Airbag supplier told to recall

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ordered Japanese automotive supplier Takata to expand its region recall of airbags to cover the whole of the US. It affects vehicles made by five marques – Ford, Honda, Chrysler, Mazda and BMW.

The NHTSA hasn’t estimated of the number of units involved, but regional recalls have so far involved about 4.1 million. It may begin proceedings if the recall isn’t adhered to, leading to fines of up to US$7,000 per vehicle the regulator says should have called back. The agency cannot fine a company more than US$35 million, but the Department of Transport, which oversees the NHTSA, has asked Congress to raise the limit to US$300m. Takata’s airbags have been blamed for at least five deaths and multiple injuries worldwide. They can inflate with too much force, blowing apart a mental canister and spewing shrapnel. A letter from the NHTSA to Takata’s senior vice-president, Kazuo Higuchi, and obtained by Reuters, states its previous recall limited to areas of high humidity should be expanded because of incidents in California and North Carolina, which are outside of the initial recall area.