WASHINGTON (Sept. 11, 2008) — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has made certain early warning information available to the public on its safety Web site, www.safercar.gov.
The information — which vehicle, tire and auto parts manufacturers must submit to NHTSA as required by the Transportation Recall, Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act — includes death, injury and property damage claims, light vehicle production data and information on foreign recalls.
A spokesman for the Rubber Manufacturers Association, which fought in federal court to keep all early warning data confidential, said the newly available information is only from auto makers, though it may contain some data on tires.
Information from tire makers probably will be made available soon, though precisely when is not clear, he said.
Consumer group Public Citizen led a legal fight to make all early warning data public.
Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook said her organization is excited that some of the information is now public. It will continue to fight to make more of it public, such as consumer complaints and field reports, she said.