Honda recalls another 4.5 million cars over airbag fears

Nissan and several rivals have recalled millions of cars globally because of a defect making Takata-made inflators explode and spray shrapnel.

At least eight deaths – all in Honda cars – have been linked to the airbag inflator, which can deploy with too much force spraying metal shrapnel.

Honda, which before Thursday had already recalled more than 20 million vehicles over seven years due to problems with Takata air bags, expanded its plan to cover newer models that were manufactured between 2007 and 2011.

“It is a preventive measure and unlike other normal recalls we are not waiting for the full results of the research”, he said.

The recalled cars include 1.63 million vehicles in Japan.

The latest recall is the first for Honda under new President Takahiro Hachigo, who replaced Takanobu Ito this month after a tenure plagued by quality missteps.

Nissan is blaming a faulty Takata airbag for a vehicle fire that occurred after a light crash in Japan.

The Nissan spokesman said the passenger-side air bag inflator deployed abnormally, sending high-temperature fragments into the dashboard and breaking the passenger-side window.

The driver’s left cheek was lightly burned, though it is unclear if the injury was caused by the Takata-made component, the spokesman said.

Takata and Nissan are now investigating the incident.