The more things change the more they stay they stay the same. An employee of a California automotive plant, run as a joint effort by GM and Toyota, is accusing both manufactures of letting serious defects go unchecked. Defects that were intentionally passed over included broken seatbelts, faulty headlights, inadequate braking, mirrors falling off, engine oil leaks and steering alignment problems. This was reportedly done in an effort to decrease the reported number of defects.

In the case before Alameda County Superior Court in California, Katy Cameron, a certified auditor who has worked for 23 years at New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., says management routinely deleted or downgraded defects from her reports on vehicles since 2005. The lawsuit, filed Nov. 6, demands unspecified damages for retaliation against a whistleblower and intentional infliction of emotional distress from NUMMI, Toyota Motor Corp., Toyota in North America and General Motors Corp.

Even though it is not clear whether these defect caused any accidents, this is a serious problem. It shows how a large corporation-type atmosphere can loose sight of what they make these machines for. Cars are made for people, they should be a top safety priority, not something that can be argued versus a dollar amount.

This kind of thing is a hard thing to hear but it’s the truth. Companies could have a moral responsibility to this fact and should not take it likely. I applaud Katy Cameron for standing up up for the truth and doing what is right.