Takata to NHTSA – Drop Dead

AutoInformed.com

Honda and Toyota are now breaking ranks with Takata over the scope of the airbag inflator recall. NHTSA wants a national, not a regional recall.

The embattled Japanese airbag supplier Takata is defying a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration request to expand its recall of deadly airbag inflators that send shrapnel into vehicle occupants. At least five deaths and dozens of injuries are attributed to the safety defect that affects many major automakers – including BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota. Both driver-side and passenger-side airbags are involved in a growing number of what was initially very small regional recalls, which is now a point of contention. The Japanese supplier claims NHTSA doesn’t have the authority to order an expanded national recall, a dubious assertion that will likely be tested – eventually – in a Federal court if Takata remains defiant because four of the fatalities are in the U.S. The other, thus far, is in Japan.

“By demanding this national recall, NHSTA has demonstrated once again that it will follow data and evidence to protect the lives of Americans on the road and to hold manufacturers accountable,”claimed Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. He conveniently left out that NHTSA initially approved the limited recalls, a long standing complaint of safety advocates who maintain this leaves potentially dangerous vehicles on the road. NHTSA has also come under heavy criticism for its handling of the Toyota unintended acceleration matter, and recently the fuel tank Jeep Cherokee issue when it approved a trailer hitch installation for fuel tank fires that occur during rear impact. (Jeep Fuel Tank Fire Fix Inadequate Center for Auto Safety Says)

Since 2008, ten of the largest vehicle manufacturers in the world that use Takata air bags have recalled more than 10 million cars in the United States – more than 17 million globally – to replace the inflators. Potentially, enough vehicles are involved in an expanded recall to severely hurt Takata’s financial results, if not put the world’s second largest airbag supplier out of business. Honda’s failure to report 1,729 incidents of injury or death from Takata inflators to NHTSA is now under investigation.

Thus far, Takata’s clients have only conducted  recalls in a few high humidity southern U.S. states and tropical islands despite NHTSA’s request that the explosive devices be recalled nationally. However automakers are expanding the recall, and conducting their own analysis of the failure. Preliminary data suggests that a running production change in the chemical mixture of the explosive is the problem.

 

Honda knew of several airbag deaths in its vehicles from defective Takata inflators years before it reported the fatalities to the U.S. safety agency. Honda and Toyota have recently expanded their recalls beyond the original population. Other automakers will likely follow.

Honda’s alleged cover-up involves Accord and Civic models, two of its best-selling cars. It apparently knew of the problem in 2004 from a fatal accident. But Honda and Takata took no action. In 2007, Honda and Takata were again made aware of fatal accidents, but Honda did not inform NHTSA until 2008 when it issued its first, limited recall. There have been other fatalities since then.

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One Response to Takata to NHTSA – Drop Dead

  1. AAA says:

    “It is unacceptable that Takata continues to defy an order by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) to facilitate a national recall of dangerous air bags. While Takata officials continue to publicly apologize for the deaths associated with the faulty air bags, they simultaneously ignored a midnight deadline by NHTSA to order a national recall.”

    “Defying NHTSA should not be an option as motorists remain in danger from defective air bag inflators. NHTSA should act swiftly to use its full authority to compel a nationwide recall as quickly as possible. If the Agency does not have sufficient authority, Congress should act to clarify and expand this ability – be it through more substantial fines or other measures. As time passes more motorists remain at risk from the faulty air bags that have been linked to at least five deaths.”

    “AAA fully supports NHTSA’s call for a national recall of affected Takata air bags beyond the limited high-humidity areas where a recall has to date been focused. Vehicles are increasingly bought and sold across state lines and may move long distances across the country. It is unreasonable to assume that vehicles outside of high humidity regions are inherently safe so it is in the best interest of consumers to expand this recall to all states. Motorists’ safety is a national issue that is not confined by regional boundaries and should take precedence over profits. Takata’s refusal to cooperate with NHTSA’s investigation is unacceptable and demonstrates their failure to fully understand, address and report the scope of the air bag deficiencies as soon as the problem was identified. AAA is calling on Takata, car manufacturers, and all parties involved to ensure that a national recall is handled in a timely manner.”

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