The Massive Takata Airbag Recall Is Doubling in Size

Japanese manufacturer Takata is expected to recall 35 to 40 million more air bag inflators, more than doubling the number it has already recalled.

Multiple sources told Reuters the announcement was expected to affect all frontal air bag inflators without a drying agent. Automakers have already recalled 28.8 million inflators in 24 million U.S. cars that are at risk of shooting metal shards into their vehicles when they inflate; 11 deaths have been linked to the defect worldwide.

U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) spokesman Bryan Thomas would not confirm the expansion of the recall, but did tell Reuters, “The recall of Takata air bag inflators … continues and the agency will take all appropriate actions to make sure air bags in Americans’ vehicles are safe.” Takata also declined to confirm, but spokesman Jared Levy said it was “working with regulators and our automaker customers to develop long-term, orderly solutions to these important safety issues.”

Last month, the NHTSA said there were potentially 85 million air bag inflators in the U.S. that would have to be recalled if Takata could not prove they were safe.

[Reuters]