Consumer groups petitioned the Federal Trade Commission yesterday to require that Chrysler vehicles display stickers warning prospective buyers of liability risks.
The request comes after Chrysler successfully shed its obligation for past and future product liability claims on vehicles manufactured before May 30, when most of the company's assets were sold to a new company run by Italian automaker Fiat.
While consumers can still file claims if their vehicles were made by the "old" Chrysler, that entity remains in bankruptcy and consumers are likely to recover little, if anything.
Consumer Action, the Center for Auto Safety, the Center for Justice and Democracy, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, and the National Consumers League asked the commission to make an emergency amendment to the "used car rule," which mandates window stickers that disclose purchasing and warranty information.
The groups propose adding a warning that reads: "This vehicle was produced prior to the date when the Chrysler bankruptcy was approved. If you buy this vehicle and are injured or killed, even if your injuries were caused by the manufacturer, you or your survivors will not be able to recover your losses by taking action against the manufacturer. If your passengers are injured or killed, even if their injuries were caused by the manufacturer, they and their survivors will not be able to recover their losses by taking action against the manufacturer."
…
Contact CJ&D for a copy of the entire story.
The Center for Justice & Democracy is the only national consumer organization in the country exclusively dedicated to protecting our civil justice system. If you'd like more information, please contact us.
