GAO Study: Recall System Needs Improvement

Carolyne Thorne; the families of Jackie and Raechel Houck and Levi Stewart – these were not among the stakeholders interviewed by Government Accounting Office investigators in compiling their latest report on problems with automotive recalls. Yet, they are arguably among the many who are most affected by the shortcomings in the current system. Thorne was seriously and permanently injured and Stewart and the Houcks died, because defective and recalled components in their vehicles had not been remedied. Each case illustrates a different type of failure and why the recall system is due for an overhaul, but NHTSA Has Options to Improve the Safety Defect Recall Process, published last month, conveys none of this urgency. This report was yet another outgrowth of the Toyota Unintended Acceleration crisis and the tsunami of recalls. The GAO notes that 2010 saw the largest number of automotive recalls in the history of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – largely boosted by the millions of vehicles Toyota recalled for floor mats and sticky pedals. It also acknowledges that the failure to remedy a defect poses a risk to the public – but it does not define the magnitude of this risk. The GAO frames the issue as a two-fold communication problem: the language used in recall notifications tends to be confusing for the average consumer, and there are problems with notifying secondary owners of vehicles, from individuals to used car dealerships, and primary owners who move. It recommended that NHTSA modify requirements for notification letters and publicize its website. The GAO also recommended that NHTSA make better use of manufacturers’ recall completion rate data; and “seek legislative authority to notify potential used car buyers of recalls.” Take the issue of NHTSA and recall completion data. The agency told the GAO that “they evaluate the effectiveness of a recall campaign by comparing a specific recall campaign’s progress to similar campaigns based on factors such as the age of vehicles recalled and the number of vehicles recalled.” The agency said that “monitoring recalls on a campaign-by-campaign basis provides them with the flexibility necessary to capture the unique aspects of each recall campaign and that by focusing on communication and discussion with manufacturers, the agency can develop solutions to improve completion rates when a campaign is achieving a completion rate that is below its expectation.

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GAO Study: Recall System Needs Improvement

Thorne also had purchased a lifetime tire maintenance service with Wal-Mart so that her tires would be regularly inspected, balanced and rotated. Between 2002 and 2004, Wal-Mart auto technicians serviced her tires nine times.



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The system includes a device that plugs into your vehicle's on-board computer and sends data to an iPhone using Griffin's forthcoming CleanDrive app, helping users monitor their gasoline use and track their car's maintenance needs.



Hundreds stranded below in another T breakdown
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'One Time'... Tales from the front line
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It should be understood that petrol radio controlled cars are efficient in comparison with electric based cars. It can be said that nitro cars are a level higher than electric cars in the world of radio controlled cars. Through your experience with electric RC cars you should also be able to determine whether you actually hold interesting in knowing your car in and out. This is important because with nitro cars you will have to be attentive and dedicated towards its maintenance. If you are just interested in racing your car and not performing required maintenance, then you should not look forward to petrol radio control cars but electric RC cars. 

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Car Maintenance Radio Shows - Bookshelf

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Also, the “Car Talk” guys on National Public Radio feature a humorous but down- to- earth do-it-yourself guide to car repair and maintenance at their show's ...

Clueless about cars, an easy guide to car maintenance and repair

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Explaining Your Car's Problems I get the same thing from people who call in to my radio show as I do from customers who come into the garage: "My car makes ...

Broadcasting in America, a survey of electronic media

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The program quickly won every radio program award in sight and became a ... whose answers to called-in car-maintenance questions are spiced with jokes, ...

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The Woman's Fix-It Car Care Book: Secrets Women Should Know about Their Cars ... this is the site for the ever-popular National Public Radio show "Car Talk ...

Useful Information Directory


Car Talk
The official site of Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers. Let Tom and Ray Magliozzi, the advice gurus of Car Talk, help you with your car troubles.

Car Talk Radio Show
The show is hosted by Tom and Ray Magliozzi, known as Click and Clack. The show blends humor with car stories and practical maintenance and car repair ...

car maintenance talk radio podcast
Listen to live and archived car maintenance talk radio podcasts on Blog Talk Radio - the leading talk radio network.

Car talk radio show | All cars stuff from A-Z you ever wanted
A famous NPR radio show that you could never miss while driving in car is the Car Talk radio show. Car Talk has been on air since 1977 and hosts by 2 brothers

Vehicle Vibes Radio Online Radio by Vehicle Vibes Radio ...
At VehicleVibes.com youll find tips on car repair and auto maintenance driving and traffic safety and even fun quizzes and games all brought to you by Allstate. - Page 4