Air Force RX8

I would like to throw out this suggestion to anyone who has or in the future experiences any part failure like Meowloud's power steering failure or even minor complaints. Please address the issues to the NHTSA via whatever means is most convenient and the web site below is pretty convenient and informative. Some dealerships do not properly report failures to MNA and therefore MNA does not report to NHTSA due to incorrect/incomplete info. The NHTSA can push MNA to put out TSB or Recalls which I think should be done for the clutch/power steering failures that I have heard of.

www.nhtsa.gov there is a complaints link on the left side about 8 down.

If we only complain here little will be done. And this forum was specifically mentioned in one of the complaints filed for the RX-8!

Air Force RX8

bump... of all of the clutch failures and AC issues I have read on here there should be a lot more coomplaints filed for the 8 than the current 36...

Ninja

Huh??? What do A/C problems and other assorted "minor complaints" have to do with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration?

Basically, I guess, what do any complaints that are not safety related have to do with NHTSA?

Air Force RX8

From their web site...

While it may not be a direct safety issue it does provide a avenue other than this forum for us the consumer to voice issues with the car. Go back and read the last line of my first paragraph again. For all the good it does for people to complain here they might as well do it where there is an agency involved to recommend action to the manufacturer. If you want to get hung up on the fact that I mentioned AC issues go right ahead, but don't discourage others from voicing their problems due to your shortsightedness.

Fuel economy is one of the major issues pissed and moaned about here but only a few have actually filed a complaint with the NHTSA, who as stated on their site, are in a position to press manufacturers about.

Geez Louise try to help a brother out and you get replies like that. If you don't give a crap move on.

robertdot

Did you just find out about NHTSA? You seem to be suggesting it alot recently...

Mr M

AFRX8, I think you misunderstood NHTSA's mission. By reducing economic costs associated with vehicle use, they mean costs that are caused by safety related issues. For example, health care, road repair, police investigation time etc.etc.

NHTSA are there for safety issues, you need to go to a consumer protection group or lawyer if you have issues with the way a company handled your complaint.

Also, NHTSA only 'apply pressure' on manufacturers, not dealers, so there is no point reporting poor dealer service (slow to repair your car, or not being able to repair the car) to NHTSA. And, MNAO do not report issues to NHTSA, NHTSA audits the manufacturers on a regular basis. If NHTSA find anything they think should be handled differently, they and the manufacturer negotiate what is the best way to solve the problem. That is, the best way to protect the consumer.

You can by all means report safety issues on the NHTSA home page though. That is IF you have already reported it to the dealer and communicated your dissatisfaction regarding the fault to the manufacturer. Honestly, what point is there in reporting something to NHTSA, when you haven't told the manufacturer your feelings first? How the heck are they supposed to respond to your grievance when they don't even know about it? Get real!

Bottom line, complain to the dealer, then MNAO, then whoever. In that order...

Air Force RX8

OK maybe you misunderstand what I am trying to say. I never advocated people going to NHTSA without first addressing the issues with the dealer and MNA. Where the hell did you get that from? My point simply was quit complaining here and nowhere else. I have not just found out about NHTSA, I'm just suggesting that people complain to an agency that can affect change, not just whine about it here. Yes the NHTSA can make a manufacturer implement a service bulletin and or recall. And yes they do request complaints about fuel mileage which is the #1 freaking complaint on here.

Again, if you want to argue go somewhere else. If you must feel you are right great, but move on. I have read the site, I have filed my complaints with the dealer, with MNA, and with NHTSA. What have you done?

Mr M

AF, after re-reading your first post I admit, I made some negative assumptions regarding what you meant. It was a knee-jerk reaction to something I consider very important actually, customer satisfaction.

One of my priorities when I worked for XXXX and handled customer complaints on a regular basis, was to show the customer that our complaint handling and quality improvement system worked. I would explain the investigation, the reporting, the follow ups, the recording, and what was necessary for us to decide whether to carry out a service campaign, or at worst a recall.

I didn't do this to shut them up, or stop them from going to somewhere like NHTSA. I did it to gain the customer's trust, and hopefully convince them we would do the right thing, no matter what.

In saying that, some issues I personally felt required more drastic countermeasures were actually pushed along by public customer complaints to organisations like NHTSA. I wanted to do something but my hands were tied, if it weren't for those customers complaining to a public organisation, nothing would have ever gotten done!

So yes, be proactive. I agree. But being agressive (which is what I mistook your advice in your first post to say) only makes trouble...