Non-Takata Airbag Defect Snags Up To 5 Million Cars, Recalls Pending

Honda also issued a recall for an additional 2.2 million Honda and Acura cars that were outfitted with Takata airbags, as in the ones that have a proclivity for exploding and hurling potentially lethal batches of shrapnel at drivers.

Five million vehicles of various manufacturers need to be recalled to replace their air bag control units, component supplier Continental Automotive Systems (Continental) said in a filing with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In fact, Honda expanded its Takata recall on Wednesday to include 2.2 million newer Honda and Acura vehicles in the U.S.

A United Kingdom spokesman said the models affected in Europe include; CR-V (2007-2011 MY), CR-Z (2011-2015 MY), Jazz (2009-2014 MY) and Insight (2010-2014 MY) and some could be in Britain.

Mazda was aware of Continental’s recall and investigating and VW did not know how many Chrysler-built Routan minivans are involved, according to company spokespeople. It also added that 74 injury accusations in connection with air bags that failed to deploy have yet to be verified.

The fatal air bag deployment occurred in a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup, making it the first such death in a vehicle other than a Honda. That will be followed by a second recall notice when replacement parts become available. Recalled vehicles will have their faulty airbag inflators removed and replaced with parts from an alternative supplier. The Takata airbag recall, the largest automotive recall in USA history, spans 24 million vehicles 14 automakers. Although the company hasn’t received any reports of airbag ruptures associated with that particular inflator, clearly, Honda isn’t taking chances. At least 11 people have died worldwide from the problem, and 139 have been injured.

Honda has told its dealers that replacement parts are in very short supply and can only be ordered for vehicles with crash damage or with airbag issues.

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