Safety groups offer fix to potential fire dangers of GM trucks

From CNN's Julie Vallese

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- More than six years after the Department of Transportation closed its investigation into a possible fire danger involving some older model General Motors pickup trucks, two consumer watchdog groups are offering drivers what they say is a way to retrofit their vehicles to make them safer.

In a report released Monday, the Center for Auto Safety and Public Citizen outlined their plan.

The two organizations contend that by retrofitting 1973-1987 model GM C/K pickups -- which have sidesaddle fuel tanks -- with a "custom-fabricated center tank," the vehicles will withstand side-impact crashes between 40 mph and 50 mph without catching fire. They estimate the retrofit will cost about $300 per truck. The kit itself would cost about $125, plus two hours of labor. A private company, yet to be named, would make the kits.

GM trucks made between 1973-1987 have fuel tanks mounted between the vehicle's frame and the exterior of the truck. Investigations have shown that when the vehicles are involved in side-impact crashes, the fuel tank is susceptible to damage. In some crashes, the placement of the tanks have been blamed for vehicle fires and explosions. GM has disputed claims that the trucks were flawed, but the company has since changed the design.

In the study, five vehicles were retrofitted with the custom-fabricated center tank and each was then hit by a car traveling at more than 40 mph. The results showed there was minimal fuel leakage, and the integrity of the overall tank system remained intact.

According to Department of Transportation statistics, more than 1,800 people were killed as the result of fire in crashes involving GM trucks between 1973-2000.

In 1993, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asked GM to recall the trucks, but GM refused. The case was settled in December 1994 when then-Transportation Secretary Federico Pena signed an agreement negotiated by the Justice Department with GM for the automaker to provide $51 million to safety programs.

As part of a class-action suit, GM agreed to pay $4.1 million to fund an independent fuel-tank safety research program. In addition, lawyers representing truck owners agreed to contribute another $1 million to research specifically for saddlebag gas tanks. GM has paid out over $500 million to consumers in civil penalties.

Another class-action suit settled with the company offers 5.8 million plaintiffs $1,000 coupons good toward the purchase of a GM vehicle. Under the terms of the agreement, truck owners can use the certificates to buy any GM vehicle except Saturn and electric cars. The certificates are not good for leased vehicles and cannot be redeemed for cash. The Center for Auto Safety estimates that less than 2 percent of those involved in the lawsuit will redeem the certificates.

The Certificate Redemption Group has offered to pay any of the 5.8 million consumers $100 for their certificate. The group was formed in 1996 for the purpose of creating a secondary market for GM certificates in the pickup truck class-action lawsuit. The Center for Auto Safety says consumers could then use that money toward the purchase of the retrofit.

On April 18, CRG began mailing to consumers forms that would allow them to sell their vouchers as a "cash alternative." The offer is good for 30 days from the date on the mailing. After that, the offer could be lower. CRG will then offer leasing companies and fleets the opportunity to buy the certificates in large quantities. Those companies could then turn around and use them for the purchase of new vehicles.

Two days after CRG began its mailing, GM filed suit trying to block the group's offer.

GMC

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.