The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "National Highway Traffic Safety Administration" ...
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Jeep Grand Cherokee Investigation
Currently, there are “three million Jeep Grand Cherokees on the road today”. Furthermore, they have been involved in “hundreds of fatal fire accidents in the past 11 years”. The investigation revealed a flaw in the vehicle; the fuel tank is located in the rear of the vehicle. This flaw is the main cause of these fatal deaths. After these accidents had occurred, the automaker has relocated the gas tank in a more secure location and since then zero accidents have occurred.
Tags: Chrysler; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; SUVs; consumers; automobiles; crash; damage; defect; auto safety; transportation
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Fatal Failures
"The Star was the first newspaper to discover the extent of the problem of airbags not deploying in frontal crashes. The newspaper also found that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was doing little to protect the public."
Tags: airbags; transportation; automobile safety; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Recalled Trucks Burn as Ford Fiddles
In recent years, Ford Trucks have been the target of a massive recall. Yet some of the models - including some not on the recall list - continue to catch fire and burn. Consumer Affairs first started examining fires in Ford trucks and SUVs in 2003, "citing instance after instance of trucks spontaneously bursting into flame, often while parked and unattended." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ordered a recall of an estimated 3.8 million Ford trucks from the 1994-2002 models, but the recall moved slowly as Ford cited delays in getting replacement parts. And as trucks continued to catch fire, so did consumer complaints, which were "stonewalled" by Ford. In addition, some people's 2003 models were prone to fire, but when their trucks burst into flame and were ruined, they were informed that there is no recall protocol for 2003 models.
Tags: Ford; Ford trucks; Ford F-150; Ford Expidition; Lincoln Navigator; Ford Bronco; recall; trucks prone to spontaneous bursting into flame
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Fuel Economy: Why You're Not Getting the MPG You Expect
U.S. government fuel economy ratings data significantly mislead consumers about the miles-per-gallon they can realistically expect to get from specific new cars and trucks. This is due to flawed and outdated testing methodology, procedures and loopholes used by the EPA, the NHTSA, and automakers.
Tags: cars; automobiles; environment; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Environmental Protection Agency; mileage; gas; fuel economy; mpg
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Ford Sudden Acceleration
This story examined Center for Auto Safety records and discovered 25,000 instances of sudden acceleration since the early 1980's. Ford vehicles were involved in almost one third of all incidents and were twice as likely as General Motors vehicles to have sudden acceleration problems. Fords were connected to 69 death caused by sudden acceleration accidents.
Tags: FOIA; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Ford; cars; car safety; sudden acceleration; accidents
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Durango Dangers
This investigation exposed a dangerous flaw in the design of the Dodge Durango, a popular SUV. It found that the upper ball joints, part of the wheel structure, may wear out and cause drivers to lose control of the vehicle. The investigation resulted in many complaints to NHTSA from Durango drivers, and an eventual recall of the vehicle.
Tags: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; vehicle design; highway driving; Dodge; DaimlerChrysler
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Moving Targets
Reporters at the Las Vegas Sun look into the high number of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities on Las Vegas roadways. Using data and statistics from the NHTSA and the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, the reporters discovered that the problem lies in roadway design, motorist carelessness, and lenient laws.
Tags: traffic accidents; pedestrian fatalities; National Highway Transportation Safety Administration; UNLV Transportation Research Center; manslaughter; jaywalking
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Danger overhead: Crushed roofs
This investigation found that Detroit's Big Three automakers have fought costly upgrades to a 33-year-old roof strength standard despite the estimated 7,000 people killed each year in rollovers in which the roof was crushed. Automotive engineers are aware that strong roofs save lives, and the company's own European operations build and test stronger roofs, yet the Big Three continue to fight attempts to require stronger minimum standards in the United States.
Tags: autos; cars; automobile safety; rollovers; Big Three; automakers; SUVs; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; NHTSA
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Dodge Durango Investigation
Despite its popularity on the road the Dodge Durango is jammed with problems in one of its wheel structure's critical components - the upper ball joints. CBS investigates this issue to discover that these joints may prematurely wear out- 'as early as 15,000 miles', thanks to a design defect. This wearing out can have deadly consequences due to sudden wheel collapses and seperation. Following several complaints about this received by national traffic authorities, the investigation finds that the ball joint problem is actually seen more in Durango's sister model, Dakota.
Tags: SUV; National Highway Traffic And Safety Administration; road safety; mileage; NHTSA
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Blinded By The Light
This story deals with the problem of glare from blue high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights on today's upscale cars. Amidst complaints from irate consumers, CR explains how automakers downplay these complaints . Furthermore CR conducts a research project which reveals that HID's do produce more glare and also, that the best HID lights are no better than the best halogens.
Tags: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Guide Corp; Tracy Kroll; Audi TT