Confirmed Deaths from Takata Air Bag Inflators

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Tuesday that it has confirmed the 28th death in the United States due to a defective Takata air bag inflator since 2009.

This tragic issue has led to the largest recall in U.S. history, affecting over 100 million vehicles globally fitted with Takata airbag inflators, with 67 million recalls occurring in the United States alone.

The NHTSA’s confirmation is based on new information provided by Honda Motor Company. The fatal incident involved a Honda vehicle in Alabama in 2018, which resulted in serious injuries to the driver.

NHTSA noted that even “minor crashes can lead to exploding Takata air bags that may cause death or severe, life-altering injuries.”

Since 2009, hundreds of injuries have been reported across various automakers due to Takata air bag inflators that can explode, releasing metal shrapnel that endangers both drivers and passengers.

As of Tuesday, Honda has confirmed 20 deaths in its Honda and Acura vehicles connected with the airbag issue. The company has managed to replace or account for over 95% of the recalled Takata inflators but remains focused on ensuring all outstanding recalls are addressed.

The malfunction has been attributed to propellant degradation from prolonged exposure to high temperature swings and humidity.

This year, several automakers have advised owners of older models to halt usage until Takata air bag inflators are replaced. In May, Nissan urged nearly 84,000 owners of older vehicles, recalled in 2020, not to drive their cars until repairs were made.

Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, issued warnings last year to drivers of 29,000 2003 Dodge Ram pickups to stop driving immediately, pending repairs after one fatal explosion occurred. Additionally, Toyota urged 50,000 owners of older Corolla and RAV4 models in January to replace their Takata inflators promptly.