Like the U.S., Japan has made a decision to recall all automobiles equipped with Takata air bags that do not contain a drying agent to prevent deterioration of chemicals in the air bag inflator.
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In a statement today, Japan’s government announced that another 7 million vehicles with Takata inflators will be recalled in Japan over safety concerns.
In the worst case scenario, a failed airbag inflator built by Takata might explode with excessive force and shoot metal and plastic fragments towards the occupants of the vehicle. Before Friday’s announcement, 28.8 million airbags had been recalled in 24 million vehicles.
The defective inflators have been the cause of 13 deaths and at least 100 injuries. Unlike previous recalls, which dealt largely with driver-side airbags, this round focuses on passenger-side airbags. However, it did say that the number of automakers included may increase from the current 17.
They are prioritized by the car’s age and the risk of exposure to high humidity. It will take several years for some owners to get replacements for the defective inflators. Some Pontiac and Saab vehicles are also affected. It told the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the second phase of the Takata expansion would include 660,000 additional U.S. vehicles. So cars in the 2011 model year or earlier located in the following states will go first, according to NHTSA documents: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In addition, Toyota Motor Corp.is recalling 1,654,713 units, Mazda Motor Corp.
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Takata named an outside committee in February to lead an overhaul.
