With dramatic Toyota recalls at the forefront of motorists' minds, complaints about auto defects increased last year. Thousands of consumers who encountered flaws in their vehicles reported the issues to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Edmunds.com, an automotive research firm, analyzed the raw numbers from NHTSA and concluded that 40,000 unique complaints were submitted to NHTSA last year through December 14. That is four times the previous year's number - which unreasonably raises the risk of motor vehicle accidents.
Motorist Safety at Issue
Throughout last year's auto recalls and scandals, drivers become more aware of their right to report problems to NHTSA. Drivers can submit the complaints online or by calling NHTSA's telephone hotline. When NHTSA receives complaints, it reviews them to detect patterns that it may decide to investigate.
Although the increase in defect complaints reflects greater consumer savvy, it also indicates that the motor vehicle industry should be a better shepherd of its customers' safety. Carmakers should take proper steps to prevent product defects from killing or injuring people.
The average number of complaints per 100,000 vehicles sold is 47. Toyota's rate of complaints was approximately 87 per 100,000 vehicles. Nissan was the second worst, with almost 62 per 100,000. Volkswagen came in third with about 58.
Although some reported auto defects may be merely cosmetic, others are catastrophic. For example, drivers of some Toyotas were killed when their autos accelerated unexpectedly. Other safety issues are less obvious, but could be just as dangerous. One driver told the L.A. Times that the headlight lenses on his Nissan and Subaru had begun to oxidize, dimming the headlights.
Take Action
If you have identified a defect in your automobile, consider filing a complaint with NHTSA. The more information the agency has, the more likely it is to be able to track vital trends in auto safety.
Unfortunately, some auto defects lead to severe injuries. If you or a loved one has been seriously hurt in a motor vehicle accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney.
