Takata certainly shares a portion of the blame for this massive recall, but U.S. senators are also becoming increasingly frustrated with the federal auto safety regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who might have compounded the issue with their lackluster response. Associated Press writers Marcy Gordon and Dee-Ann Durbin wrote, "NHTSA first learned of a possible problem with Takata air bags in 2004 and investigated the issue in 2009, but didn't accelerate the recall process until last year." When problems sit for years before being seriously addressed, it means more consumers unknowingly get behind the wheel of potentially faulty vehicles. A government audit of the NHTSA released Monday uncovered a failure to properly train employees, review and respond to consumer complaints, hold automakers accountable for safety issues and collect vehicle safety data.