Takata’s faulty airbags that triggered the most expansive automotive recall in U.S. industry have killed another person, according to a newly completed investigation, bringing the total number of U.S. fatalities tied to the airbags to 16.
Following a joint inspection by American Honda Co. and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it was determined the driver of a 2002 Honda Civic was killed June 8, 2018, in Buckeye, Arizona.
After sustaining injuries from the ruptured inflator, the unidentified driver died June 11. It is the 14thperson killed driving a Honda equipped with Takata airbags. More than 200 people have been injured by the faulty devices.
The driver bought the car less than three months prior to the incident, according to American Honda, adding that it was unaware of the ownership change thus was not able to notify that person of the recall on the vehicle.
(Honda recalling 1.1 million vehicles to replace airbags. Click Here for the story.)
The Civic had been was recalled in December 2014 for the frontal airbag inflator. Honda noted that it mailed more than a dozen recall notices were mailed starting in January 2015 in an attempt to get the owner to bring the car in to be fixed. Additionally, more than 20 phone calls were made.
According to Honda record, the recall repair was not completed. Honda recently recalled 1.1 million vehicles for Takata-related recall repairs. Honda was one of Takata’s biggest customers and the action earlier this month was to replace inflators that has already been replaced.
The vehicles involved in this recall were previously repaired using specific Takata desiccated replacement inflators (PSDI-5D) or entire replacement airbag modules containing these inflators, neither subject to recall at that time. Those replacement inflators are now deemed defective as well.
(Less than half of potentially deadly Takata airbags replaced. For the story, Click Here.)
The automaker is making the announcement on the new recall because of the dangers involved in the initial replacement parts. New parts are available from alternate suppliers and repairs can begin immediately, the company notes.
Nearly 2 million vehicles have been recalled this month to replace airbag inflators blamed for dozens of deaths around the world, but millions more are expected to be targeted in the U.S. alone by early next year.
The Takata airbag recall is not only the largest safety-related service action in U.S. history, but also the longest-running recall, with the first advisories going out to vehicle owners back in 2001. It took years for industry leaders, regulators and safety experts to agree on the extent of the problem, but it is now dragging out due to a shortage of replacement inflators.
(Millions more vehicles with Takata yet to face recall. Click Here for the story.)
The latest recall involving the Takata airbag systems was announced this past week and covers 1.7 million vehicles sold by BMW, Daimler Vans, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, Tesla and Volkswagen.
