MAP-21 Federal Law passed enforcing TSB's to be public

TSB is sent to a dealership straight from the automaker concerning specific problems and issues with vehicles. The bulletin typically informs the dealer about parts and repair procedures to use if a customer complains about a problem.

While an official recall requires an automaker to notify an owner about a safety defect and available free repairs, most consumers never know about a TSB unless they bring the vehicle to a dealer and complain about a problem. Many serious safety defects that were first addressed by technical service bulletins later became large safety recalls.

Click to expand...

A Huge Win For Car Owners

On February 9th, 2016, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) sued the Department of Transportation over violations of federal law for auto safety.

“Today the Center for Auto Safety filed suit against DOT Secretary Foxx to force the Secretary to do what the law so clearly requires. This is yet another example of where voluntary and cooperative action by the auto industry so praised by Secretary Foxx fails.” - CAS Executive Director Clarence Ditlow”

The Department of Transportation claimed posting the full TSBs is a copyright violation, but that’s not what Johnny Law says.

The 2012 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) says the Secretary of Transportation is supposed to:

“make available on a publicly accessible Internet website, a true or representative copy of each communication to the manufacturer’s dealers or to owners or purchasers of a motor vehicle or replacement equipment produced by the manufacturer about a defect or noncompliance with a motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter in a vehicle or equipment that is sold or serviced.”

In no way, shape, or ugly form are TSB summaries a “true representative copy” of the original document.

Government Agrees to Post All Automaker Defect Info

Are you ready for some very good (acronym-heavy) news?

The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently agreed to publicly post all vehicle technical service bulletins (TSB) following the lawsuit from the Center for Auto Safety (CAS).

Whew.

“NHTSA will also publicly post on its Web site the manufacturers’ indexes to their communications as they are received.”

For the first time, consumers will be able to search for car problems that may not legally be defined as causing a risk to safety. CAS says the new measures will save consumers money on repairs for problems covered by a previously-hidden TSB, not to mention save lives.

You’ll soon know everything wrong with your car. That’s wonderful (and a bit scary).

Last updated on June 8, 2016

Click to expand...

The second regulation that implements the requirement for manufacturers to submit communications about a defect or noncompliance to the Agency is 49 CFR 579.5. That requires manufacturers to submit ‘‘a copy of all notices, bulletins, and other communications (including those transmitted by computer, telefax, or other electronic means and including warranty and policy extension communique ́s and product improvement bulletins) other than those required to be submitted pursuant to § 573.6(c)(10) of this chapter, sent to more than one manufacturer, distributor, dealer, lessor, lessee, owner, or purchaser, in the United States, regarding any defect in its vehicles or items of equipment (including any failure or malfunction beyond normal deterioration in use, or any failure of performance, or any flaw or unintended deviation from design specifications), whether or not such defect is safety- related.’’ 49 CFR 579.5(a). It also requires that ‘‘[e]ach manufacturer shall furnish to NHTSA a copy of each communication relating to a customer satisfaction campaign, consumer advisory, recall, or other safety activity involving the repair or replacement of motor vehicles or equipment, that the manufacturer issued to, or made available to, more than one dealer, distributor, lessor, lessee, other manufacturer, owner, or purchaser, in the United States.’’ 49 CFR 579.5(b). Manufacturer communications required by 49 CFR 579.5 are due to the Agency ‘‘not later than five working days after the end of the month’’ in which they were issued. 49 CFR 579.5(d).

Click to expand...

Miglo said:

At my dealer for service right now and was told by the service manager there is no such specific list for a specific car.
He says when you have a specific complaint about something, they have to do a search??
I think he's completely bull shitting me. Anyone know where to access this?

Click to expand...