Honda Fined $70 Million by NTHSA for Failing to Report Injuries, Fatalities
Honda failed to report 1,729 injury and fatality claims made from 2003 to 2014, as well as warranty claims made during the same time period.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ordered Honda to pay $70 million in fines for failing to report warranty claims, injuries and deaths associated with its vehicles. The fines against Honda were announced in a press release issued by the NHTSA on January 8, after the agency found that the auto manufacturing company had violated reporting requirements detailed in the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act. If you have suffered injuries in an accident involving a Honda or another vehicle with defective airbags, our consumer advocates at the Leading Justice can help. We are committed to protecting the rights of consumers harmed by dangerous products, and can help put you in touch with an experienced auto defect attorney today.
Takata Defective Airbag Recall
The $70 million fine levied against Honda comes on the heels of an investigation into Honda’s reporting activities, spurred by the slew of recalls associated with the discovery of defective Takata-made airbags in Hondas and other vehicles. In 2014, approximately 10 million vehicles with Takata airbags were recalled after it was discovered that the airbags could overinflate and rupture in the event of an accident, potentially firing shards of metal into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. At least six fatalities have been connected to the defective Takata airbags, but many believe the number of injuries and deaths caused by the airbags may be significantly higher.
Injuries, Deaths from Faulty Airbags
Of all the auto makers affected by the defective airbag recall, Honda was the hardest hit, and officials report that most of the airbag-related deaths occurred in Honda vehicles. During an investigation by the NHTSA into the faulty airbags, federal regulators and Honda officials found discrepancies between known incidents involving Honda vehicles and incidents that Honda actually reported to the NHTSA, some of which involved Takata airbags. The $70 million fine issued against Honda by the NHTSA includes two separate $35 million fines, one for Honda’s failure to report 1,729 injury and fatality claims made from 2003 to 2014, and one for the company’s failure to report warranty claims made during the same period of time.
Contact a Defective Auto Parts Attorney Today
“Honda and all of the automakers have a safety responsibility they must live up to – no excuses,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, in response to the Honda fine. “Last year alone, we issued more fines than in NHTSA’s entire history. These fines reflect the tough stance we will take against those who violate the law and fail to do their part in the mission to keep Americans safe on the road.” If you have lost a loved one to fatal injuries allegedly caused by a defective auto part, contact a knowledgeable product liability lawyer today for legal help. You may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim against the manufacturing company, in order to pursue financial compensation for your losses.
[box type=”note” align=”aligncenter” ]Source: http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2015/DOT-fines-Honda-$70-million[/box]
