Honda’s US unit, hit by recalls of millions of vehicles with potentially faulty Takata airbag inflators, said it supports legislation that would require any outstanding safety recall to be completed before a vehicle could be legally registered in a state, thereby increasing vehicle recall completion rates.
The bill was introduced on 2 March, 2015, by Democrat senators Edward Markey.
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“Our goal is to achieve a 100% repair rate for every recall in order to prevent injuries and save lives, and this legislation will help achieve that. We look forward to working with senators Markey and Blumenthal, Congress and other safety stakeholders as this proposal works its way through the legislative process,” said Honda North America executive vice president Rick Schostek.
According to the automaker, about a third of all cars and trucks recalled in America for safety defects are never taken to a dealer for repair. While newer vehicles enjoy higher completion rates when a safety recall is initiated, the completion rate is much lower for older vehicles. As a result, too many of the required repairs are never made and, drivers and passengers in the affected vehicles are unnecessarily exposed to the risk of death or injury. This legislation provides an additional avenue to ensure recalled vehicles are brought in for repair.
Honda said it first called for this this type of legislation on 20 November, 2014, in testimony before the senate committee on energy and commerce, on which both senators Markey and Blumenthal sit. Prior to the hearing, Schostek met Stephanie Erdman, who was seriously injured by a ruptured Takata airbag inflator in a 2002 Honda Civic, with whom he co-authored a commentary in recent issue of a US automotive news publication.
Honda said it has been taking significant steps to encourage owners of Honda and Acura vehicles affected by a recall or safety improvement campaign due to Takata airbag inflators to take immediate action to make the needed repairs at an authorised dealer. This has included millions of mailed notifications in both English and Spanish, phone calls, the use of social media, sending notices by registered mail and overnight delivery services and even enlisting the services of special investigative firms to locate registered owners.
“Unfortunately, far too many affected vehicles remain unrepaired. Honda believes that requiring the resolution of open recalls before completing registration would greatly reduce the risk of death and injury that can occur to people in unrepaired older model vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators,” Schostek said.
