U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) recently responded to reports airbag manufacturer Takata Corp. will file for bankruptcy.
“Takata should not file for bankruptcy until it is sure it has a firm restructuring deal in place that prioritizes the safety of consumers and guarantees that the production of replacement airbag inflators will not be interrupted,” the senators said. “With two out of three vehicles with defective Takata airbags still not repaired, our chief concern is making sure there is no further delay for consumers awaiting replacement air bag inflators.”
The senators also sent a letter in October to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration when Takata began preparations to sell the company.
Bankruptcy would be filed in Takata’s native Japan followed by Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States for its American subsidiary.
Takata airbags have been linked to 17 deaths globally, and more than 100 million Takata airbags have been replaced.
The ammonium nitrate used as a propellant becomes unstable under heat and humidity, and airbags have sprayed metal shards when deployed.
Blumenthal and Markey feel the 2014 recall did not go far enough, and in 2016 asked President Barack Obama to accelerate the repair of all affected vehicles.