An automobile is a highly-engineered piece of machinery, the product of as many man-hours as the Great Pyramid at Giza.
Unlike the Great Pyramid, an automobile is not fixed or solid, it is a moving dynamic object, both in its body, which is designed to move on the road, and in its design, which is constantly changing from year to year as auto makers seek to make the car more stylish with better features and greater efficiency to attract consumers, while at the same time making it easier and cheaper to produce to maximize their own profit.
Unfortunately, in the process of engineering and re-engineering automobiles, the auto makers introduce defects in the design.
Enter the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), a division of the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The ODI conducts defect investigations and administers safety recalls.
The NHTSA is authorized to order manufacturers to recall and repair vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment once the ODI has completed investigations that indicate the vehicles or equipment contain serious safety defects in their design, construction, or performance.
Once the recall is begun, the ODI will also monitor the effectiveness of the recall campaigns.
Before initiating a recall, the ODI conducts a thorough investigation, including a review of the body of consumer complaints and all other available data to determine whether a defect may exist.
Recent recalls from the ODI include: ·Cars ·Tires ·Child Safety seats Because the ODI seeks to take in information from all sources, they are open to receiving your complaint, and they will keep all complaints on file so that they can be seen by other vehicle owners who may be suffering from the same or similar problems with their vehicles.
If you wish to report a complaint about a defective vehicle, tire, or restraint equipment, you may do so here.