The recall of vehicles with a defective air bag component is being expanded to include about 3 million Honda, Nissan, and Mazda vehicles.
Honda is recalling 2.03 million vehicles, including the 2000-2005 Fit, Element, and CR-V models, according to the New York Times. Nissan is recalling an additional 755,000 vehicles, including the Cube, X-Trail, and some Infinity models produced between 2001 and 2003. Mazda said it would recall 159,807 Atenza and RX-8 vehicles made between 2002 and 2004.
If a crash occurs and an air bag needs to be deployed, the inflator could explode causing metal fragments to strike and injure vehicle occupants.
The maker of the air bags involved in the recalls is Tokyo-based Takata, one of three major manufacturers of air bags. It provides air bags and other components to automakers around the world. The problems with Takata air bag inflators have led to recalls of 10 million vehicles since 2009.
In a separate recall action, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Ford, Chrysler, and BMW said they are conducting regional recalls in the United States to replace Takata air bag inflators in some vehicles in high humidity regions of Puerto Rico, Florida, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands.
The action is the result of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation into six reports of air bag inflator ruptures, all of which occurred in Florida and Puerto Rico.
"Based on the limited data available at this time, NHTSA supports efforts by automakers to address the immediate risk in areas that have consistently hot, humid conditions over extended periods of time,” said the agency.
Recall notifications NHTS received from each manufacturer:
- BMW
- Chrysler
- Ford
- Honda – Driver-side air bag | Passenger-side air bag
- Mazda
- Nissan
- Toyota
Consumers impacted by the recalls should have their vehicles serviced promptly after they receive notification from their vehicle manufacturer, the agency said.
Scary. The irony is … no GM models on this list.