Blumenthal Statement on Commerce Committee Hearings on Takata Airbags

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today released the following statement after the Senate Commerce Committee announced that it will be holding a hearing entitled “Examining the Takata airbag recalls and NHTSA’s recall process” on Thursday, November 20.

“I applaud Chairman Rockefeller for recognizing the urgent need for a hearing on NHTSA and the handling of deadly, defective Takata airbags. I’ll be asking tough, penetrating questions to uncover the concealment that apparently occurred and that these companies have a responsibility now to fully disclose. I welcome questions by the federal grand jury as well, because this cover-up and concealment may well have been done with criminal intent, requiring strong penalties to deter and prevent wrongdoing in the future. My questions will include: Who at Takata was responsible for concealing evidence of the danger of these airbags, and what steps has the company taken towards fully disclosing all relevant information and making safe replacements available to consumers? Why did NHTSA fail to pick up on the problem for so long, and why has the agency not acted more urgently to warn Americans to stop driving dangerous vehicles?

Takata’s apparent concealment and lies about these airbags killed and injured people across the country and around the globe. Takata, the automobile manufacturers, and NHTSA must tell consumers the truth about these defects.”