally. NHTSA says five deaths have been linked to the risk of loose floormats trapping accelerator pedals in Toyota vehicles. Another 29 fatality reports are under investigation. “Much of the ongoing debate and public outcry has centered on why these issues weren't caught or acted upon earlier,” Consumers Union said in its report on the Toyota recalls and proposed reforms.
In November of last year and January of this year, SCRS National Director and Autobody News columnist, Toby Chess, performed several demonstrations outlining comparative studies he had conducted between randomly selected OEM and Aftermarket Structural Replacement parts. See Hey Toby column last month. The parts reviewed included items such as Front and Rear Bumper Reinforcement Beams, Radiator Core Supports, Bumper Brackets and Bumper Energy Absorbers. In every example tested, there were significant differences in both the construction of, and materials used, in the aftermarket replacement part
which can significantly impact the roles that these parts serve in the transfer of energy resulting from a collision. Each of these parts also directly relates to the functionality and response of the vehicle Safety Restraint System (SRS), and could have a resulting affect on how the airbag functions in the event of a loss. The presentation also detailed that in other instances where the manufacturer had paid particular attention to utilizing the same materials as the OEM, and employed credible third-party testing, the parts appeared to perform much better in subsequent crash test video demonstrations.
See AUTO SAFETY REFORMS, Page 9
SCRS and Others Alert Industry to Concerns Over Aftermarket Structural Parts, Insurers Act
See AFTERMARKET PARTS, Page 37
VOL. 28 ISSUE 3 MARCH 2010
State Farm Says NHTSA Warned on Toyota State Farm said on Feb. 8 that it informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of a worrying trend of vehicle-caused accidents involving Toyota vehicles as far back as late 2007, based on claims data. State Farm said that it routinely tracks claim trend information and shares its data with NHTSA. “We voluntarily and routinely communicate with the appropriate government agencies when we see a product-related claim trend,” said State Farm spokesman, Jeff McCollum. “When you start to see significant claims activity that indicates that there may be widespread problems with a product, that’s when you go to the NHTSA,” said State Farm spokesman Kip Diggs. “There had to have been significant activity, a noticeable trend, for that to happen.” NHTSA spokeswoman Karen Aldana said State Farm sent the agency a
claim letter, dated Sept. 7, 2007, which was sent to Toyota concerning a crash involving a 2005 Camry. She said the report was reviewed and added to their complaint database. NHTSA officials have since responded that the State Farm report was reviewed and the agency issued a recall later that month. NHTSA said it received complaints about acceleration problems in Toyota vehicles as early as 2003, and congress is now investigating whether or not the government missed warning signs of the problems. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold the first of three congressional hearings on Feb. 24 which are expected to review the recall of about 8.5 million vehicles globally, first over floor mats suspected of trapping gas pedals, then over sticking gas pedals and brake probSee STATE FARM TO NHTSA, Page 4
We continue our Special Paint Technology issue this month with articles on:
Part 2
BASF on Newer Refinish Processes
Federal Government Pays For Shops To Go Green
Compressors Affect your Spray Gun and your Paint Technological Advancements In Overspray Collector
Dan Am-SATA & Jobbers Provide EPA Painter Spray Gun Training We conclude our special coverage in next months Autobody News
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