Fiat Chrysler Admits Under-Reporting Deaths & Injuries To NHTSA

Yet another auto-maker has lied. 

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US says in a statement

 that it has identified deficiencies in its 

TREAD reporting

 and has promptly notified NHTSA. One cannot help but wonder what came first, a leak or some conscience, but as NHTSA notes this means FCA under-reported the number of deaths and injuries that the automaker may be responsible for.

• *FCA US: FOUND DEFICIENCIES IN TREAD REPORTING
• *FIAT CHRYSLER NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THESE ISSUES
• *FCA INFORMS NHTSA IT FOUND SIGNIFICANT UNDER-REPORTED NOTICES
• *FCA HAD SIGNIF UNDER-REPORTED CLAIMS OF DEATHS, INJURIES: NHTSA
• *NHTSA: SIGNIFICANT FAILURE TO MEET SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES
• *NHTSA TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON FCA REPORTING ISSUES

Fiat Chrysler's Statement: TREAD Reporting

September 29, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - As a result of FCA US LLC’s heightened scrutiny of its regulatory reporting obligations growing out of its recent Consent Order with NHTSA, FCA US identified deficiencies in its TREAD reporting. FCA US promptly notified NHTSA of these issues, and committed to a thorough investigation, to be followed by complete remediation. FCA US is in regular communication with NHTSA about its progress in the investigation. FCA US takes this issue extremely seriously, and will continue to cooperate with NHTSA to resolve this matter and ensure these issues do not re-occur.

The reaction is muted for now..

The TREAD Act reporting details are as follows:

The Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (or TREAD) Act is a United States federal law enacted in the fall of 2000. This law intends to increase consumer safety through mandates assigned to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It was drafted in response to fatalities related to Ford Explorers fitted with Firestone tires, and was influenced by automobile and tire manufacturers as well as consumer safety advocates.

There are three major components of the TREAD Act.

• First, it requires that vehicle manufacturers report to the National Highway & Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) when it conducts a safety recall or other safety campaign in a foreign country.
• Second, vehicle manufacturers need to report information related to defects, reports of injury or death related to its products, as well as other relevant data in order to comply with "Early Warning" requirements.
• Third, there is criminal liability where a vehicle manufacturer intentionally violates the new reporting requirements when a safety-related defect has subsequently caused death or serious bodily injury.

There are a number of other smaller provisions which mostly address manufacturers of vehicle tires and guidance to the NHTSA on reporting data. The "Early Warning" requirement is the heart of the TREAD Act, enabling the NHTSA to collect data, notice trends, and warn consumers of potential defects in vehicles.