Continental recalls 5m cars on air-bag control units

The airbags have been the cause of 10 deaths so far although no death or injuries caused by the PSDI-5 airbag inflator that Honda is recalling right now have been reported. The documents made public by the NHTSA reveal that 5 million vehicles could be affected by the defective airbags, but the safety agency did not provide a complete list of the automakers included in the recall.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that its investigators believe a SC driver was killed in December when an inflator in a Takata airbag exploded.

Perhaps the biggest problem posed by the Continental recall is it puts more stress on the supply of replacement airbags for Takata, said Brauer. Fiat Chrysler’s recall affects 112,001 vehicles; Mercedes-Benz’s involves 126,260.

We’ll keep you posted.

In addition, Honda’s US unit confirmed it had instructed USA dealers to stop selling some of its new model Civics equipped with 2.0 liter base engines. Affected vehicles include Honda and FCA models manufactured between 2006 and 2010. Recall letters will be sent in mid-March and another letter will be sent when parts become available, Honda said. Honda, Fiat Chrysler, and Mercedes have issued recall orders. A spokesman for the auto firm’s Irish importer, Universal Honda Ltd, said they were still trying to clarify how many Irish customers will be affected in this latest recall. Part of the challenge is that most of the vehicles are older models that may been resold several times since first being produced. In addition to being hit by Continental’s recall, it was the hardest-hit manufacturer in the Takata recall.

Initial reports on Wednesday indicated about 1.7 million vehicles would be recalled as part of an expanding investigation into the Takata defect.

Asked about a broader recall, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx told reporters on Tuesday that NHTSA’s investigation “has not been closed”.

The additions would join previously-ordered recalls for 23 million ammonium-nitrate inflators in 19 million vehicles in the U.S.