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Sent on

10

From

John Mendel

Subject

The New York Times Article on Takata and Honda

22

2015

Expires on 11

30

2015

Dear Honda Dealer:
Some of you might receive questions concerning a story in The New York Times today: “Airbag Study
Was Kept Quiet During Recalls.” In our view, this story did not support such an assertion in the
headline, and we want to provide you with a few facts that will put the story in perspective.
The Penn State University research was undertaken in the first place due to a request from Honda
to Takata in 2011. We wanted to have confidence that the issue that caused three recalls for Takata
airbag inflators in 2008, 2009, and 2010, was contained, or to understand what other actions
needed to be taken. Honda is not an expert in propellant technology and must rely on the work of
experts in the field.
Honda viewed the findings by the Penn State researchers as preliminary in nature and therefore
believed it was premature to proactively provide this study to the government. There was no effort to
“quiet” the study.
To the contrary:
The Penn State study was published in a scientific journal in 2012. Takata, which funded the
study, did not block its release.
The study has been provided to other third party experts now working on behalf of multiple
automakers in the effort to determine the root cause of Takata inflator ruptures.
I want you to know that our focus remains on taking care of our customers.
We continue to urge owners of Honda vehicles affected by the Takata airbag inflator recalls to get their
vehicles repaired at an authorized dealer as soon as possible. And toward that end, I want to thank you
all again for your unprecedented efforts over the last year to ensure the repair of vehicles and for taking
care of our customers. I’d also like to share with you a Fact Sheet on our efforts to repair Honda
vehicles affected by the Takata airbag inflator recalls and encourage you to share this information with
your associates and customers.
Thank you,
John Mendel

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

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