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Show 3 CONSUMERS performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway (Chevrolet Impala, Ford Galaxie, Plymouth Safety, and AMC Ambassador) were rammed into a barrier at five Fury, miles per hour incurring an average damage estimate of $332. The Buick average estimate for intermediate cars (Pontiac Firebird, same in the and Satellite) Plymouth Skylark, Mercury Montego, test was $289, and for small cars (Volkswagen, Chevrolet Vega, Ford Pinto and AMC Gremlin) was $150. In a five miles per hour rear crash the average damage estimate was $329 for the sedans, $253 for the intermediates, and $196 for the small cars. The average estimates for front crashes at ten miles per hour was $541 for the sedans, $488 for the intermediates, and $417 for the small cars.> • In tests four sedans • Since 1966, 30 million vehicles have been recalled in well over 500 separate recall campaigns. In some cases, the manufacturer has, in fact, made the repair at no cost to the consumer. But the burden of repairing the vehicle, however, still can be and has been placed • on the consumer.P The Chevrolet Corvair heater is a case in point. For some time, there had been complaints that the direct air heating system of the Corvair pumped air contaminated with dangerous levels of carbon monoxide into the passenger compartment. Although the system first appeared in the marketplace in the early '60's, it was not until 1971 that General Motors issued a defect notification letter to all 760,000 Corvair owners. But GM left the financial responsibility for the repairs to the consumer-a burden which could cost up to $150 per vehicle." CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT 1. PRODUCT SAFETY AND FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCIES increasing complexity and sophistication of many of our goods are sometimes accompanied by the increasing possibility of product failure, malfunction, or inadvertent mis use resulting in physical danger to the consumer. Therefore, 1 propose legislation providing broad Federal authority for com prehensive regulation of hazardous consumer products." "The consumer RICHARD NIXON Message to Congress February 24, 1971 |
