Takata recently agreed to pay $1 billion to close the books on a federal criminal investigation into its shrapnel-shooting airbags linked to 11 deaths, but the auto parts company — and several automakers — must still answer allegations that these airbags were a known problem long before the massive recall. [More]
Shrapnel-shooting airbags
New Mexico Sues 15 Carmakers, Takata For Concealing Deadly Airbag Defects; Seeks $10K/Day
By 1.25.17
Just when you thought Takata’s massive shrapnel-shooting airbag debacle was beginning to wind down after the company settled federal criminal charges for $1 billion, New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against the company and 15 car companies for allegedly covering up the deadly defect. [More]
Honda Adds 772K Vehicles To Takata Airbag Recall
By 1.11.17 — Updated: 1.16.17
Just when it seemed like carmakers had run out of vehicles to recall related to the deadly Takata airbag defect, more are added to the list: 772,000 Honda and Acura vehicles. [More]
Regulators Speeding Up Takata Recall, Update List Of Affected Vehicles
By 12.9.16
When federal regulators took over the messy Takata airbag recall in May 2015, they provided a timeline in which carmakers were to have shrapnel-shooting safety devices replaced. With more than 42 million vehicles having potentially dangerous airbags in their dashboards and steering wheels, the campaign was bound to take some time. But it’s not progressing enough, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as it moves to speed up the process by providing a replacement schedule and more complete list of affected vehicles. [More]
Senators Urge Honda To Issue “Do Not Drive” Notice For Some Vehicles With Takata Airbags
By 7.26.16
Last month, tests revealed that each time certain older model Honda and Acura vehicles’ Takata airbags deploy, there’s up to a 50% chance that it will rupture, shooting shrapnel at drivers and passengers. While federal regulators urged owners not to drive these vehicles, lawmakers are now calling on Honda to issue the same warning to owners of vehicles containing the defective airbags. [More]
Honda Adds 21M Vehicles To Its Takata Airbag Recall List
By 5.16.16
Honda, Takata’s largest customer, says it will recall an additional 21 million vehicles equipped with the parts maker’s shrapnel-shooting airbags after federal regulators recently increased the scope of the safety initiative by up to 40 million airbags. In all, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recalled up to 68 million airbags. Of those, an estimated 51 million are in Honda vehicles. [The New York Times] [More]
