Takata air bags have been reported to potentially rupture when deployed because chemicals inside the inflator deteriorate when subjected to changing temperatures over a long period in high humidity.
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The National Highway Traffic Administration initially recalled about 28 million vehicles with Takata air bags that could explode and shower passengers with shrapnel.
The inflators are responsible for 11 deaths and more than 100 injuries worldwide.
With recall expanded in the United States, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has required automakers to recall vehicles equipped with airbags with the same problems also in Japan.
The post Automakers recall 12 million cars over Takata airbags appeared first on PBS NewsHour.
The actions come as Takata is reportedly in discussions with private equity firm KKR, which is said to be weighing a plan to overhaul the troubled Japanese supplier despite the enormous costs of the recall. Recalled cars are prioritized by age and the risk of exposure to high levels of humidity, which may lead to some vehicles not getting replacement inflators for a few years.
In Japan, regulators said an additional 7 million vehicles with Takata air bags would be recalled. The move will prompt 17 automakers to issue vehicle recalls. Through May 20, just 8.5 million inflators have been replaced.
The complete lack of drying solvent (or an improper amount of it) used to prevent moisture and humidity in airbag inflators may cause these parts to fail.
Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T) is recalling about 730,000 USA vehicles while Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) is recalling 400,000.
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In November, Takata agreed to pay a $70 million fine for safety violations and NHTSA named a former federal prosecutor as an independent monitor to oversee the massive recalls.
