Carmakers Recall Another 1.7 Million Takata Airbag Inflators

Seven overseas carmakers are collectively recalling 1.7 million vehicles to replace Takata Corp. airbag inflators that could explode when triggered by a crash, the Associated Press reports.

The group is among 19 manufacturers that have been replacing roughly 100 million Takata inflators in the U.S. through a staged series of callbacks orchestrated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Many more of the devices also are being replaced overseas.

Today’s U.S. recalls involve:

• BMW: 266,000 vehicles made during the 2000-2004 and 2015-2017 model years
• Daimler Vans: 159,700 commercial vans made in 2015-2017
• Ferrari: 11,200 cars produced in the 2014-2018 model years
• Mercedes-Bend: 288,800 car and crossovers from the 2010-2017 model years
• Subaru: 826,000 cars made in 2010-2014
• Tesla: 68,700 Model S electric sedans from the 2014-2016 model years
• Volkswagen: 119,400 Audi and VW brand vehicles built in 2015-2017

Last month, similar recalls were launched in the U.S. by Toyota (1.7 million vehicles made between 2010 and 2017, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (1.6 million units produced in 2010-2016) and Ford (953,000 2010-2014 models).

The Takata inflators are being removed because the propellant used to inflate airbags can deteriorate over time, then misfire and spray shrapnel at vehicle occupants. The devices reportedly have killed more than 20 people and seriously injured more than one hundred others.