Inquiry Says NHTSA Decided To Suppress Volt Fires From Public On Its Own

The White House had no role in the decision to delay disclosure of a firethat broke out ina crash-tested Chevrolet Volt, the Obama administration told Congress on Friday.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland said the White House had been informed in September of the fire that brokein Junebut didn't ask the agency to keep the information secret.

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Steve - 1/16/2012 9:31:31 AM

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The Volt's user manual his instructions on what the owner should do, or have done, in the event of an accident, and this includes draining the batteries. The NHSTA performed a crash test (created a deliberate accident), and did NOT follow the procedures. Weeks later, a fire broke out in one car. Well duh!

The NHSTA attempted to reproduce the crash/fire scenario, and could not, which means if you have a severe Volt crash and you do not follow the manufacturer's instructions, you have a RISK of fire, but not a guaranteed. Solution: RTFM!!! (It's like saying seat-belts are crap because they are ineffective when you don't use them.)

The press reported this in such a sensational way that the ignorant (and arguably stupid) public at large now believes that Volts are dangerous and owners are at risk of the car spontaneously bursting into flames. Shades of Audi unintended acceleration, and Toyota unintended acceleration allegations (remember, CSIs, the NHSTA, multiple government inquisitions, and even NASA could not find a defect that caused Toyotas to accelerate uncontrollably -- even though a number of owners *alleged* they did -- and eventually independent findings concluded the cause was driver pedal misapplication (i.e., standing on the gas while you *believed* your foot was on the brake))