ST. THOMAS — Attorney General Claude Earl Walker has said that consumers stand to benefit from Toyota\u2019s efforts to repair and replace faulty airbags from vehicles in the Virgin Islands.<\/p>\n
This action by Toyota follows on the heels of similar action taken by another automaker, Honda, last September after the AG\u2019s Office filed a lawsuit against Takata and Honda in May 2016. The lawsuit claimed that Takata and Honda knowingly and recklessly made, sold, and marketed airbags and cars that they knew were dangerous, but failed to disclose this information to consumers.<\/p>\n
At a joint press conference Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Delvin Carrington and Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Lawrence Olive held Monday morning at the Department of Justice conference room, AG Walker announced that Toyota will be conducting repair-a-thons to replace Takata airbags.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026We are pressing automakers to ensure that Virgin Islands consumers are aware of efforts to, and are able to, replace their Takata airbags,\u201d he said in his prepared remarks. \u201cLast September, we worked with Honda, which brought in technicians and parts and promoted the recall to Virgin Islands consumers, hundreds of whom were able to get their defective airbags replaced. Now, Toyota has stepped up as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Currently, there are approximately 1,195 Toyotas with Takata airbags in the Virgin Islands, Commissioner Olive said, as he informed Toyota owners of the scheduled dates for the repair-a-thons.<\/p>\n
\u201cToyota will conduct a repair-a-thon in the Virgin Islands to remove faulty Takata airbags at its dealership on St. Croix on Feb. 3 and 4 and at its dealership on St. Thomas on Feb. 11 and 12. Technicians will be available to replace the Takata airbags,\u201d Commissioner Olive said in his prepared statement.<\/p>\n
Owners can also have their Takata airbags replaced free of charge by scheduling an appointment, according to Commissioner Olive.<\/p>\n