Takata Independent Monitor John Buretta Issues Annual Report

On January 7, 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) published an annual report on the State of the Takata Airbag Recalls, issued by independent monitor and Cravath partner John D. Buretta.

In what NHTSA has described as the “largest, most complex consumer safety effort in U.S. history,” a unique public‑private partnership between NHTSA, the monitor and 19 affected automakers has yielded 50 million airbags repaired or accounted for; 98% of “High Risk Do Not Drive” vehicles repaired or accounted for; overall repair rates significantly higher than historical recall metrics; and, as a result, many lives saved. Mr. Buretta’s report details the scope and complexity of the recall effort and the collaborative development of innovative recall strategies, including recent partnerships with state DMVs, state EZ Pass organizations and local municipalities in an unprecedented campaign to notify vehicle owners of the dangerous Takata airbag inflator defect.

To view the full report, please click here. To read NHTSA’s summary of the report, please click here.

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 December 2015.

To determine if your car has a defective airbag inflator, visit NHTSA.gov/recall.