Regulators Accuse Fiat Chrysler Of “Widely Under-Reported” Deaths Related To Vehicle Accidents

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After being fined $105 million by federal regulators for their leisurely pace in fixing more than 11 million vehicles connected to 23 safety recalls, Fiat Chrysler’s recall woes haven’t magically disappeared. Instead, it appears they may be intensifying, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today accused the carmaker of widely under-reporting the number of deaths in accidents involving its vehicles.

USA Today reports that regulators first discovered what they called a “significant” discrepancy back in July.

Mark Rosekind, NHTSA chief, said that preliminary information suggests that this “under-reporting is the result of a number of problems with FCA’s systems for gathering and reporting data.”

In a statement, the agency said it notified Fiat Chrysler of the issue and the carmaker reportedly investigated, discovering “significant under-reported notices and claims of death, injuries and other information” that is legally required to be reported.

The manufacturer said in a statement to USA Today that it pledged “complete remediation” of the issue, noting that the company “takes this issue extremely seriously and will continue to cooperate with NHTSA to resolve this matter and ensure these issues do not re-occur.”

While it’s unclear if the under-reported deaths are related to the 23 recalls that resulted in the record $105 million fine in July, the agency previously said it would punish the carmaker if it discovered other problems in its recall processes.

Rosekind said the agency would take “appropriate action after gathering additional information and causes of this failure.”

NHTSA: Fiat Chrysler under-reported number of deaths [USA Today]

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist