Expanded Takata Air Bag Recall
The recall of Takata air bag inflators that began in 2015 is being expanded and accelerated by the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The decision is based on the confirmation of that the inflator’s propensity to rupture, causing 10 deaths and more than 100 injuries in the United States.
Through 2019 an additional 35 – 40 million inflators will be recalled. The five phases of the recall are based on risk factors, including the age of the inflators, exposure to high humidity, and fluctuating temperatures, all conditions that accelerate the degradation of the chemical propellant and increase the risk of rupture.
The newly accelerated recall will take place between May 2016 and December 2019. All Takata ammonium nitrate-based propellant driver and passenger frontal air bag inflators without a chemical drying agent (known as a desiccant) will be recalled.
See this press release for more information about the recall.