Category Archives: litigation

NHTSA Orders Takata to Preserve Recalled Inflators

Posted on 2 March 2015 by Ken Zino

It was the latest setback for the beleaguered Japanese company whose prospects of survival in the airbag business appear bleak given a growing number of deaths from Takata parts that send shrapnel into a vehicles’ interior. Continue reading →

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Automakers Pick Orbital ATK to Review Takata Airbag Inflators

Posted on 26 February 2015 by Ken Zino

The revolving door of government employees came around this morning with the announcement that former NHTSA Acting Administrator David Kelly will serve as project manager for the ten automakers that have hired Orbital ATK to conduct independent testing on Takata airbag inflators. Continue reading →

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56 Dead from GM Ignition Switches

Posted on 18 February 2015 by Ken Zino

However, 1,388 more cases are under review, and 1,198 were submitted without documentation to back the claim, according Feinberg’s latest update on his website. Continue reading →

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GM Ignition Switch Deaths now at 49

Posted on 20 January 2015 by Ken Zino

General Motors ignition switch program has now ruled that 49 deaths, seven severe injuries and 65 other injuries are eligible for settlement offers. Continue reading →

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Autoliv Confirms it is Taking Business Away from Takata

Posted on 16 January 2015 by Ken Zino

Swedish Autoliv, a global automotive safety supplier, says it now has agreements with “several different OEM’s for new supply capacity of up to 25 million airbag inflators for delivery during 2015 and 2016.” This of course is a direct fallout from the Takata airbag inflator recall. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Issues Record Number of Fines in 2014

Posted on 9 January 2015 by Ken Zino

During 2014, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued more than $126 million in civil penalties, exceeding the total amount collected by NHTSA during its forty-three year history. Continue reading →

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Honda Pays Largest NHTSA Fine in History for Takata and other Safety Cover Ups

Posted on 8 January 2015 by Ken Zino

In responding to the Special Order, Honda admitted to under-reporting of written claims or notices of injuries or deaths over the past decade “due to errors related to data entry, computer coding, regulatory interpretation, and other errors in warranty and property damage claims reporting.” Translation: Honda got caught flagrantly violating U.S. regulations. Continue reading →

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More GM Ignition Switch Recalls – Happy New Year!

Posted on 2 January 2015 by Ken Zino

GM confirmed today another ignition switch recall of 84,000 sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks. Chevrolet Silverado light-duty and heavy-duty pickups, as well as Avalanche, Tahoe and Suburban; GMC Sierra light duty and heavy-duty pickups, and Yukon and Yukon XL; Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and EXT models from 2011 and 2012, and 2007-2014 vehicles that have been repaired with defective parts. Continue reading →

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Ford, BMW Expand Takata Inflator Recalls Nationally

Posted on 23 December 2014 by Ken Zino

The already grim news for air bag maker Takata, currently defying the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration on defective inflator recalls, increased with the announcement that BMW and Ford Motor are following NHTSA’s recommendation by expanding their safety defect campaigns to cover more vehicles across the U.S. Continue reading →

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Takata to NHTSA – Drop Dead

Posted on 4 December 2014 by Ken Zino

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 inflators. Potentially, enough vehicles are involved to severely hurt Takata’s financial results, if not put it out of business entirely. Continue reading →

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GM Mum to NHTSA, Customers as it ordered 500,000 Replacement Ignition Switches from Supplier Delphi

Posted on 11 November 2014 by Ken Zino

GM is in a tight spot here up against a legal strategy that is clearly designed to discredit its defense of senior executive actions. The cornerstone of that strategy is discarding the Valukas report. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Opens Cover-up Probe on Honda Takata Airbag Deaths

Posted on 4 November 2014 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aka NHTSA, has opened an invention into allegations that Honda knew of several airbag deaths from defective Takata inflators years before it reported the fatalities to the safety agency. Continue reading →

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Hyundai, Kia Fined Record Amount for Fuel Economy Cheating

Posted on 3 November 2014 by Ken Zino

The Korean scofflaws Hyundai and Kia will pay a record $100 million penalty for selling vehicles that emit more greenhouse gases because of false fuel economy ratings. Continue reading →

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Millikin Out as GM General Counsel in Ignition Switch Snafu

Posted on 21 October 2014 by Ken Zino

In a terse statement, General Motors says that General Counsel Michael Millikin “informed the company of his decision to retire in early 2015.” Millikin was taken to task for his role in covering up – he claims he didn’t know – the deadly ignition switch debacle at the second Senate hearing on the sordid safety defect matter. Continue reading →

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GM Sued for $10 billion over Defective Ignition Switches

Posted on 17 October 2014 by Ken Zino

The complaints seek money for violations of state consumer protection laws, breach of implied warranties, fraud by concealment, unjust enrichment and violation of the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. A similar attempt to sue Ford over the loss of value on Explorer models because of defective Firestone ATX tires failed. Continue reading →

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