AAA Joins Call for NHTSA Overhaul

AAA is demanding a review of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's "broken" approach to managing vehicle recalls.

The U.S. auto club condemns the agency's recall process as slow and ineffective. It cites last week's agency miscues in announcing recalls of some 7.8 million vehicles equipped with Takata Corp. airbag inflators that could explode when triggered.

AAA notes that it still isn't clear which vehicles in what regions are at risk. The group asks the White House to demand immediate action.

In the meantime, AAA dismisses as unacceptable proposals to disable affected airbags until they can be replaced. It opines that consumers affected by the recalls should be provided loaner vehicles until their cars are repaired.