Word: nhtsa
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 2000-2009
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Injured motorists or their families have brought more than 100 suits against Ford and Firestone since 1992, including at least 10 complaints about tread separation that the companies have settled. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) had been hearing complaints about the tires since 1991 but didn't act until last May, when the numbers spiked following an investigative report by TV station KHOU in Houston. Says Jon Goldberg, director of crisis management for the Edelman Worldwide p.r. firm: "As the evidence mounted, they [Firestone] could have moved much more quickly to take action...
Firestone decided on the recall last week after poring over accident reports with Ford and huddling with NHTSA officials. Gary Crigger, Firestone's executive vice president, phoned his bosses in Tokyo to advise them of the decision. That seemed to catch the Japanese company flat-footed, although it publicly took credit for the order. Just two weeks ago, Bridgestone chief executive Yoichiro Kaizaki forecast rising profits for the rest of 2000. But last week Bridgestone said the recall at Firestone--which accounted for some 40% of Bridgestone's $20.4 billion in 1999 revenues--could cost the Japanese company as much...