U.S. automotive component maker, Joyson Safety Systems (JSS), has announced that it is looking into inaccuracies in the reporting of seatbelt webbing test data at a Japanese factory acquired from bankrupt airbag manufacturer Takata Corporation, more than two years ago. According to a Reuters news report, a company spokesman said that JSS is investigating “available and relevant data” over a 20-year period on a test-by-test and product-by-product basis.
The inaccuracies were found in reporting from the factory in Hikone, Japan, which JSS bought from bankrupt airbag maker Takata Corp in April 2018. JSS said the inaccuracies arose before its acquisition of the plant. Takata’s faulty airbag inflators caused the auto industry’s biggest safety recall and have been linked to numerous deaths and injuries, primarily in the United States.
Takata’s Problems with Defective Auto Products
The Japanese transport ministry has asked JSS’s unit in the country to submit an investigation report and has told automakers to prepare for recalls of the seatbelts in question. A transport ministry official told Reuters that they were still looking into how many vehicles were affected by the issue and whether such vehicles were shipped to markets outside of Japan. JSS Japan is that country’s leading seatbelt manufacturer.
Takata’s faulty airbag inflators were the subject of an unprecedented recall in the United States. People are still getting injured or killed because of these defective bags. We saw the 17th fatality in the United States on Aug. 20 when a 2002 Honda Civic driver was killed in a crash in Mesa, Arizona. The defect leads to instances where airbag inflators rupture and send metal fragments flying. More than 290 injuries are also tied to faulty Takata inflators and at least 26 deaths worldwide. Takata has pleaded guilty to criminal wrongdoing over its inflators including submitting false test results to auto manufacturers to induce them to by their defective products.
Auto Product Liability Issues
Seat restraint systems are essential for protecting vehicle occupants during a crash. When the webbing, buckles or other parts of the seat restraint system are defective, the consequences can be devastating or even deadly. If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective auto or vehicle part, you may be entitled to receive damages for your injuries, damages and losses. If you’ve lost a loved one due to a defective seatbelt, you may be able to file a wrongful death against the automaker as well. Please get in touch with an experienced auto defect lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/joyson-safety-systems-recall/joyson-probes-inaccuracies-in-data-at-former-takata-plant-in-japan-idINKBN26Z0JG
