The Shell Game: Should TSB's And Secret Factory Warranties Become Publically Available?

For years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has declined to post on its Web site reports from automakers about problems with their cars and about specialized warranty extensions that could save consumers large sums on repairs.

The reason: the agency says automakers have warned it that the reports, called technical service bulletins, are copyrighted.

The technical service bulletins are sent to dealers by automakers and provide information on unusual problems with vehicles they have produced — most of them in the hands of customers — and how to make repairs. Special service campaigns are a form of technical service bulletin that often tell dealers of warranty extensions for particular repairs.