Takata Reports Possible 11th Fatality Linked to Its Airbag Inflators

Takata Corp. says a fatality in India last August may be linked to the company’s defective airbag inflators. If so, it would bring the global death count to 11.

The company disclosed the possible new fatality as it announced plans to recall 5.1 million vehicles in the U.S. to replace two versions of the devices. The faulty inflators can explode in a crash and blast metal fragments into the passenger compartment. Last Friday the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated the new round of recalls would total about 5 million units.

Takata’s campaigns cover certain Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Saab and Volkswagen cars and Mercedes Sprinter commercial vans. The campaigns encompass factory-installed and replacement airbag modules.

Takata says it is still working with affected carmakers to determine exactly which models are affected. Some 24 million vehicles are already being called back in the U.S. to replace one or both frontal airbag inflators. An accurate count is difficult, in part because carmakers also are broadening previous recalls of the same models.

Nine fatalities blamed on Takata’s inflators have occurred in the U.S., including one last month that involved a 2006 model Ford Ranger pickup truck. On Tuesday Ford began recalling all 391,400 of its U.S.-built 2004-2006 model Rangers to replace their driver’s-side airbag.

Over the past six years, 10 carmakers have launched callbacks of roughly 40 million vehicles worldwide to replace Takata airbag inflators. All deaths to date have occurred in hot and humid climates—conditions believed to make a misfire more likely.