business

As deaths rise, so do chances of total Takata air bag recall

13 Comments
By TOM KRISHER

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13 Comments
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This should be bigger news here. I wonder how safe the cars I own are.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

This saga is outrageous. It's known that Takata airbags have been defective since the 90's. The 90's!

And here we are in 2016, and this company is still saying us that it "continues to investigate the cause". The reality is that they have been f.. around with authorities for decades to continue to sell their crap.

I am however surprised that car companies like Mercedes and BMW were naive enough to think that they could use anything from Japan in their high-end cars and not risk an embarrassing recall.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

They should have done the total recall ages ago instead of dragging this out under the perpetual lies of the criminals at Takada, and the company should have been shut down ages ago. They literally withheld information against the law, resulting in further deaths from the use of their product. Shut this worthless company down!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

10 people dead and hundred of people injured are nothing?

out of how many are saved by Takata airbags? And why can't the authority and the maker find the cause?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

out of how many are saved by Takata airbags?

Yes how many? Tell us. But that's not the point. The point here is that they are providing a defective product and they need to fix it or get out of this industry.

And why can't the authority and the maker find the cause?

No they actually knew. Takata has been aware of the instability of ammonium nitrate and other risks for more than a dozen years. But they tried to cover it up.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-12-10/takata-patents-show-decades-spent-seeking-safer-air-bags

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Yes how many? Tell us.

All over the world?

But that's not the point. The point here is that they are providing a defective product and they need to fix it or get out of this industry.

Getting out of US is enough.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Yubaru is right, this is an appalling scandal, and the Japanese media's decision to almost completely ignore it is shameful. If it were the opposite situation, if American-made parts were killing Japanese people on Japanese roads, it would be the top story for months, and Japanese politicians would be banging on the doors of Congress. But a major Japanese company responsible for the deaths of Americans? Let's just bury that one under...well, any story we can find, really.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Getting out of US is enough.

Seems you are running dry of argument aren't you?

And I note that you don't respond to my main point that Takata knew the root of the problem and covered it up. At least when you are getting it wrong, have the courage to admit it.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Takata knew the root of the problem and covered it up.

Do you have article Takata saying that? Or US suspecting it?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Do you have article Takata saying that? Or US suspecting it?

Read properly the link I provided you. It is explained that in its patents from 2001, Takata described the potential instability of ammonium nitrate. Patents from 2006, 2007 and 2009 discussed the risk of moisture making the explosive unstable. That precisely means they knew about the problem but never disclosed it to the public.

Now, let me help to drag you even further outside of your bubble of adoration of Japan which apparently makes you believe that Japan is always a victim of US. Takata has agreed to pay $70 million in settlement with the U.S. auto-safety regulators. The company will be forced to pay an additional $130 million if it violates terms of the settlement or federal law. All together this accounts for a possible record fine of $200 million. During the agreement, Takata specifically agreed, quote:

**to the penalty for failing to alert regulators in a timely manner to a defect in some air-bag inflaters that can cause them to explode and spray shrapnel in vehicle cabins, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. Takata also agreed to fire some employees that regulators declined to name.

Takata had misled regulators by providing incomplete or inaccurate information on the safety defect dating back to at least 2009, regulators said. That included providing misleading test reports and failing to clarify inaccurate information in a January 2012 presentation to regulators, according to the settlement.**

http://www.wsj.com/articles/federal-regulators-set-to-hit-takata-with-70-million-fine-1446568993

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

daito, What US is saying sounds familiar for Toyota's case. US is suing the Japanese companies across the board with huge penalty.

Takata has agreed to pay $70 million in settlement

Did Takata have any other choice? Paying settlement does not mean the defendant admit the charge.

Takata described the potential instability of ammonium nitrate. Patents from 2006, 2007 and 2009 discussed the risk of moisture making the explosive unstable

I don't know what that mean and how significant in relation to the defect. I have seen Japanese news say Takata hasn't found the cause of defect and that other Japanese companies helping Takata find the cause.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I don't know what that mean and how significant in relation to the defect.

Ms. Watanabe, that means in humid conditions, the ammonium nitrate has a tendency to react at anabnormally rapid rate, often resulting in injuries to passengers. The fact that you cannot understand this is shocking. This is the PRECISE reason Takata airbags are being recalled and its written right in the patent.

I have seen Japanese news say Takata hasn't found the cause of defect and that other Japanese companies helping Takata find the cause.

Who cares what Japanese media says? Do you really believe Takada would admit any fault? Of course not. Time to take off those nationalist sunglasses and into the light of reality.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

But a major Japanese company responsible for the deaths of Americans? Let's just bury that one under...well, any story we can find, really. -

This has happened here in Japan before with Mitsubishi and it was covered up for a very long time, not air bags but defects in their tires and wheels if I recall correctly. Anything to protect corporate Japan.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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