Chrysler Minivan Safety Defect Conspiracy - ABCNews 20/20 - Part 2

In early March 1995 I was interviewed by ABC News 20/20 regarding the defective Chrsyler minivan liftgate latch, and my work as chairman of the Safety Leadership Team (SLT). By January 1995 Congressman John Dingell was briefed regarding the conclusions of NHTSA Investigation EA94-005:

"The latch failure is a safety defect that involves children."

The Dingell background and letter to NHTSA here:

http://www.pvsheridan.com/Dingell_to_...

During the Dingell letter campaign, Chrysler, NHTSA, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) had conspired to ensure that the conclusions of EA94-005 remained hidden from the public, including the parents of 9-year-old Brandon Auer. This conspiracy is summarized here:

http://www.pvsheridan.com/DOJ-NHTSA-C...

But the actual conclusion of EA94-005, which was well-known to Dingell, Chrysler and the DOJ, was not made public until October 1995. Nine-year-old Brandon Auer was killed in July 1995. Note the last line of Page 8 of 8 here:

http://www.pvsheridan.com/NHTSA_Latch...

For his secret efforts, Dingell had been openly thanked by Chrysler Chairman Robert Eaton. Note that Eaton signs his letter to Dingell of March 30, 1995 as "Bob."

http://www.pvsheridan.com/Chrysler2Co...

However, during the time that the Auer and many other minivan latch death cases were pending, Chrysler lawyer and then President of the Michigan Bar Association was suing me for $82,000,000.00 for damages he claimed against my 88-second ABC News 20/20 interview:

http://www.pvsheridan.com/Tab-1a.pdf

http://www.pvsheridan.com/Tab-2a.pdf

Note under that second link that Chrysler Lawyer Steve Hantler declares,

"We may ask for more . . ."

The safety fix for the defective minivan liftgate latch as proposed by Chrysler Engineering was 50 cents, but that fix did not comply with NHTSA safety standard FMVSS-206, and was therefore rejected by the SLT. The fix as proposed by my SLT was ~ $2.00, which complied with NHTSA safety standard FMVSS-206 (dual stage and multiple strength requirements). Both recommendations were continually rejected by Chrysler upper and engineering management.

In response to these items Chrysler sent the following letter to the school teacher of now-deceased Brandon Auer:

http://www.pvsheridan.com/Chrysler2Vi...

For those who would like to go-beyond Chrysler public relations rhetoric, and learn the truth about that company's historical thru current approach to safety, I recommend that you download/read the letter I wrote to Attorney General Janet Reno in October 1999:

http://www.pvsheridan.com/Sheridan-to...

You might wish to review the COLORED TAB and TAB 27 as a quick introduction. This readership will introduce you to the stark reality behind the PR machinations about "meets or exceeds all applicable federal safety standards."
--