In a rather interesting twist, some automotive specialists have spoken out, saying that vehicle owners are partly to blame for safety issues on their cars and trucks. This is despite the U.S. government’s relentless attack on automakers that have failed to act promptly on safety problems, or worse, knowingly kept silent on these issues, thus putting car owners’ lives at risk.
Aside from the experts, the carmakers have also ramped up their initiatives, trying to convince consumers to be more proactive. Earlier this week, Honda said it plans to launch an ad campaign that pushes the benefits of having vehicles with potentially faulty airbags repaired and inspective. This is similar to General Motors’ initiative in 2014, where the company offered free oil changes as one of the many come-ons for owners reluctant to have their vehicles repaired, amid last year’s damaging ignition switch recall.
In a recent interview, Center for Automotive Safety director said that the response rate to recalls has been “too low” despite the “deadly defects” that could lead to injuries or deaths. Separately, recent data from CarFax indicates that there are millions of vehicles on American roads that have yet to be repaired due to a potential recall-related problem. And in another set of data, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s audit from 2011 indicated that less than 70 percent of recalled vehicles were eventually repaired, with the response rate varying based on the defect. Some 80 percent of vehicles recalled due to faulty wheels or tires were fixed, while only 45 percent of vehicles with speed control problems were repaired.
Commenting on Honda’s new initiative, former NHTSA administrator and current safety watchdog Joan Claybrook called the Japanese automaker’s move a “smart” one. “It’s what companies should do,” she added. “I wish more would do that.” She also stated that consumers “have a responsibility for getting their cars fixed” just as much as automakers are required to be transparent when it comes to vehicular safety concerns.