U.S. safety agency wants to meet automakers on Takata recall

The U.S. auto safety agency is looking forward to meet with 12 major automakers that failed to complete a December 2017 target deadline for finishing repairs on the highest-priority vehicles with harmful Takata air bag inflators.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated it had written letters on May 3 to automakers including Honda Motor, Toyota Motor, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Daimler and Ford Motor.

NHTSA stated the 12 automakers have as a whole repaired 65 percent of 20 million automobiles in the highest priority groups, and only 7 million are unrepaired.

Overall, almost 30 million U.S. vehicles are currently unrepaired in an air bag recall concerning 19 automakers, the largest auto recall ever. No less than 22 deaths and over 290 injuries worldwide are associated with Takata inflators that can explode, unleashing metal shrapnel in cars and trucks. The defect prompted Takata to file for bankruptcy protection in June last year.

A trade group representing major automakers were not available for comment on the NHTSA request to meet with company representatives.

Some Democratic lawmakers have criticized the NHTSA for not doing enough to prod automakers to repair vehicles faster. A U.S. Senate hearing in March also looked into the concern.