U.S. reports 8 deaths, 98 injuries from exploding air bags
WASHINGTON — People whose cars have been recalled to fix air bag inflators made by Takata Corp. should get the repairs done as soon as possible or face the risk of death or injury, U.S. safety regulators said Thursday.
Speaking at a public meeting on Thursday, officials of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said eight people have died and 98 more have been hurt by inflators that can explode with too much force, spewing shrapnel into drivers and passengers.
About 23.4 million Takata driver and passenger air bag inflators have been recalled on 19.2 million U.S. vehicles sold by 12 auto and truck makers.
The agency is considering “a number of steps under the authority Congress has given us that could accelerate repairs and ensure that the inflators that present the greatest safety risk get replaced first,” Administrator Mark Rosekind said.
Agency officials also cautioned that the recalls, which date to 2004, could expand beyond driver and passenger front air bags.
Takata uses the chemical ammonium nitrate to create an explosion that inflates air bags, but it can deteriorate over time, especially when exposed to moist air.