In a move that House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said on Monday was “well past time,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is conducting a review of its safety culture.
A senior Obama administration official told Bloomberg that the agency is performing a thorough internal review of its mistakes after taking heat for its poor handling of a Takata air bag recall.
Studies have shown that Takata air bags can explode under certain conditions, sending metal shards toward drivers and passengers. At least four deaths have been linked to the flaw. The Bloomberg story claims the NHTSA botched a campaign to publicize the defect that affects 7.8 million U.S. vehicles.
Weeks earlier, an Energy and Commerce Committee report revealed similar mismanagement when the NHTSA failed to identify a General Motors ignition switch defect.
“It is well past time for some agency introspection, and I am pleased to hear NHTSA is finally taking steps to review its culture and practices,” Upton said. “Mistakes have been made by both companies and regulators; and as the agency holds automakers accountable, it needs to hold itself to the same – if not a higher – standard as those it regulates. NHTSA must be willing to learn from the failures of the past so we can improve safety. This can begin with the naming of a new NHTSA chief – a critically important safety post that remains vacant to this day.”
The committee staff received a briefing from the NHTSA on Monday regarding its investigation into Takata and the status of the air bag recalls. A release from the committee said it will continue conversations with the agency and will meet with auto manufacturers on the issue.