If the “MIL” (check engine light) does NOT light up, and a car suddenly goes WOT, would it be classified as a problem that the OEM would be legally obligated to resolve?
NHTSA does not have any ability to evaluate vehicles from either a safety standpoint or from an engineering standpoint if they don’t employ the staff that has knowledge to inspect and understand cars.
This problem is much bigger than Toyota, this is a major problem with consumer protection.
NHTSA claims to “ask” manufacturers when there seems to be a problem, but what is the purpose behind their inquiry? What if the OEM just says “nope”, is NHTSA off the hook for protecting consumers and ensuring safe roads?
If the OEM says “we think maybe theres a problem” then what does NHTSA do at that point? NHTSA says ok whats the problem, OEM says we think the windshield washer fluid could leak onto some wires causing a short so we are going to recall the windshield washer tanks. NHTSA says ok, we suppose you know what your doing, so go for it.
Meanwhile, accidents are killing people.
Meanwhile, lawyers are preparing documents.
Meanwhile, NHTSA is telling people that vehicles are safe, or maybe not safe.
Meanwhile, Federal government gets involved and starts pointing fingers.
Right NOW, people are driving to work, picking their kids up from school, and putting every other car they encounter on the road in danger.
Nobody knows anything, but as long as cars are getting worked on - cool right?
tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock
This is all BS.
If safety was my number one priority, and it was my organization to ensure the safety of people, I would not make a SINGLE claim that any vehicle was SAFE unless I had access to ALL the data, proprietary or not.
NHTSA does not have all the data.
NHTSA when asked whether or not federal regulations should make OEM’s obligated to provide full disclosure of proprietary engine management systems, they said “we’ll have to get back to you on that”
