Online Auto Safety Database Made Public

By Admin on September 12, 2008 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

For the first time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is making vehicle safety data available to the public via a searchable database, as part of a court order and legislation from Congress. The NHTSA's new Early Warning Reporting (EWR) search engine gives consumers access to information and statistics on death, injury and property damage claims (including lawsuits) that have been submitted to vehicle manufacturers.

The Los Angeles Times points out that the "long-awaited" release of manufacturer safety information does not include data on tires (or child restraint devices) although it was "a series of fatal rollovers involving Firestone tires that led to the passage of the reporting law eight years ago and the creation of the database." According to Reuters, "consumer and safety groups now have easier access to raw safety figures, which may enable them to sharpen their arguments and spot trends."

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