California Lemon Law News + Info

NHTSA Audited by Transportation Department’s Inspector General

After more than 36,000 Americans died in traffic accidents in 2019, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be audited for its enforcement of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

A yellow crash test dummy is seated in a car seat and strapped in with a seat belt.The Transportation Department’s Office of Inspector General said on August 11 that it would conduct the audit.

“Given the importance to the traveling public that all new vehicles and components meet federal safety standards, we are initiating a review of NHTSA’s FMVSS process,” the Inspector General’s Office wrote.

The NHTSA published a statement that said it would provide any information requested by the Office of Inspector General.

In March, the NHTSA proposed rewrites of 11 vehicle safety standards for traditional manual controls and revisions of rules that partially pertain to occupant-less delivery vehicles.

However, the finalizing or adoption of new vehicle safety standards can often take several years. In 2010, Congress demanded that the NHTSA require “quiet” cars such as electric vehicles to warn pedestrians of their presence via alert sounds. The NHTSA did not finalize such rules until eight years later.

David Friedman, a former NHTSA deputy administrator during Obama’s presidency, criticized the agency for its failure to implement any life-saving rules or changes under the Trump administration.

“That is a clear failure to fulfill NHTSA’s mission to save lives and prevent injuries, especially when you consider that there are technologies out there now that could cut the annual death toll in half,” Friedman told Automotive News.

Source: Automotive News


Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2017–Present vehicle models only.

However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.

To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.

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