Hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee - Recalls of Defective Takata Air Bags and NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Efforts

Hearing

Welcome everyone. We have called this hearing for a very somber reason. Some defective air bags are hurting rather than helping people. We still haven't figured out exactly why, and we need to figure out how to prevent these issues from occurring in the future.

"This is a pivotal time in vehicle safety. It is welcome news that cars are generally safer than they have ever been. Advances in vehicle technologies and safety innovations, as well as robust state safety initiatives, have reduced the number of deaths on the road. Still, tragically, more than 30,000 people die every year due to motor vehicle accidents.

"Air bags are one of the most important vehicle safety innovations. That's why it is so alarming that tens of millions of cars have potentially defective air bags.

"Today we will be asking witnesses for an update on recall and remedy efforts for Takata air bag inflators, which have been allegedly linked to eight deaths and over 100 injuries.

"The large number of vehicles recalled covers 11 auto manufacturers, the complexity of the different types of inflators, the lack of an identified root cause to date, and the age of the vehicles affected have made remedying this problem exceedingly difficult.

"But these challenges do not excuse the responsibilities of auto manufacturers, suppliers, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from their shared obligation to ensure vehicles are safe.

"The first priority should be fixing the recalled vehicles as soon as possible.

"NHTSA has also taken an unprecedented role, inserting itself in overseeing this process.

"Takata and other alternative suppliers have ramped up production of replacement parts to increase supply, and the autos are seeking to contact affected vehicle owners and working with dealerships on swift repairs.

"Nevertheless, questions exist about whether the currently available replacements are truly safe. Takata is phasing out certain types of inflators, and testing is ongoing to determine the root cause, or causes, of the inflator defects. This testing will help to assess the scope of the recalls and safety of the replacement parts.
 
"These alarming recalls underscore the importance of clear and accurate information for consumers. NHTSA's dedicated Takata recall website is an important step, but recall fatigue and confusion are growing. The large number of vehicles involved has resulted in delays for some consumer notice. And, the number of times the same vehicle may be subject to recall may further perplex consumers.

"And as we all know, completing a recall is not easy. With an all-time record last year of nearly 64 million automobiles subject to recall, I appreciate that NHTSA and the auto industry are looking for ways to improve the process.

"Identifying safety problems early is another key issue for both the industry and NHTSA. I look forward to hearing more about the Inspector General's audit report, which raises serious concerns about the agency's abilities in this area.

"The audit identifies many instances in which the agency repeatedly dropped the ball in handling issues related to General Motors' ignition switch defect. Weaknesses in NHTSA's ability to conduct accurate data analysis and provide necessary training and supervision call into question whether the agency can effectively identify and investigate potential safety problems and carry out its safety mission. These findings are especially disconcerting given the scale and complexity of the Takata defects.

"I am pleased to know that Administrator Rosekind has concurred with all 17 of the Inspector General's recommendations and has committed to implement them.

"There have been far too many troubling recalls throughout the agency's existence. That is why I have worked with Senator Nelson to pass our Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act. This legislation seeks to encourage employees to report safety concerns before they become larger problems and to prevent loss of life and serious injuries resulting from safety defects.

"Despite a long vacancy with a Senate confirmed leader, under Administrator Rosekind's leadership, NHTSA has also been looking for ways to improve.

"There have been assessments of NHTSA and a plan for a path forward, but now is the time for accountability. The agency, automakers, their suppliers and dealers, and Congress must work together to reduce deaths and injuries on our nation's roadways.

"This Committee will continue to conduct oversight of the Takata recalls and NHTSA's vehicle safety efforts. I appreciate Takata's general cooperation with the Committee's requests to date. In fact, we just received another large production of documents from the company a few days ago. Some automakers are also producing documents to the Committee. And I'm sure we will have more questions for NHTSA.

"It is also important for consumers to check to see if their vehicle is subject to this or any recall. NHTSA's has a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) lookup tool online at safercar.gov. If you determine your vehicle is subject to a recall, please schedule an appointment to get it fixed with your closest dealership as soon as possible.

"Now, I'm pleased to welcome Administrator Rosekind to his first appearance before the Committee since his confirmation as the NHTSA Administrator last December.

"I also want to welcome Inspector General Scovel back to the Committee and our auto witnesses for this, our second full committee hearing on this important issue.

"Thank you to all the witnesses, and I look forward to your testimony."

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