Takata Agrees To Recall Almost 34 Million Air Bags
Japanese manufacturer Takata is agreeing to recall nearly 34 million vehicles with potentially dangerous air bags.
Japanese manufacturer Takata is agreeing to a consent order with the U.S. government to recall nearly 34 million vehicles equipped potentially dangerous air bags.
A problem with some Takata air bags causes them to explode when they deploy and shower passengers with metal shrapnel.
More than 100 injuries and at least half-a-dozen fatalities are tied to the air bag malfunction.
Last year automakers including Honda, BMW, Chrysler, Ford and Mazda recalled vehicles using Takata air bags. Last week Nissan and Toyota expanded a similar global recall.
Takata refuses to declare the air bags defective but is now agreeing to double the 17 million vehicles that have already been recalled.
The move comes after U.S. safety regulators began fining the manufacturer $14,000 a day in civil penalties for failing to provide sufficient information about its recall efforts.
The U.S. Justice Department has also opened a criminal investigation into Takata’s air bag recalls or lack thereof.
Experts say it could be the largest consumer product recall in U.S. history, topping the 1982 recall of 31 million bottles of Tylenol.
