NEWS-03
American history has more than doubled.>
Corporation started using more than fifteen years ago to cut costs.
Ammonium nitrate breaks down over time, especially in high heat, high
humidity climate, and can cause the airbag inflator to malfunction,
potentially sending shrapnel through the vehicle.>
SCOTT PELLEY: In another big story today, the largest automotive recall in American history has more than doubled. An additional thirty-five to forty million Takata airbags have a deadly flaw. Jeff Glor is following this.
(Begin VT)
MARK ROSEKIND: This issue is urgent. On March 31st, we had the tenth confirmed fatality in the United States.
JEFF GLOR: NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind said today the effort to replace defective Takata airbags has to move faster, even though the task is monumental.
MARK ROSEKIND: Replacements inflators need to be specifically engineered for each of the affected vehicle models.
JEFF GLOR: The problem is ammonium nitrate, a volatile chemical the Takata Corporation started using more than fifteen years ago to cut costs. Ammonium nitrate breaks down over time, especially in high heat, high humidity climate, and can cause the airbag inflator to malfunction, potentially sending shrapnel through the vehicle. Over eight million inflators have been replaced so far, but that`s less than twelve percent of the total inflators now involved. Making the fixes has not been easy. Drivers across the country have been calling and waiting. Hundreds of injuries have also been linked to the faulty inflators, including the airbag explosion that left a hole in Angelina Sujata`s chest.
ANGELINA SUJATA: Everybody kept telling me, airbags don`t do that. That`s the problem is these ones are. And that`s not right, and that`s not okay.
JEFF GLOR: At the current rate, the airbag fixes won`t be completed for more than three years. Rosekind said today he sympathizes.
MARK ROSEKIND: My family has a vehicle with a Takata inflator that`s sitting in our driveway, so I fully understand the frustration.
(End VT)
JEFF GLOR: There are questions about whether Takata, based in Japan, can survive this crisis long term. If they can, Scott, it is not known who pays for the tens of millions of fixes that still need to be made.
SCOTT PELLEY: Jeff Glor, thanks very much. In fact, we have a list of all these recalled vehicles on our website, cbsnews.com.
END
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