News Reports Indicate Takata To Recall Additional 35 Million Air Bag Inflaters

News agencies are reporting that an additional 35 million air bag inflaters could be recalled later this week by Takata Corp., the manufacturer of the faulty inflaters that have been involved in an expanding recall since the end of 2008.  Takata was fined $70 million by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last November for failing to promptly report the defective air bag safety issues.

Currently, 24 million vehicles and 28.8 million inflators have been recalled.  More than a dozen auto makers have recalled vehicles because of the defective inflater.  According to the Wall Street Journal, “U.S. regulators concluded additional air bag inflaters should be recalled after studying three separate probes conducted by Takata,; a group of 10 auto makers; and Honda Motor Co., the manufacturer most affected by the problematic devices…”

The faulty Takata inflaters have been implicated in 10 deaths and multiple injuries.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it strongly urges consumers check www.safercar.gov to determine if their vehicle is part of the recall.