Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Program

"The new Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Program (“MVSWP”) was passed by Congress in 2016. Similar bills had been attempted in prior years but either the whistleblower award language was stripped or the bills died in the House. President Obama signed the law last summer.

The new law applies to any cover up of defects “likely to cause unreasonable risk of death or serious physical injury.” With approximately 200 deaths and serious injuries, Takata airbags likely qualify."

ref: https://www.whistleblowergov.org/employment-retaliation.php?article=VW-Audi-New-Class-Action-Whistleblower-Investigation-Announced_110

Whistleblower definitions, status and retaliation protection.

The term ‘whistleblower’ means any employee or contractor of a motor vehicle manufacturer, part supplier, or dealership who voluntarily provides to the Secretary original information relating to any motor vehicle defect, noncompliance, or any violation or alleged violation of any notification or reporting requirement of this chapter, which is likely to cause unreasonable risk of death or serious physical injury. 

Why can't a user/owner be a whistle blower ?

A car owner may have a car where the Seat and windshield exploded without reason and the Manufacturer hushes it up by bulldozing the owner.

The National Head- Sales may challenge them go to court knowing well that the owner is a not an influential person as fighting a legal case against a big manufacturer is almost impossible for an individual. He also may say other than Owner no one was in the car at the time of Seat explosion and the car manufacturer can not comment as to why the seat exploded! And they conclude that there is no merit in the case and close the case and say that they are not going to investigate further.

The National Head may also inform you that if anything happens after 2 years of warranty, the manufacturer is not liable for anything, including death of the passengers in the car. Hence dispose the vehicles wishing 2 years?

The National Head - Sales may also confirm to the owner of car that there is no air bag in the seat and no air bag triggering mechanism.

The owner may be bulldozed and given some small compensation and close the deal and push the unexplained life threatening event of seat explosion case under carpet. What if the same thing happens again and some one loses life?

I wish India has some whistle blower policy and add users/owners as part of Whistle Blowers.