Honda Reports Another Possible Takata Airbag Fatality

Honda Motor Co. says a Takata Corp. airbag inflator exploded in a fatal crash in Malaysia on Saturday. Police confirm the device ruptured but have not determined the cause of death.

Thirteen fatalities have been blamed on malfunctioning Takata inflators worldwide, including two others earlier this year in Malaysia. All but one of the misfires involves a Honda vehicle. The company also is investigating a possible inflator-caused death in India.

Honda and 16 other carmakers have recalled about 100 million vehicles to replace Takata-made front airbag inflators. The devices can deteriorate under prolonged hot and humid conditions, then blast metal shards into the passenger compartment when they are triggered in a crash.

The car in last weekend’s Malaysian crash was a 2005 Honda City minicar that had been recalled more than a year ago to replace Takata inflators for the driver and front passenger positions. Honda says it mailed three recall notices to the owner but has no evidence that the car was repaired.

The fatality comes a week after Honda expanded its Takata inflator recall in Malaysia to 147,900 vehicles.