General Motors 1980 X-Body Vehicles' Rear Brake Lockup Problem

GAO discussed the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) investigation involving rear brake lockup problems in General Motors' 1980 X-body cars. During the first 15 months of the investigation, numerous actions called for under NHTSA guidelines were not taken or were delayed. GAO stated that the NHTSA guidelines were inadequate or were not clear, especially regarding when test reports should be made known to the public or the manufacturer. GAO recommended that the Secretary of Transportation instruct the NHTSA Administrator to: (1) reaffirm the need for compliance with the policies and procedures for conducting defect investigations; (2) clarify defect investigation policies and procedures; and (3) require top-level officials to participate in the defect investigation process. GAO noted that the Deputy Administrator, NHTSA, has recently initiated actions that should improve the defects investigation program.