Takata May Face Legal Action For Non-Compliance With NHTSA Recall Requests
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is gearing up for a legal battle against Takata Corp. if the airbag maker refuses to comply with the safety agency’s demands to expand recalls. While previously limited to high-humidity areas thought to be the catalyst for exploding airbags, nationwide recalls are now necessary, according to the safety regulator, as new data has shown that climate has less of an impact on the airbags than originally believed. In early December, Takata rejected demands for an expanded recall, stating that the automakers should recall the cars if necessary and opposing the new findings deemed inaccurate and unsubstantiated. Meanwhile, the NHTSA is reviewing thousands of documents and hiring outside experts to perform testing to grow its case against Takata. According to Deputy Administrator David Friedman, “If Takata fights us all the way to the end, I want to be able to walk into a courtroom with as close to a slam dunk as I can get.”