President Clinton has indicated he will sign the legislation, which some consumer groups have urged him to veto. But the bill doesn't say the companies have to help investigators understand it. A provision in one version of the bill requiring manufacturers provide some analysis along with the information was dropped. Take warranty claims. There is one other problem.
Manufacturers only have to report information they have.
So, by not keeping records of some problems, they would never have to report that information to investigators. Claybrook said it's unlikely any prosecutions will result from the new law because of the loopholes built into it. Some manufacturers will wait until they are about to be caught before coming forward, Claybrook complained. The new law will also add a step in the prosecution process. The U.S. attorney general needs formal request from the secretary of transportation before taking action against someone who has deceived regulators.