Six Carmakers to Test Takata Airbags

Signaling no confidence in struggling Takata Corp., six carmakers say they will collaborate to independently determine why some of the supplier's passenger-side airbag inflators can explode when activated.

The group is led by Toyota and includes Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Mazda and Subaru.

Takata's image has been tarnished by its lengthy attempt to pinpoint the defect in its inflators and to identify which vehicles may be equipped with the flawed devices. The company says the inflators appear to be sensitive to moisture, but it isn't clear how much detail it has shared with its customers about the exact nature of the problem.

The company said last week it will set up an independent panel to review its manufacturing processes.

Takata's reputation was further battered last week when the company refused to comply with an order from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to expand the inflator recalls. Takata insists there is no need to widen existing recalls beyond a handful of high-humidity states and U.S. territories or to recall driver's-side airbags anywhere. NHTSA is demanding that Takata and carmakers do both.