business

Honda admits failing to report 1,729 deaths, injuries to U.S. regulators

43 Comments
By TOM KRISHER

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43 Comments
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I hate to say this, but I am not surprised.

Japanese business ethics and quality are going down. Direct impact in global market is unpredictable.

Entire "Japan Business Corporation" needs to be humble and goes back to square one to re-learn ethics and social responsibility former CEO Matsushita used to advocate to his students.

7 ( +13 / -6 )

"The Japanese automaker, in statements issued Monday, also said it became aware of the omissions in 2011, yet it took about three years to take action. "

Typical Japanese company. They should befriend the maximum or EVERY single case they failed to report. Thee J-companies ALWAYS say they will "take steps to ensure it does not happen again," but it's always hog wash. Give them the mx for every count and you might just get such assurances to be followed by genuine action.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Oooops!

Expect the usual roll-out of...regrettable...misunderstanding...consider actions to prevent repetition...

6 ( +7 / -1 )

What? That's outrageous. An absolute abomination. Shame on Honda and corporate Japan. AGAIN. From tyres to nuclear safety, a catalog of totally lack of care, sense and morals. Disgusted.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

3 years of meetings about meetings about meetings.

12 ( +15 / -3 )

As we keep learning the Japanese way ain't the best way. This is an outrage.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Don't worry, it's ok guys, they're sorry and wont do it again.....

5 ( +8 / -3 )

I hate to say this, but I am not surprised. Japanese business ethics and quality are going down. Direct impact in global market is unpredictable.

It was in U.S, American CEO, some American management and some Japanese management. Who knows who is to blame? It could have been anyone.

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

Thts why the eldrely people are so nice and kind to me and the younger people so arrogant and vain. The children are so charming and always say hello. I think once we are past this arrogant, selfish generation of Japanese the outlook will be good.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Time for Honda to get slapped, and hard!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Maybe some Japanese management for sure, but these airbags were made in the US or mexico and the vehicles also probably made in US factories, everyone easy to blame Japan coz the badge says Honda but think first.

American parts or Mexican parts, assembled by americans under America management, in America, note no drama in japan with Japanese built cars no trouble reported domestically that I know of. Heard of no deaths or injuries in japan related to this. Hmmmm strange aint it, ..................................guess its the American branch fudging data etc

-9 ( +7 / -16 )

T_rexmaxytime Nov. 25, 2014 - 04:08PM JST

It was in U.S, American CEO, some American management and some Japanese management. Who knows who is to blame? It could have been anyone.

Yeah, it's those damn Yanks fault because how could Honda Japan, the poor-ol'fellas, have any knowledge of what their corporate offices in the states are doing for gods sake! Hell, it even could have been those sneaky Chinese who were responsible for the lapses on inadvertent data entry and computer programming errors, as well as a misinterpretation of the federal TREAD act.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Ever been lied to by a shop assistant who didn't want to say something they reckoned you didn't want to hear?

Honda admits failing to report 1,729 deaths, injuries to U.S. regulators

Relax! It's good old Omotenashi. On steroids.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

I would be interested to know some breakdowns on that data..

1729 is too much of either death or injury however,

if it was 1 death and that person wasn't wearing their seatbelt during an accident and the airbag didn't fully inflate and 1728 minor abrasions during a crash but the airbag operated correctly otherwise and potentially saved their life, is quite a different story to .. airbags randomly popping by themselves and sending shards of metal actually causing multiple known deaths directly for example..

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Cover up that didn't work, and caused the death of 1760 people. And what in the world is the lame excuse -data entry?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

StormR: "note no drama in japan with Japanese built cars no trouble reported domestically that I know of."

Yeah, like Honda is going to raise a fuss locally, and the government not protect it. Newsflash; cars are being recalled here as well, and I know at least three Honda owners who have taken theirs in to have the airbags replaced for free -- Takada airbags! And it's not just the US and Mexico, bud, but if you were paying attention you'd also have to admit it's happened elsewhere, like in Malaysia. Finally, in cases like with Takada, what company outsourced their manufacturing to Mexico to save money? That's right, it was the Japanese corporation. So stop blaming anyone but the company, or companies, themselves. It's not domestic plants in the US that decide to up and move to Mexico -- they'd be putting their own workers out of business -- it's the heads of the corporations.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Cover up that didn't work, and caused the death of 1760 people. And what in the world is the lame excuse -data entry

We don't know how many deaths there were, the title to the article is not specific (and misleading).The normal ratio of deaths to injuries in car accidents is about one killed for every 1000 injured. Following this formula, we could expect only one or two deaths out of all the cases reported. Relative to the number of accidents in which the airbags detonated (for want of a better term), the number of injuries are quite low. A poorly placed cupholder or radio volume switch is likely to cause even more injuries or deaths when the awkward position distracts drivers eyes from the road. But it is not the number of deaths or injuries which is important, the main point is that this information was not shared, so the problem with the airbags was not more quickly detected.

As a former car accident investigator, i know that even a "normal" airbag deployment can result in blackened eyes, broken facial bones, or other injuries. Airbags have saved lives, but generally speaking, those lives would just as easily have been saved by seatbelts. I can't count how many accidents I have respnded to in whch seatbealts were not fastened, or which were fastened (to stop the warning buzzer), but the drivers or passenger sat on top of the belts. A large number of the many fatal accidents I have investigated would not have been fatal, had the passengers (especially children) been wearing seatbelts.

There is no such thing as a "safe" car, so one needs to take every precaution when driving, and this means not relying only on airbags as a safety restraint, always wear your seatbelt, and keep your eyes on the road.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Ignorance is no excuse.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

After they ignored the first dozen or so deaths, I'm sure they started to think, "Hey, we may actually get away with this."

I'm not gonna make the statement of typical Japanese company, because countless of American companies have poisoned ground water with chemicals and so on. To me, this is just standard practice for the larger blood-sucking companies. Get away with it until you're busted, then make your lawyers earn their paychecks.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It was not ignorance. They stupidly hoped to cover it up forever. Someone should have told those clowns this is not Japan.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Someone of "someones" should be going to prison soon.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

smith how in the hell would you ever get to know 3 people who could afford to own cars let alone Hondas

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

I have been saying this for a decade. DON'T buy a post 2001 honda!!! I am one of Hondas biggest fans. Owned 3 Hondas and Honda is showing signs of becoming a great car company again. But I would not buy a post 2001 except for the s2000. After 2009 I can't recommended a single car or bike they make. I made the stupid mistake of not taking my own advice. I bought a 2007 Honda motorcycle. It was horrible. My 1992 Honda motorcycle was far better, and I don't mean in 1992. I mean side by side in 2014.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

How many Japanese drivers have died? Or is that a secret? And with the amount of tax Honda pays. Theses company's really do get away with murder

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

So it seems that the americans are responsible smithinjapan

Shigehisa Takada, the grandson of the founder, now chairman and chief executive, has said the company made a mistake by allowing too much autonomy to its local managers in North America during a period of rapid growth.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Honda’s action provided fresh evidences of Japanese corporations’ ever-growing scandals, raising some serious questions about Japan Inc’s integrity.

I am still waiting for TEPCO to admit withholding the data of wrongdoing, hopefully the day will come sooner in light of awareness.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The Japanese automaker, in statements issued Monday, also said it became aware of the omissions in 2011, yet it took about three years to take action.

Honda blamed the lapses on inadvertent data entry and computer programming errors, as well as a misinterpretation of the federal TREAD act, a law passed in 2000 requiring faster reporting of deaths, injuries and safety defects by automakers. Under the law, automakers must report each quarter any claims they receive alleging that defective vehicles or parts caused a death or injury.

No real surroise here, although it is newsworthy. Another Japanese company has been found to lack real corporate ethics/integrity, and then blames the boogey man for the problems. I have said it countless times, and this is just further proof -- Japan is going down-hill fast, and it has no one to blame but itself. The arrogance, ignorence, and isolation that now characterizes its corporate culture is killing it.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

I bet most Honda employees are mighty pissed at the jerks responsible for this mess.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

By the way, since it says right in the first paragraph that what Honda did was a violation of U.S. law, why is this not in the Crime Section? Does what J-Inc does to unsuspecting folks in other countries not qualify as crime by JT's definition?

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

had a honda for many years, took it once a year to get it maintained as per the vehicle maintenance light. then i read recently a letter by honda corp warning its dealers not to push unnecessary maintenance procedures like transmission flushes. why did i have to buy a new car recently despite have less than 130k miles on my honda? transmission needed to be replaced.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Unbelievable to read that some people here and Honda in Japan, are blaming Americans and Mexicans, while pleading ignorance and innocence. It's simply disgusting. It's one thing to admit they made a mistake so they'll try to correct it, but it's totally another when they try to shift blame onto others and lie about it, all in the name of Japanese racial pride.

Japanese built cars no trouble reported domestically that I know of

Anyone who's remotely familiar with Japan will tell you what kind of bogus statement this is. What's "reported" or not reported in Japan, does not mean that's the real reality, considering all the corrupt cover ups, fear of whistle blowing, apathy, and general lack of ethics.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

So what? Honda is fully in line with US business ethics.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

So what? Honda is fully in line with US business ethics

Ghost rider -- I'll tell you "so what". For decades Japan bragged about the "Japanese Miracle", and supposedly one element of this miracle was the supposed superiority of Japanese products since their honor/integrity -- going back to the Samurai -- was above rapproach. Well, as you say, there is no evidence of that anymore. In fact, that myth has been laid bare -- instead of being courageous and honorable when faced with moral dilemnas, Japanese companies cover-up with the best of them, and then just bow and apologize for "causing confusuon".

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

If I read this correctly, these were deaths from American made Hondas. If so, then I can almost guarantee the North America division also deliberately withheld this information from Honda Japan as StormR states.

That type of behavior is SOP (standard operating procedure) for most large American corporations. This is not opinion, but fact that is easily found on record from reputable Internet government and news websites.

That said, Honda Japan could also be equally to blame. Either way, it does not reflect well on Honda.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Just bow deeply and say how sorry you are and...good luck with that. Probably not going to work in the U.S.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A deep bow won't restore the vestiges of wildlife and flora, obliterated from roadsides in an effort to bring the death toll w/ shot up under control.' Relatives should be compensated and wildlife habitats and threatened species need to be replaced/repaired.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It's a typical Japanese company doing the business, the way Japanese do business.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

jerseyboyNov. 26, 2014 - 04:50AM JST For decades Japan bragged about the "Japanese Miracle",

I don't rememer hearing any Japanese bragged about the "Japanese Miracle", it is a phrase foreign media often used. Could you show me the link if any from Japanese? If you are talking about '80s, Japanese people consider it Bubble Economy, not Miracle.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

@tinawantanabe Don't be in denial come on those cars and airbags are made in Mexico

0 ( +1 / -1 )

kaimychal, I did not deny anything about the cars. I only said I never heard Japanese brag about the "Japanese Miracles".

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

It seems in Japanese it was called The Eastern Miracle:

また、戦後、焼け野原で何もないところから世界第2位の経済大国まで上り詰めたというのは世界的に見ても例が無く、第二次世界大戦終戦直後の復興から続く一連の経済成長は「東洋の奇跡」(英語では「Japanese miracle」)と言われた。

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Strngerland

Why didn't you translate the whole sentence of the Japanese language you put?

It was called IN ENGLISH "Japanese miracle", it says "in Enlgish" isn't it? It does not say "in Japan". And you did not show the source of the sentence.

Let me explain again. Japanese consider the '80s as bubble economy, something bad. I never heard Japanese brag the period Miracle.

I was talking about "For decades of Japanese bragging" as jerseyboy put it. Show me the "Decades of Bragging". And in similar note, the "Lost decades of Japanese economy" is also a phrase foreign media created to bash Japan. Many Japanese consider "the lost decades" is better than "Miracle" periods.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

StormR: "smith how in the hell would you ever get to know 3 people who could afford to own cars let alone Hondas"

I don't even know what that means, or what you're trying to get at, but all the same just to further point out the ignorance of your previous comment, and for your information, 2.4 million cars have been recalled in Japan in relation to Takeda, many of which are Hondas. So, now, how is it 'just the US and Mexico' again?

tinawatanabe: "It was called IN ENGLISH "Japanese miracle", it says "in Enlgish" isn't it? It does not say "in Japan"."

In Japanese it clearly says "The Eastern Miracle", as Strangerland pointed out. And you can find the link quite easy.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

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