Washington DC - The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is to hold a public hearing on Takata's huge airbag inflator recall, which could prompt regulators to take a stronger hand in efforts to eliminate the deadly defect from nearly 20 million vehicles.
The auto safety watchdog said on Wednesday the proceeding would include presentations by regulators, vehicle manufacturers, airbag inflator suppliers and organisations involved in testing the products.
“The NHTSA may issue one or more administrative orders that would coordinate remedy programmes,” the agency said. As a result, regulators could accelerate or prioritise the Takata remedy programme to ensure that affected vehicles receive new inflators.
TOO MUCH FORCE
The inflators, which have been linked to at least eight deaths, can explode with too much force and spray metal shrapnel into vehicle compartments.
In one of the most complex consumer recalls in history, about 19.2 million vehicles containing 23.4 million air bag inflators have been recalled, affecting 11 different automakers.
Regulators said the October meeting would also help alert members of the public of the need to have their vehicles repaired.
“Helping the public understand the risks involved, what the NHTSA and the auto industry are doing to address them, and how affected vehicle owners can take action to protect themselves and their families is an essential element,” agency administrator Mark Rosekind said.
Reuters