NHTSA Proposes To Keep Some Vehicle Safety Data Secret

Washington DC November 2, 2006; The AIADA newsletter reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration yesterday proposed to keep confidential some vehicle safety data covering consumer complaints, warranty claims, and information on vehicles involved in deaths and injuries, reports The Associated Press.

NHTSA said such information "will cause substantial competitive harm and will impair the government's ability to obtain this information in the future if released."

The proposal came in response to a ruling by a federal judge earlier this year that the agency had failed to provide enough notice to comment on an early warning system plan. The early warning system plan was part of legislation approved by Congress following the massive recall of Firestone tires in 2000.

It required automakers and other manufacturers to submit data on deaths, injuries, consumer complaints, property damage and warranty claims.