The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has revised downward the number of recalled U.S. vehicles with defective Takata air bag inflators to 19.2 million from an estimated 30 million, according to the federal safety agency. NHTSA earlier had cited 34 million defective inflators in 30 million U.S. vehicles, but the figures were revised in part to double-counting. The official said the numbers could continue to be revised.Defective Takata air bags have been linked to at least eight deaths worldwide and more than 100 injuries. The air bags can explode when activated and send metal shrapnel at drivers and passengers.
Officials said on September 1 that 4.4 million of 23.4 million defective Takata inflators in the U.S. have been fixed, though some may need another, more permanent fix. About 4 million vehicles included in the recall have both defective driver and passenger air bags, NHTSA says. The agency continues to investigate and may consider a U.S. recall following a rupture of a Takata seat-mounted side air bag inflator in a 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan in Missouri that occurred in June.
Last month, U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) called for recalls of all vehicles with Takata air bags.
NHTSA said it also plans to hold a public event on the Takata air bag recall this fall that could lay out a coordinated effort for repairing the air bags. It may include prioritizing the highest risks and allocating supply based on that, such as in high humidity states first.
Globally, the Takata Corp. air bag recall includes up to 33.8 million vehicles by 11 automakers.