Like the U.S., Japan has chose 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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Another 12 million vehicles in the US were recalled May 27 over issues with their Takata-built passenger-side airbag inflators, bringing the total number of affected vehicles to close to 70 million worldwide.
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.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Friday that Honda, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Ferrari and Mitsubishi would issue new recalls.
NHTSA added another 12 million vehicles to the recall last month.
The airbags have been blamed for 11 deaths worldwide. Automakers worldwide had previously recalled about 50 million vehicles with Takata inflators.
Separately, Takata is in bailout talks with a number of potential investors including private equity firm KKR & Co, a source told Reuters on Thursday. They are prioritised by the car’s age and the risk of exposure to high humidity. Before Friday’s announcement, 28.8 million airbags had been recalled in 24 million vehicles. The newest recall, according to Takata and the automakers, does not have any reports of ruptures in the vehicles involved.
Japan’s transport ministry said on Friday that automakers will recall approximately 7 million vehicles there, so the total worldwide is approaching 70 million, including some recalled multiple times.
Fiat Chrysler said it’s not aware of any crashes or injuries involving its vehicles that are part of the recall.
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The U.S. has been particularly hard-hit by the recalls, but isn’t the only nation affected. The jury is still out on whether Takata will have to recall millions more inflators with the drying agent.
