TOKYO--Takata Corp. (7312.TO), the maker of air bags subject to
multiple recalls, said it is concerned its efforts to replace air
bags in high priority regions could be diverted if it needs to
expand regional recalls in the U.S. to include the rest of the
country.
U.S. auto safety regulators called Tuesday for recalls of
millions of additional driver air bags by Takata and several big
auto makers. Ten auto makers have recalled 7.8 million vehicles in
the U.S. in the last two years over Takata-made air bags that could
explode and shoot out shrapnel at people inside the car, an issue
linked with five deaths.
Some auto makers are limiting their recalls to certain hot and
moist U.S. regions including Florida and Puerto Rico. Auto makers,
Takata and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are
probing why certain Takata-made inflaters have been rupturing and
whether exposure to high humidity and temperature has any
impact.
"Takata is concerned that a national recall under these
circumstances could potentially divert replacement air bags from
where they're needed, putting lives at risk," Alby Berman, a
U.S.-based Takata spokesman, said in a statement. "Takata is
prepared to move forward with an appropriate expansion of the
recalls should the scientific analysis and evaluation as conducted
by Takata and NHTSA indicate a risk to safety beyond the current
scope of the field actions."
Write to Yoko Kubota at yoko.kubota@wsj.com
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