Opinion ID: 782173
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: NHTSA Report

Text: On September 8, 1988, NHTSA issued a decision denying the motor vehicle defect petition filed earlier by the Center for Auto Safety. In its analysis, the NHTSA stated that the rollover crash involvement of the Samurai appears to be within the range of most other light utility vehicles. 6 Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petitions, 53 Fed.Reg. 34,866 (Sept. 8, 1988). It concluded that the Ford Bronco II was found to have more than 3 times the first event rollover ... involvement as the Samurai and that the Samurai had a first event rollover involvement corresponding to the [Chevrolet] S-10 Blazer. Id. NHTSA's opinion also criticized CU's testing protocols, stating as follows: The existing test procedures for assessing the rollover propensity of vehicles are unsatisfactory because they do not provide for repeatable, reproducible results, and there are no accepted performance criteria. The testing appears to rely on the skill and influence of the driver and the presumption that the vehicle suspension, tire, and road surface characteristics will remain constant throughout the testing. Id. at 34,867. NHTSA concluded by stating that, although the CU testing results were cause for some concern, the test procedures do not have a scientific basis and cannot be linked to real-world crash avoidance needs, or actual crash data. Using the same procedures, probably any light utility vehicle could be made to roll over under the right conditions and driver input. 7 Id. CU issued a subsequent article in Consumer Reports criticizing the NHTSA decision.