Defective parts from a relatively obscure Japanese supplier continue to tarnish the reputations of car brands and infuriate industry executives.
Since August 2010, more than 40 million cars across several brands have been recalled because of potential safety concerns over Takata parts. The problem relates to Takata's airbag inflator and the risk it may explode with too much force hurling shrapnel into the vehicle. At least 11 people have been killed and 139 injured worldwide as a result of the problem.
Complaints and investigations date back over 15 years, even though Takata admitted its airbags are defective only last year. Reports from the US suggest that at least 400,000 of the four million devices replaced have had to be recalled again.
It is the marques that take the hit. No one outside the industry has heard of Takata – until now. Yet this sorry saga reveals the complexity of the motor industry. The average car comprises thousands of parts from many suppliers.
That’s not to make excuses for faulty parts but, realistically, recalls are a fact of motoring life. While this safety concern is at the upper end of the scale, consumers appreciate it when firms make an honest efforts to rectify a problem.
What they don't appreciate is deception or concealment by a corporate giant. Volkswagen's efforts to cheat emissions tests have hit sales hard and its reputation. Yesterday it postponed its full-year results and annual shareholder meeting after admitting it faces too much uncertainty over the financial impact of the diesel emissions scandal. In Ireland it is due to start work on fixing nearly 116,000 VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat cars affected.
One issue highlighted by the Takata and VW Group scandals is the lack of a central body here to co-ordinate recalls. Consumers are largely dependent on the car firms to make contact or for the media to pick up on the litany of international recalls announced and identify the potential impact here.
A central database, where consumers can check if their vehicle is part of a recall, would be a welcome development. If we accept recalls are a recurrent risk then motorists deserve to have someone overseeing the process.
