"NHTSA deliberately suppressed public knowledge of the safety risk posed by the Volt"
12-09-11, 10:58 AM
#1
"NHTSA deliberately suppressed public knowledge of the safety risk posed by the Volt"
House committee asks for more details on Volt from GM, NHTSA
David Shepardson/ Detroit News Washington Bureau
Washington— Three House Republicans asked General Motors Co. and the Obama administration on Thursday to answer detailed questions about why they didn't disclose a fire in a crash-tested extended-range electric Chevrolet Volt for several months -- and whether the White House asked to delay the release.
"We are deeply troubled by the fact that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has deliberately suppressed public knowledge of the safety risk posed by the Chevrolet Volt," said the letter from Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Mike Kelly, R-Pa., to NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood denied the suggestion "That is absolutely not true. That is not true," LaHood told reporters at a press conference. "We will continue to share any information we find because we want to make sure consumers and first-responders have the most up-to-date information."
The three members also sent a letter on Thursday to GM CEO Dan Akerson, asking "serious questions about the safety of the Volt" and whether the White House or any federal agency pressured GM not to disclose the Volt fire.
The letter asks if GM disclosed that a crash-tested Volt had caught fire in June to owners. "Why did GM fail to disclose safety deficiencies with the Chevrolet Volt for five months?"
Both LaHood and Strickland declined to answer if any additional fires have been sparked in the government's testing or the status of additional testing. "As soon as we have additional information on our testing and on our investigation, we'll disclose it."
LaHood said NHTSA is conducting more tests. The agency said this week it is looking at welding issues and is testing five Volts it has in its possession at an Ohio testing facility. "We are continuing to test the Volt," LaHood said, saying GM is also conducting its own tests.
In June, a crash-tested Volt caught fire three weeks after the May 12 crash test was complete. NHTSA didn't disclose the fire took place until November when Bloomberg News first reported it had occurred.
After a second round of tests of battery packs — a second fire was sparked on Thanksgiving, seven days after another test. NHTSA opened a formal safety investigation after the second fire.
"The way that people found out about (the first fire) is we reported it," LaHood said. "We reported it in a way that reflected the idea that we wanted to make sure that we could report the right information."
NHTSA needed to determine whether the Volt was the cause of the fire -- since it sparked three nearby fires -- before it could make the information public, LaHood said.
The committee said in a Dec. 7 letter it is "broadening its fuel economy investigation to include an examination of NHTSA's treatment of the fire hazard posed by the Chevrolet Volt's lithium-ion battery system."
The committee wants NHTSA's Strickland to answer questions about the investigation, when it learned of fire risks and when it alerted the White House about the June Volt fire. The subcommittee chaired by Jordan plans a hearing in mid to late January.
The Republicans compared the Obama administration's treatment of General Motors to Toyota Motor Corp.'s sudden acceleration issues in 2010.
"In light of public outrage over Toyota's delayed disclosure, why did NHTSA … delay in disclosing safety problems with the Chevrolet Volt for five months," they wrote, asking if the agency didn't disclose the fire "so as not to harm sales of the Chevrolet Volt."
The letter quoted LaHood's testimony in February 2010 on Toyota. "When it comes to safety, there will be no compromises. There will be cozy relationships. There will be no sweetheart deals," he said.
The letter asked if it was routine to withhold fire risks from the public. In a Detroit News interview last month, Strickland said the agency had followed standard practice in not immediately disclosing the fire as it investigated.
The Volt also has increased the committee's concern that higher fuel efficiency regulations may harm auto safety, they wrote.
They also asked if the White House directed NHTSA not to release the information about the Volt fire. NHTSA has been asked to respond by Dec. 21. They also asked NHTSA staff to brief the committee.
A White House spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. GM declined to comment on the letter.
LaHood reiterated that the Volt is safe to drive. "Volt owners can be confident that their cars are safe to drive," LaHood said. Strickland praised GM's cooperation.
GM has offered loaner vehicles and agreed to repurchase Volts from some unhappy Volt owners. The company has been considering a number of possible fixes for the Volt, including reinforcing the battery containment system to prevent battery intrusions in severe crashes.
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20111208/...#ixzz1g46kUHA3
David Shepardson/ Detroit News Washington Bureau
Washington— Three House Republicans asked General Motors Co. and the Obama administration on Thursday to answer detailed questions about why they didn't disclose a fire in a crash-tested extended-range electric Chevrolet Volt for several months -- and whether the White House asked to delay the release.
"We are deeply troubled by the fact that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has deliberately suppressed public knowledge of the safety risk posed by the Chevrolet Volt," said the letter from Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Mike Kelly, R-Pa., to NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood denied the suggestion "That is absolutely not true. That is not true," LaHood told reporters at a press conference. "We will continue to share any information we find because we want to make sure consumers and first-responders have the most up-to-date information."
The three members also sent a letter on Thursday to GM CEO Dan Akerson, asking "serious questions about the safety of the Volt" and whether the White House or any federal agency pressured GM not to disclose the Volt fire.
The letter asks if GM disclosed that a crash-tested Volt had caught fire in June to owners. "Why did GM fail to disclose safety deficiencies with the Chevrolet Volt for five months?"
Both LaHood and Strickland declined to answer if any additional fires have been sparked in the government's testing or the status of additional testing. "As soon as we have additional information on our testing and on our investigation, we'll disclose it."
LaHood said NHTSA is conducting more tests. The agency said this week it is looking at welding issues and is testing five Volts it has in its possession at an Ohio testing facility. "We are continuing to test the Volt," LaHood said, saying GM is also conducting its own tests.
In June, a crash-tested Volt caught fire three weeks after the May 12 crash test was complete. NHTSA didn't disclose the fire took place until November when Bloomberg News first reported it had occurred.
After a second round of tests of battery packs — a second fire was sparked on Thanksgiving, seven days after another test. NHTSA opened a formal safety investigation after the second fire.
"The way that people found out about (the first fire) is we reported it," LaHood said. "We reported it in a way that reflected the idea that we wanted to make sure that we could report the right information."
NHTSA needed to determine whether the Volt was the cause of the fire -- since it sparked three nearby fires -- before it could make the information public, LaHood said.
The committee said in a Dec. 7 letter it is "broadening its fuel economy investigation to include an examination of NHTSA's treatment of the fire hazard posed by the Chevrolet Volt's lithium-ion battery system."
The committee wants NHTSA's Strickland to answer questions about the investigation, when it learned of fire risks and when it alerted the White House about the June Volt fire. The subcommittee chaired by Jordan plans a hearing in mid to late January.
The Republicans compared the Obama administration's treatment of General Motors to Toyota Motor Corp.'s sudden acceleration issues in 2010.
"In light of public outrage over Toyota's delayed disclosure, why did NHTSA … delay in disclosing safety problems with the Chevrolet Volt for five months," they wrote, asking if the agency didn't disclose the fire "so as not to harm sales of the Chevrolet Volt."
The letter quoted LaHood's testimony in February 2010 on Toyota. "When it comes to safety, there will be no compromises. There will be cozy relationships. There will be no sweetheart deals," he said.
The letter asked if it was routine to withhold fire risks from the public. In a Detroit News interview last month, Strickland said the agency had followed standard practice in not immediately disclosing the fire as it investigated.
The Volt also has increased the committee's concern that higher fuel efficiency regulations may harm auto safety, they wrote.
They also asked if the White House directed NHTSA not to release the information about the Volt fire. NHTSA has been asked to respond by Dec. 21. They also asked NHTSA staff to brief the committee.
A White House spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. GM declined to comment on the letter.
LaHood reiterated that the Volt is safe to drive. "Volt owners can be confident that their cars are safe to drive," LaHood said. Strickland praised GM's cooperation.
GM has offered loaner vehicles and agreed to repurchase Volts from some unhappy Volt owners. The company has been considering a number of possible fixes for the Volt, including reinforcing the battery containment system to prevent battery intrusions in severe crashes.
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20111208/...#ixzz1g46kUHA3
12-09-11, 11:23 AM
#3
"In light of public outrage over Toyota's delayed disclosure, why did NHTSA … delay in disclosing safety problems with the Chevrolet Volt for five months," they wrote, asking if the agency didn't disclose the fire "so as not to harm sales of the Chevrolet Volt."
The Toyota recalls were fueled, and most likely funded, by GM & Chrysler enthusiasts. Took advantage when the opponent is down; and while they were financially advantaged by government loans.
Now, recalls are biting them in the ***...
Last edited by PhilipMSPT; 12-09-11 at 12:46 PM.
12-09-11, 11:26 AM
#4
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absolutely disgusting to read!
"in light of public outrage over toyota's delayed disclosure, why did nhtsa … delay in disclosing safety problems with the chevrolet volt for five months," they wrote, asking if the agency didn't disclose the fire "so as not to harm sales of the chevrolet volt."
12-09-11, 03:24 PM
#7
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Just seemed like the media (also fueled by GM/Chrysler/union support) dog-piled on what was really a non-issue from the start.
I hope GM and NHTSA really get dinged by this
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