Auto Safety Probes Cut Short, Group Says

The federal agency responsible for correcting dangerous automobile defects has halted 25 investigations covering 37 million vehicles in the past eight years under industry pressure, a private watchdog organization charged Saturday.

Four of the probes were abandoned this year by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to the Center for Auto Safety, which was founded by consumer advocate Ralph Nader.

“They are carrying out a predetermined policy to get the government off the backs of the car companies,” said Clarence Ditlow, the group’s executive director. “Our feeling is the public is literally riding at risk of death or injury in these 37 million vehicles.”

‘Closed for Good Reason’

Tim Hurd, spokesman for NHTSA, said: “Each of the investigations referred to was closed for good reason after an extensive investigation by NHTSA engineers.”

The vehicles under investigation collectively had experienced 2,176 accidents resulting in 653 injuries, 29 deaths and 106 fires, it said.

Among the vehicles NHTSA stopped investigating were 456,000 Ford vans and trucks with dual rear wheels manufactured between 1977 and 1984, despite complaints that the wheels came off, the center said.

Among investigations allegedly halted by the NHTSA this year were:

--Rear brake lockup in 1.9 million 1981-85 General Motors X-Cars, for which 518 accidents, 168 injuries and 9 deaths were blamed.

--Rear brake lockup in 2.7 million 1982-85 General Motors A-Cars, blamed for 388 accidents, 125 injuries and 7 deaths.

--Seats falling backward in 5.6 million 1981-86 Ford Escort-Lynxes, blamed for 43 accidents and 35 injuries. Ford recalled 80,000 of the affected models in 1984.