Millions of car owners waiting for safety defect repairs

Recalls have been a hot topic for the past few years and due to their very nature are something that are always closely followed – for good reason.

However, there are some other sides to the safety industry that are not known so well. Such as when a recall is initiated, but then millions of people are left hanging without the necessary re

Millions of car owners have received recall notices telling them they need a repair completed on their vehicle. Still, months after receiving a letter from the manufacturer in the mail, many are still waiting to hear how and when their car will be repaired.

An investigation from WCPO’s sister station KSHB uncovered delays in the recall system resulting in consumers continuing to drive cars where they were warned of safety defects. Consumer advocates want the law changed so consumers waiting for repairs don’t have to choose to drive a car they believe is unsafe.

Stalling On the Interstate

Rachel Jefferson had just exited a busy interstate when she said her car completely locked up. The power steering went out. The tires froze. The car turned off.

“It was kind of scary because I was going at a pretty fast speed,” Jefferson said.

Jefferson maneuvered her 2009 Dodge Journey to the side of the exit ramp. When she went to put the car in park, she noticed she had to re-start the car because it has completely shut off.

That triggered her memory of a recall notice she received from Chrysler in July 2014. Thousands of other drivers received the same notice of a safety defect with the ignition switch in specific year models of Dodge Journeys, Dodge Grand Caravans, and Chrysler Town and County vehicles.

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The notice reports that the key fob can become loose and swing out of position causing the car to stall. It also causes the passenger safety devices, like air bags, to become inoperable.

The recall is similar to the GM ignition switch defect that made national headlines. In the case with GM, 13 deaths and 54 accidents have been linked to the defect. However, Fiat-Chrysler Automotive US, LLC (FCA US, LLC) has only reported two accidents and no injuries or deaths.

FCA US, LLC first reported the problem to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration in 2010. The manufacturer issued a recall for select models in 2011 and expanded the recall in 2014.

The letter Jefferson received reported the car was safe to drive, and she’d receive another notice when the manufacturer had a solution and parts ready to fix the problems. Total recall: Millions of car owners waiting for safety defect repairs – Story

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