The Motor Vehicle Safety Act and Whistleblowing 

MVSA Whistleblower Lawyers

If you have inside knowledge of automobile manufacturers violating the law, you may be wondering what your options are. You can blow the whistle on the wrongdoing and potentially receive a reward for exposing safety violations in the auto industry.

To contact our attorney team at Whistleblowers International, dial (800) 689-8552 or submit an online form here.

Exposing Violations of the MVSA

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) was passed in 1966 and amended several times thereafter. The MVSA is designed to protect consumers from unsafe vehicles, equipment and services purchased or leased throughout the United States and to allow whistleblowers to potentially receive a reward for exposing safety violations in the auto industry. This is done by establishing safety standards for all motor vehicles, as well as regulating the manufacture and sale of these vehicles. If you are a whistleblower with inside knowledge of automobile manufacturers violating the MVSA, you may be wondering what your options are.

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act only applies to motor vehicles – this includes cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, trailers, and other equipment used in connection with a vehicle. The act does not apply to items that are not self-propelled, such as bicycles or walking, nor does it apply to boats or airplanes.

The MVSA is administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is part of the Department of Transportation (DOT). The NHTSA is responsible for investigating complaints about safety violations in the auto industry. If the agency finds that a manufacturer has violated the law, it can order the company to take corrective action and/or issue a fine.

The NHTSA issued its first whistleblower reward in 2021. The whistleblower received $24 million for their information.

Protections for Auto Industry Whistleblowers 

A whistleblower is someone who has inside knowledge of a person or entity violating the law and blows the whistle on their wrongdoing. Whistleblowers are protected from retaliation under both federal and state laws for exposing safety violations in the auto industry by blowing the whistle on their wrongdoing.

Under federal law, it is illegal for an employer to fire or take any other adverse action against an employee who has reported wrongful activity by his or her employer. This includes reporting safety violations in the auto industry and exposing wrongdoing that could lead to injury or death if not corrected immediately upon discovery. Employees may also be awarded damages, including back pay and reinstatement, if they are wrongfully terminated or retaliated against for reporting safety violations in the auto industry.

State law also provides whistleblower protections to employees who report wrongdoing. Nearly every state has some form of whistleblower protection laws on the books, and most offer similar protections to federal law. As a result, it is important to consult with an attorney before blowing the whistle on wrongdoing in your workplace.

It is also possible that you will be able to receive a reward for exposing safety violations in the auto industry by blowing the whistle on their wrongdoing. There are several federal laws that provide financial incentives for whistleblowers who come forward with inside knowledge of automobile manufacturers violating the law.

If you have inside knowledge of automobile manufacturers violating the law, contact us at Whistleblowers International for a free and confidential case evaluation. We can be reached at (800) 689-8552.