Local

Government shutdown leading to halt of recalls

ATLANTA — Channel 2 Action News has learned of a recall halt and concerns that drivers could be left at risk as crucial consumer protections are on hold during the government shutdown.

"We were going to file a complaint," said Joy Lochamy of Paulding County, who believes a defective throttle part in her Ford Fusion caused a stall and an eventual wreck last month.

"You're scared when you get in the car your car's going to shut down when you get 10 minutes up the road," she said.

Channel 2 consumer investigator Jim Strickland found online that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the government's defect watchdog, is shut down.

NHTSA's website proclaims there have been no recalls the entire month. Staffers are not even reading complaints sent in by drivers.

"If you think that anyone's going to issue a recall today, when they know no one is going to hold them accountable if they don't, you're nuts," said consumer attorney Matt Wetherington. "And it's going to be consumers that pay the price, now and after the shutdown."

Strickland found the Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission had each posted post-shutdown recalls.

The Federal Trade Commission and NHTSA are both largely idle.

"It's like it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what we say," Lochamy said.