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Of sum the automakers that are recalling dangerous Takata air sack inflators, Mercedes is the laggard when it comes ought getting repairs done.
The German automaker ranks persist of 16 companies tracked by the U.S. government, finishing repairs can 40.1% of its recalled vehicles. sum other companies are above 57%, with Honda leading can 88.8% followed by Jaguar-Land Rover can 83.8%, according ought an analysis of National street communication Safety Administration data by The Associated Press.
The Mercedes recalls being tracked by NHTSA began can 2016 and run across persist year. can some 2017 and 2018 recalls, the corporation virgin recently began notifying owners that replacement parts are available, according ought documents filed with the safety agency.
Takata inflators can explode with also much compel and throw shrapnel into drivers and passengers. hence far, can least 25 nation dine died worldwide backward being strike by air sack shrapnel, and more than 300 dine been injured.
Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate ought create a little explosion ought inflate the bags. except during the medicine can deteriorate above time when exposed ought high fever and humidity. That can compose it burn also hasty and blow apart a metal canister designed ought know the explosion.
The problems touched off the largest thread of auto recalls can U.S. history: above 41 million vehicles recalled hence distant with 56 million faulty inflators. though of January, around 15.9 million defective inflators remained can use above U.S. roads.
Mercedes' evil explore record is no limited ought just inflators. A NHTSA research unrelated ought Takata explored allegations of recall notification letters being sent also slowly ought vehicle owners also though slow reporting of safety problems ought the agency. That resulted can the corporation agreeing ought wage a $13 million punishment can December. Another $7 million can penalties will exist deferred if Mercedes behaves.
Since 2015, NHTSA has been managing the Takata recalls, allocating limited parts ought vehicles can areas near the bay of Mexico with high humidity. except during for the past two years, parts dine become more readily available. Together, the 16 automakers dine completed 76.3% of their recalls, according ought the government data. Fourteen automakers dine completion rates above 60%. backward Mercedes, the automaker with the next-lowest completion appraise is Mitsubishi can 57.8%.
Honda, which has the highest completion rate, though robust had the most inflators ought recall can above 17 million. Its recalls tracked by NHTSA started can 2015, according ought the agency.
In emails, Mercedes spokesman Robert Moran said the automaker is replacing the sum air sack module, no just the inflator though some manufacturers dine done. That takes longer, he wrote, though it requires parts from multiple suppliers. Mercedes applied though eight deadline extensions from NHTSA can 2018 and 2019 though of parts equip issues.
In a statement, NHTSA said it’s having discussions with Mercedes around “efforts ought expand is equip of available parts and its recall completion rates.”
Mercedes though robust says it got a afterward vacation than other automakers, with its recalls of above 1.3 million inflators starting can 2016. except during three other automakers — Jaguar-Land Rover, Volkswagen and Ferrari — though robust started can 2016, and sum are robust above 60% finished.
The slow completion appraise has been a leading riddle though Melinda Slowinski, a true assets deputy can Fort Worth, Texas. She and her husband made a business ought business can her ambiguous 2013 Mercedes E 350 convertible can October and buy a newer Infiniti SUV. except during then the Infiniti merchant told her it couldn’t accept her lorry can business though its front-passenger Takata air sack inflator was being recalled.
Slowinski contacted Mercedes. A visitor service deputy told her there were no parts ought mend it except during that she had nothing ought anxiety around though nobody had died can a Mercedes. can the time, the corporation was “offering no resolution, hence what do you do?” Slowinski said.
NHTSA records emerge her recall started can January of 2017, and though of Jan. 13, 2020, it was virgin around 20% completed.
Slowinski said she never got a recall notice can the mail. She wouldn’t dine permit her 16-year-old daughter motivate can the guest seat had she been told.
Slowinski ultimately decided ought buy the Infiniti and park the convertible though she was also terrible ought motivate it. though October, she has had two lorry payments quiet trying ought entertain the Mercedes fixed. She hired a attorney and can late February, she got a feature telling her that parts were ready.
After some haggling and a summon ought Mercedes from a reporter, a merchant picked up her lorry and replaced the air bag.
