Mexican Media Brands
11th U.S. Death Linked to Faulty Takata Airbag Inflator
Safety regulators say an exploding Takata Corp. airbag inflator has been blamed for an 11th fatality in the U.S.
#regulations
Share
Safety regulators say an exploding Takata Corp. airbag inflator has been blamed for an 11th fatality in the U.S. At least five other such deaths have been reported overseas.
The victim, a 50-year-old woman, died late last month after a crash in southern California. Her 2001 model Honda Civic small car was among about 313,000 vehicles with inflators deemed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to be as much as 50% likely to misfire in a crash. If the inflator explodes, is can spray metal shrapnel into the passenger compartment.
Honda says the victim’s car had been recalled in 2008. But the vehicle was never repaired in spite of more than 20 recall notices mailed to the car’s various owners, according to the company.
Almost all the Takata inflator fatalities reported to date have involved a Honda vehicle. But more than a dozen other carmakers also are recalling cars that use the same devices. About 70 million Takata inflators in the U.S. have already been recalled or soon will be. Another 30 million units are being replaced elsewhere.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Tesla Maxes Out on Tax Credit as U.S. Sales Reach 200,000
Tesla Inc. says it will deliver its 200,000th electric vehicle in the U.S. this month, thereby triggering a phase-out of the $7,500 federal tax credit its vehicles have enjoyed.
-
U.S. in No Hurry to Regulate Autonomous Vehicles
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the emerging technology involved in self-driving cars is too new to be tightly regulated.
-
Dubai to Test Digital License Plates
Next month Dubai will begin testing digital license plates that can display various messages, make payments and conduct other transactions.