Automakers to recall 5M vehicles for new air bag issue

To date, 14 automakers have recalled about 25 million vehicles for air bag inflators made by Takata Corp that could rupture, emitting potentially deadly metal fragments.

A report published by the Continental Automotive Systems detailed that moisture can enter air bag control computer, which may cause the power lines to deteriorate and fail over time.

The recall brings to 8.51 million the number of Honda and Acura vehicles recalled in the US for Takata inflator problems. The company will send vehicle owners a letter in coming weeks regarding the recall.

Honda plans to replace all of the recalled inflators with new parts.

This is the latest massive US recall related to air bag problems.

The Takata recall has typically focused on older vehicles, but today’s expansion includes many recent and current models.

The faulty Takata airbags have been linked to at least 11 deaths and 139 injuries.

In January 2008, Continental conducted its first round of investigation when a malfunctioning air bag control system was removed from a Mercedes vehicle.

In 2011, Continental learned about two incidents where airbags deployed in Daimler and Chrysler vehicles.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started probing the problem in August amid complaints that air bags failed to deploy in 2008 Honda Accords. If a scan identifies a problem with the airbag system, it will be replaced “using a limited supply of updated replacement parts”.

The total includes 440,000 vehicles in Japan and another 2.2 million in the United States announced earlier this week.

You’ve all heard and read about Takata and its defective airbag inflators that caused injuries and even deaths.

Fiat Chrysler, American Honda Motor Co. and Mercedes-Benz already have issued some recalls.

A VW spokesman said the company did not known how many Chrysler-built Routan minivans are involved.

The most-updated available consumer information about this action can be obtained at www.honda.ca/recalls and www.acura.ca/recalls or by calling (877) 445-7754 for Honda owners and (877) 445-9844 for Acura owners. Honda is Takata’s largest customer and has stopped buying its inflators for new models. However, we’ve been in touch with Honda Malaysia, which is now checking to see if any Malaysian vehicles have been affected.