Takata says U.S. demand for national air-bag recall is premature, from The Buffalo News.
In letter to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, air-bag maker says there’s no proof of danger outside of high-humidity areas
Takata Corp. defended its rejection of demands to expand air-bag recalls across the U.S., saying regulators didn’t provide enough notice and the company is already taking measures to improve safety.
There is no reliable evidence that a nationwide recall is necessary, and it would be more useful to focus repairs on high-humidity areas where the potential for air-bag malfunctions is higher, Takata said in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released Wednesday. A Takata executive vice president, Hiroshi Shimizu, reiterated that message at a congressional hearing Wednesday.
The response didn’t appease lawmakers, who raised concerns that lingering safety risks in both the driver and passenger frontal air bags in millions of cars. As Takata made its case, an executive from Honda Motor Co. said his company is ready to expand regional recalls on Takata inflators to national.