U.S. auto safety regulator calls for nationwide recall of Takata air bags

Not a word to Toyota Owners here in Japan.

rogerthat1945

Not a word to Toyota Owners here in Japan.

Not just Toyota and not just in Japan. I really don't understand how this problem is confined to the States. The reports that I read stated the the chemical release powders in the canisters became unstable because of humidity. Therefore most of the accidents were reported in the south eastern states.

It's pretty humid in Japan, not to mention SE Asia, so what:s the story there?

Strange

garymalmgren: " I really don't understand how this problem is confined to the States."

I guess you missed the death of the worker in Malaysia, then. It's NOT just limited to the United States, but it seems the US is the only one willing to take action. Other nations will likely come forward, save perhaps Japan as obviously they don't want to be associated with cost-cutting resulting in death. And by the way, there are recalls here in Japan as well -- a friend of mine just took her car to the shop last week to have the Takada bags removed -- it's just not being as strongly advertised.

Could it be that inferior bags were sold only to foriegn markets? Ive seen some pretty amazing technology and nice products in the domestic Japan market that I would never find abroad.

Not to excuse the lousy QA/QC, or the despicable cover-ups, but part of the reason that it hasn't been reported that much here may be that there seem to be relatively many older cars involved, and the shaken rules here tend to encourage owners to trade in fairly early in the life of their cars.

Plus, of course, the typical media reluctance to annoy prospective sponsors/advertisers.

For what it's worth, here's a list that is probably relatively reliable, and the article contains a useful link to updates:

http://blog.caranddriver.com/massive-takata-airbag-recall-everything-you-need-to-know-including-full-list-of-affected-vehicles/

I would also say additionally one of the reasons you may not be hearing a lot about it is that the USA has some of the most litigious insurance companies in the entire planet. If an accident occurs, especially one involving injury or death, there will be an army of insurance adjusters, inspectors, analysts and lawyers descending upon the car to look for causes of injury.

Other countries might let it slide since there just aren't as many lawsuits involved.

Depending on the portion of costs incurred through world-wide recalls, it could pave the path for Takata to call bankruptcy.

one of the reason why yen is very week now

Not a word to Toyota Owners here in Japan.

In the U.S. Toyota dealerships are being told to disable the passenger-side airbag and to recommend to owners that no one ride in the passenger seat until replacement airbags become available:

Toyota, meanwhile, said it was instructing its dealerships to disable air bags and warn against riding in the passenger seat. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/regulators-demand-massive-recall-of-potentially-dangerous-airbags/2014/11/18/a68b2760-6f7d-11e4-893f-86bd390a3340_story.html

Even though in the US there are recalls also for American carmakers, remember that all the money always remain in the US. Later, those money that they take from American carmakers can be used from the government to help the American carmakers themselves, while the money that they take from the foreign carmakers are a real profit for USA inc. Don't trust everything Americans do, when there's a huge conflict of interests (see General Motors case). In Europe you don't see the same bashing over carmakers that have recalls that you see in the US, it's not even in the main news.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Deputy Administrator David Friedman told reporters on Tuesday that Takata has so far expressed an “unwillingness to move forward” with an expanded recall.

I don't think Takata wants to go down this road. It will end up hurting their customer's brands -- Honda, Mazda, etc. -- very badly.

Even though in the US there are recalls also for American carmakers, remember that all the money always remain in the US. Later, those money that they take from American carmakers can be used from the government to help the American carmakers themselves, while the money that they take from the foreign carmakers are a real profit for USA inc. Don't trust everything Americans do, when there's a huge conflict of interests (see General Motors case). In Europe you don't see the same bashing over carmakers that have recalls that you see in the US, it's not even in the main news.

Alex -- pure nonsense. If you knew anything about how recalls are performed, you would know that there is no "profit" involved. Carmakers issue the recall notice and they reimburse their dealerships for the cost of the parts, and the labor involved -- at a flat rate. No money goes to the government. Please stop spewing your anti-U.S. rhetoric here since all they are trying to do is protecy U.S. drivers. Do they not have a right to do that?

Alex -- pure nonsense.

Yeah, sure. Toyota paid American government, you know. These things happen only in the US. And it's different if GM pays something, since later the government helps General Motors. But it's useless speaking with some Americans. Anyway, the world is watching American arrogant attitude and it's tired to be bullied.

This only happens in USA.

But it's useless speaking with some Americans. Anyway, the world is watching American arrogant attitude and it's tired to be bullied.

No, it is useless speaking with someone who is immune to hearing facts, but only wants to use everything the U.S. does as a sign of it being a "bully". But, even so, since the U.S. is by far the world's largest economy, why can't they decide the rules foreign companies need to play by, especially when it comes to safety? Japan does it all the time.

I've just been watching a quite long and rather detailed report on the Takata air bag issue on NHK TV news, or all places. Better late than never, I guess.