Federal regulators on Tuesday said the number of vehicles in the USA facing recalls for faulty air bags has almost doubled to about 34 million, and the manufacturer, Takata, was hit with a $70-million fine after finally admitting the defect.
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“Delay, misdirection and a refusal to acknowledge the truth allowed a serious problem to become a massive crisis”, Foxx said at a news conference.
The recall involves a dozen automakers and at least 19 million cars in the US, though Foxx said it may be expanded to include millions more.
“Today, we are holding Takata responsible for its failures, and we are taking strong action to protect the traveling public”, said Rosekind, per NHTSA’s release.
NHTSA regulators also told reporters in October that they were weighing expanding the recall, already the largest vehicle call in USA history, as their probe continues.
A spokesman for Takata did not immediately respond to our questions beyond providing the company’s statement.
Honda’s allegations may affect ongoing class-action lawsuits and an investigation by the US Justice Department, Mr Niimura said.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, of Connecticut, called the fine a slap on the wrist. When subjected to moisture and heat, the propellant can be rendered unstable, and can cause the airbag inflators to explode with excessive force, spraying metal shrapnel inside the auto. Most of those injured or killed live in high-humidity states that border the Gulf of Mexico, the AP reported.
The full cause isn’t known but investigators have pointed to ammonium nitrate, the chemical that is supposed to explode in a controlled way to inflate the air bag. Takata must also replace all airbag installations that use ammonium nitrate.
“In several instances, Takata produced testing reports that contained selective, incomplete, or inaccurate data”, according to the order, which noted that the company also “failed to clarify inaccurate information provided” to traffic safety administration regulators during a January 2012 presentation. “Record-setting civil penalties are not something to brag about, and American drivers should not have to worry that a device created to save their life might actually take it”.
Here are five questions and answers on what the Takata air-bag problems are all about.
“This company is trying to turn the corner now and we are going to make sure that they do”, said Foxx. “I think they will weather the storm, but they need to come clean”.
Under the settlement, Takata will stop building and selling air bags using an ammonium nitrite propellant, which experts believe was one of the causes of the explosions. Honda in Tokyo said it had made no decision of stopping the use of other Takata products.
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On a global basis, no new Honda and Acura models now under development will be equipped with front-driver or passenger-side Takata airbag inflators, Honda said in a statement Tuesday.
