Takata Independent Monitor John Buretta Issues Annual Report on Airbag Recalls

On January 23, 2020, Takata independent monitor and Cravath partner John D. Buretta, along with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), issued a progress report on the present state of the Takata airbag recalls.

The report details substantial progress made by vehicle manufactures to repair affected vehicles, with the 7.5 million defective inflators repaired in 2019 bringing the total number of repairs to more than 36 million, a total far above any previous automotive recall.

However, the report concludes that the recalls continue to pose new challenges, with approximately 15.9 million recalled Takata inflators still unrepaired, including many older vehicles that are consequently more difficult to reach. The report includes strategies that have been and are being developed to successfully complete repairs on these vehicles.

To view the report, please click here.

To determine if your car has a defective airbag inflator, visit AirbagRecall.com and enter your vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate number.

Additional information about the monitorship is available at TakataMonitor.org. Members of the public can also use the TakataMonitor.org website to file confidential, anonymous reports, and to communicate with the Independent Monitor.

In December 2015, John was selected by the NHTSA to serve as the Independent Monitor of Takata and of the 19 automakers affected by the Takata recalls. In April 2017, John was appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice to serve as Independent Monitor regarding the worldwide operations of Takata Corporation, headquartered in Japan.

Cravath associate Allison S. Eisen assisted in preparing the report.