Here is what several news and auto safety organization are saying about KHOU s Firestone tire stories that sparked the nation wide recall. KHOU s investigative team first reported the story in February of 2000. Maybe there really is something there.
Lets dig deeper.
The safety administration appears understaffed and under-financed, hampering its ability to react to such crises. The agency collects reports on fatalities and accidents, but they are not nearly exhaustive enough to reveal disturbing patterns before outsiders bring complaints to their attention. That too deserves serious review. Had it not been for a Houston television report on the problem that triggered a spate of complaints to the agency earlier this year, most drivers would still be unaware of their danger. I think that your television station led the way in making this a national recall, there s no question in my mind about that.