Pensacola, Florida Death could be 20th Caused by Faulty Takata Airbag |
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The recurring nightmare that is the Takata Airbag recall may be responsible for the death of a 23-year-old man in Pensacola, Florida. A full investigation is underway with no cause of death yet released. Still, by all eyewitness accounts, the man driving a 2006 Ford Ranger should have sustained only minor injuries in the traffic accident. If it turns out that the Takata Airbag was responsible for the man's fatal injuries, the tragedy will make the 20th death in the United States attributed to a part that was intended to save lives and prevent injuries. |
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Announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nearly a decade ago, the recall has grown to include 67 million airbags from more than 42 million vehicles in the U.S. The manufacturing defect revolves around the airbag’s inflator, a metal cartridge loaded with propellant wafers. NHTSA determined that airbags filled with ammonium-nitrate-based propellant without a chemical drying agent could degrade the metal housing, causing it to explode shrapnel during an accident. Worldwide, NHTSA reports that there have been at least 27 deaths attributed to Takata, one of the largest airbag manufacturers in the world. The recall effort to replace the tens of millions of defective airbags continues to this day. |
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"This is a sad reminder to all those in the automotive industry that we have more work to do in order to safeguard drivers, passengers and others who share the road," explains Sean Reyes, Chief Marketing Officer of Recall Masters. "The danger still exists in millions of older-model vehicles that are likely out of warranty and remain on the road due to the shortage of new vehicles. Adding to the problem is the difficulty in locating second, third, fourth generation owners that probably don't even realize that they are at risk. We're deploying data, technology and communications to help dealers and OEMs resolve the issue, but this recent death highlights our need to be more vigilant given these older vehicles are on the road longer and changing hands at a more rapid rate."
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Prospect Satisfaction Index (PSI) Reveals EV Brands Missing the Mark
Research firm Pied Piper surveyed mystery shoppers for their experience across 25 premium auto brands. Survey questions addressed a number of areas that span the buying process, including expedient replies to website inquiries and the quality of the responses. The Prospect Satisfaction Index (PSI) revealed that EV manufacturers Lucid, Polestar, Rivian and Tesla were at the bottom of the list when it comes to responsiveness. As we all know, all new vehicle shoppers have questions. However, when it comes to shopping an EV startup, consumers may need additional assistance. Based on survey results, consumers weren't impressed with the experience, countering claims from electric-vehicle advocates that predict the future is a direct-to-consumer model for OEMs. The research study, which ran from July 2021 to June 2022, compared in-person sales experiences at franchise dealerships as well as the independent sales locations operated by EV startups. The Prospect Satisfaction Index (PSI) study has been issued annually since 2007. Brands like Cadillac, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Acura, and Volvo finished in the top 5. Read more on the Car and Driver website.
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After Just A Few Months, Newly-Appointed NHTSA Chief Departs Post
The head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Steven Cliff, is leaving the agency in September after just a few months on the job. Chief Counsel for the agency, Ann Carlson, will take the reins after being named by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Cliff was nominated in October by President Joe Biden after serving as deputy administrator since February 2021. Cliff is leaving to run the California Air Resources Board (CARB), a California agency focused on air quality and pollution reduction. In his stint at NHTSA, Cliff pushed new fuel economy standards and vehicle safety rules. The agency has recently received criticism over concerns about the safety of electric vehicle batteries and autonomous vehicle technologies. Among the critics has been consumer advocate Ralph Nader, who has called on NHTSA to stop Tesla from testing driver assistance software through it's legion of loyal owners. Cliff issued a mandate requiring automakers to share data on accidents and fatalities with NHTSA, but there is more work to do under Carlson's leadership. NHTSA declined to share any further details about Cliff’s departure. Read more on the Automotive News website.
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The Call for Vehicle Safety Can Never be Silenced
A Blog Post by Sean Reyes, Chief Marketing Officer for Recall Masters
According to an article in Jalopnik, GM has started delivering its new Cadillac Lyriq EV to consumers. However, they are making these early adopters sign an NDA that prohibits them from talking to anyone outside of GM about their experience driving it. Also, consumers cannot leave reviews or communicate about it other than with GM employees and—get this—then it can only be verbal. Leaves no paper trail, right?
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NHTSA is unhappy about this for fear that Lyriq owners may not report a safety recall. According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, in an email, NHTSA spokesperson Lucia Sanchez stated, “NHTSA relies on reports from consumers as an important source of information in evaluating potential safety defects. Any agreement that may prevent or dissuade consumers from reporting safety concerns to NHTSA is unacceptable.” Also, the NHTSA is concerned that GM’s actions could motivate other automakers to adopt similar policies. NDAs for car buyers aren’t new, as Tesla proposed one as part of their latest driver assistance software rollout. |
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Two key pillars at NHTSA are to encourage consumers to report safety issues and concerns and to motivate manufacturers and dealers to ensure the safety of their vehicle owners as well as other drivers on the road. While a vast majority of NHTSA investigations begin with the OEM’s transparent disclosure of defects, a select few arise directly from vehicle...Read the blog post in its entirety on the Recall Masters website.
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In Recent Recall Campaign News |
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Kia Recalls Vehicles with Loose Headliners
Kia has recalled nearly 260,000 2012 – 2013 Kia Optima whose headliners – the vehicles’ ceilings – may detach during a crash and hit the car occupants, increasing the risk of injury. Headliners are plastic panels that are part of the interior trim. They serve two purposes. – One is to conceal the bare metal elements and wiring running above it, and the second is serve as a cushion in a crash.
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Stellantis Recalls Jeep SUVs with Damaged Tail Lights
Stellantis, which owns the Jeep brand, is recalling 99,186 vehicles with tail light side markers that do not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash. The following SUVs are included in this recall: 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021 – 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Tail light assemblies contain the brake lights, turn signals, reverse lights and marker lights. Side marker lights make the vehicle more visible and help other drivers judge its position, dimensions and direction. The tail light assemblies in the subject vehicles may have been built with damaged side marker lights that do not illuminate as expected. A Jeep spokesperson indicated that the automaker is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to this recall. Owners will be notified about the repair program on or around September 16, 2022. Read more about this recall campaign on the MotorSafety.org website.
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