US agency reports 28th Takata air bag inflator death since 2009

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday it had confirmed the 28th death in the United States stemming from a defective Takata air bag inflator since 2009.

The issue has prompted the largest-ever recall in U.S. history. Over the past decade, more than 100 million vehicles fitted with Takata airbag inflators have been recalled worldwide, including 67 million in the United States.

The agency said the confirmation was based on new information submitted by Honda (NYSE:) Motor. The death involved a Honda vehicle and occurred in 2018 in Alabama, resulting in fatal injuries to the driver.

NHTSA said that even “minor crashes can result in exploding Takata air bags that can kill or produce life-altering, gruesome injuries.”

Hundreds of injuries have also been reported in various automakers’ vehicles since 2009 from Takata air bag inflators that can explode, unleashing metal shrapnel inside cars and trucks killing or injuring drivers or other vehicle occupants.

Honda said on Tuesday it has now confirmed 20 U.S. deaths in Honda and Acura vehicles. The company said it has replaced or accounted for more than 95% of recalled Takata inflators but “remains committed to replacing or accounting for all that remain.”

The air bag problems have been blamed on propellant that can break down after long-term exposure to high-temperature fluctuations and humidity.

A number of automakers have urged owners of older vehicles this year to stop driving them until they get Takata air bag inflators replaced.

In May, Nissan (OTC:) warned owners of nearly 84,000 older vehicles to not drive certain older vehicles recalled in 2020 but have not been fixed.

Chrysler parent Stellantis (NYSE:) last year issued warnings to owners of 29,000 2003 Dodge Ram pickups to immediately stop driving, pending repairs, after one person was killed when a Takata air-bag inflator exploded.

Toyota (NYSE:) in January urged owners of 50,000 older Corolla and RAV4 vehicles to get Takata inflators replaced.