In this Nov. 20, 2014 file photo, Senate Commerce Committee member Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. holds an example of the defective airbag made by Takata of Japan that has been linked to multiple deaths and injuries in cars driven in the U.S. during the committee’s hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Federal regulators are addressing the deadly defects in Takata air bag inflators as they move toward taking over management of the massive recalls to speed repairs.
A public meeting Thursday held by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, regulators will discuss repairs to inflators on millions of U.S. vehicles in the largest auto-safety recall in U.S. history. Eight people have died worldwide because of exploding inflators and more than 100 have been hurt.
About 23.4 million Takata driver and passenger air bag inflators have been recalled on 19.2 million U.S. vehicles sold by 11 automakers, including Honda and Fiat Chrysler. As of Sept. 1, only 4.4 million inflators had been replaced.
NHTSA recently sent letters to seven more companies seeking information and warning that the recalls could be expanded.
The deadly flaw in Takata air bag inflators continues to spread to newer vehicles.
Over the weekend, GM said that it was recalling more than 400 vehicles because the side air bag inflators could rupture and send shrapnel into drivers and passengers, according to the company and documents posted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Filed Under: Industry regulations
