The New York Times reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating headlights on 622,000 Chrysler and Dodge minivans from the 2005 model year. The year-long investigation has now turned into an engineering analysis, which is typically done prior to a recall. According to the NHTSA, it has received 146 complaints while Chrysler has received 1,400 complaints and had to repair about 14,000 vehicles under warranty. According to the Times, consumers can toggle the headlight switch which may restore the function of the headlights and high beams.
Driver Crashes from Defective Headlights
Chrysler told the NHTSA it is aware of two crashes that resulted from a failed headlight. In one instance, the minivan hit a deer. In the other case, the minivan drove into a ditch and the driver was injured. This is very similar to a 2005 investigation by the NHTSA on approximately 813,000 Chrysler and Dodge minivans model year 2001 to 2002 which never identified a safety-related defect in the vehicles. Chrysler later told the NHTSA in a letter that it tweaked key lighting components in the late 2002 models which seemed to improve slightly the reliability.
Product Liability Lawsuits
Product liability lawsuits are filed over defective products that cause injuries. There must be an injury for a plaintiff to file an action to try and show that a product is defective in its design, its manufacture and/or defective in its warning.
Manufacturers who make their living selling products have an obligation to the public to make sure what they are distributing will not harm the public. When they fail in that regard, they should be held accountable. Farah & Farah’s car defect attorneys in Florida will always offer a complimentary consultation on your product liability injury case. Call us at 1-800-533-3555.
Source: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/n-h-t-s-a-intensifies-investigation-of-headlight-failures-on-chrysler-minivans/
