The US National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reportedly wants to find whistleblowers with knowledge “of possible defects or any wrongdoing” by airbag maker Takata.
The government adency told Reuters it was urging potential informants to call a hotline and promised legal protection.
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“We encourage all individuals with information about the manufacture or testing of Takata air bag inflators, or who have knowledge of possible defects or any wrongdoing by the company, to make this information available to NHTSA,” agency spokesman Gordon Trowbridge said.
Six former Takata employees interviewed by Reuters said they were asked to hide or alter data that showed certain parts and materials did not meet Takata’s specifications or indicated potential issues with key components such as inflators and cushions.
Two of these employees said they witnessed others hiding, altering or ignoring unfavorable test results.
The company responded to Reuters queries with a statement: “Takata has a deep commitment to honesty and integrity. Since our founding in 1933, we have worked tirelessly to develop innovative and high quality products that exceed our customers’ expectations, save lives and prevent injuries. Our number one priority is the safety of the traveling public.”
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By GlobalDataIt added: “We are committed to working with NHTSA and our automotive customers to ensure the safety of the driving public.”
The report noted former employees have spoken to the news agency, other media outlets and congressional investigators about concerns with the safety of propellant made in a US factory.
Some engineers reportedly thought the material was not tested enough to ensure it was safe. He left the company in 1999.
Takata has used ammonium nitrate as its main propellant chemical in hundreds of millions of inflators made since 2000, including those fitted in over 24m cars recalled in numerous markets.
Reuters cited one individual who claimed a test batch of experimental propellant in the later 1990s was used in production because the company was running out of approved material.
The experimental batch had not been sufficiently tested to see if it would remain stable over the expected life of the vehicle’s air bags, the report said.
Takata has not responded to such specific allegations, Reuters added.
Honda, a major Takata customer, on Friday said operating income for its fiscal third quarter to 31 December, 2014 fell 22.5% due to “a difficult automobile market environment in Japan” and “an increase in quality-related expenses mainly in North America” which appears to be a guarded reference to the Takata inflator recall debacle.
