Reacting to news reports that air bag manufacturer Takata may have been aware of defects in its product 10 years ago, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said answers are required to determine if imminent danger was concealed or not understood.
The New York Times said that after receiving word that one of its air bags failed and sent metal flying at a driver, the company conducted secret tests in the evenings, on weekends and on holidays at its North American headquarters in Michigan. Those test results, the Times said, were destroyed after raising concerns with engineers.
A Takata representative said the story was “fundamentally inaccurate.”
Upton said a consistent focus of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which he chairs, has been making sure that as soon as a danger is identified, regulators are notified so a plan can be put into place.
“Our first and most urgent priority is ensuring that drivers and their families are safe on the road,” Upton said. “As the recalls continue and the faulty airbags are replaced, we also need answers about when the danger was discovered and whether it was concealed from regulators, or not adequately understood once the regulators became aware.”
A Takata recall involves an estimated 7.8 million air bags in vehicles made by 10 different automakers. Potentially defective air bags have been linked to four deaths.
The Energy and Commerce Committee began a review of the issue in October and has released briefings from manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Auto safety will continue to be a priority for this committee for the rest of this Congress and well into next year,” Upton said.