Honda confirmed the eighth Takata air bag-linked fatality as reported by the Los Angeles Times this past weekend. It involved the rupture of an air bag inflator in the crash of a rented 2001 Honda Civic in September of 2014. The family of victim Jewel Brangman, 26, filed suit earlier this year alleging “both Takata and Honda had known for years that there were problems with the air bag inflators and should have moved more quickly to fix the vehicles.” Brangman died after suffering “a laceration to the left side of her neck and a severe brain injury.” NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind commented on this latest case. He said, “The fact that this was a rental vehicle that had not been remedied is more evidence for why we are seeking authority to prohibit sale or rental of any vehicle with an open safety recall.”
The NHTSA has been attempted to speed the pace of repairs for this defect that has affected nearly 34 million air bag inflators. In this case, the car had been recalled multiple times beginning in 2009, then 2013, and twice in 2014.
Currently, companies are not required to repair used or rental cars that are under recall before they rent or sell them, according to the New York Times.
General Motors added 243,000 cars to the faulty air bag recall. This recall involves passenger air bags on Pontiac Vibes made from 2003-2007. The cars were designed by Toyota.
For more information, read here:
Honda confirms first California death from faulty Takata air bag
Airbag Death in Honda Rental Car Reveals a Gap
