Ensure timely recalls of air bags: #tellusatoday

Several recalls since 2008 have been issued for air bags made by Takata. Four people have died in the United States in accidents linked to the air bags. Letter to the editor:

Your editorial "Air bag recalls deadly slow: Our view" presents an unfair, overly simplistic commentary on a complex situation.

The facts do not support your assertion that a "slow" response by Honda in recalling vehicles to repair Takata air bags is because of "massive cost." We have acted, and will continue to act, with the best interests of our customers as our guiding principle — period.

Further, the editorial describes the actions of Honda as "glacial." The reality is that making timely recall decisions cannot and should not be viewed as a simple process.

Each time we determined that there might be a safety defect in any of our vehicles, we worked to quickly identify the immediate population of affected vehicles and acted decisively to recall them, while continuing and expanding our analysis. That is why, since November 2008, Honda has acted responsibly to conduct recalls and recall expansions each time we have identified specific defects related to Takata driver and front passenger air bag inflators.

Just as the design of our vehicles is based on sound engineering, our understanding of a problem and the resulting actions we take also must be based on engineering analysis. That is why, based on our commitment to the safety of our customers, we have continued to diligently investigate all potential causes of unusual air bag deployments.

An intense industrywide investigation of this issue continues today, and includes the work of each automaker, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration and the air bag supplier. As in the past, Honda will take swift action when the analysis indicates that a defect in our vehicles poses a safety risk.

Honda is committed to addressing the needs and concerns of our customers. We stand behind the safety and quality of our products.

John Mendel
Executive vice president
American Honda Motor Co. Inc.
Torrance, Calif.

Comments from Twitter and Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration needs to undergo a lot more scrutiny. The auto industry's lapdog has established a track record of eyebrow-raising behavior. The scandals all boil down to a corporate-controlled government that protects thuggery by the car industry.

— Parris Boyd

Everyone knows the auto companies don't issue recalls until "sufficient" deaths have occurred. This must change.

— @BrentBrentl

Let's make better quality products. Cars have been around for a good while. Air bag technology has, too. Quality control should not be that hard.

— Brian S Davis

Product safety requires a robust civil justice system with full accountability for corporations that cause harm.

— @mpchalos

Honda, one of 10 major carmakers involved, is a big company. There are many factors; the problem often is the suppliers.

— @dirmozis

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