In an escalating standoff with Takata, federal regulators said Friday that they would begin to fine the Japanese auto supplier $14,000 a day, saying it had not fully cooperated in an investigation into defective airbags.
Takata has failed to respond “fully or truthfully” to two orders that it turn over documents and information related to the defect, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wrote in a letter to the company.
The company quickly disputed the assertions, saying that it was cooperating with regulators and was in regular communication.
Takata’s airbag inflaters can explode violently when they deploy, sending shrapnel into a vehicle’s cabin. More than 18 million vehicles with the faulty airbags have been recalled in the United States, and at least six deaths worldwide have been linked to the defect.
“Takata is neither being forthcoming with the information that it is legally obligated to supply, nor is it being cooperative in aiding N.H.T.S.A.’s ongoing investigation of a potentially serious safety defect,” the letter said.
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At the same event, Mr. Foxx also called on Congress to pass legislation that would force rental car companies and used car dealers to fix safety defects before renting or selling vehicles that had been recalled.
Though new cars under recall must be repaired before a sale, the United States does not have a federal law requiring the repair of used vehicles, including rental cars. What’s more, used car dealers and rental car companies do not have to disclose that a vehicle is the subject of a recall.
”It’s really historic for them to come out so strongly to close those auto safety loopholes for rental cars and used cars,” said Rosemary Shahan, president of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, who also attended the Richmond news conference and supports the legislation. “That would be a major expansion of N.H.T.S.A.’s authority.”
More vehicles, including old models, have been recalled in the United States in 2014 than ever before. Explore the size and scope of the recalls, and find out if your car has been affected.
The New York Times has exposed missteps and delays by automakers and federal safety regulators in responding to deadly defects in automobiles during what has become a record year for recalls.
