Mazda Next To Expand Air Bag Recall Nationwide

Mazda is the next automaker to expand a recall for certain models equipped with Takata air bags nationwide, affecting an undetermined number of additional vehicles.

The Japanese carmaker will be expanding regional recalls within the United States for vehicles made with potentially faulty driver's air bags that can explode in the event of a crash, Reuters reported.

Mazda has not yet determined how many more vehicles will be affected and doesn't yet have a timeline for the expanded recall, spokeswoman Keiko Yano told Reuters. The expansion comprises vehicles with faulty air bags on the driver's side, adding to 86,773 vehicles that have already been recalled for potentially dangerous Takata air bags on the driver's or passenger's side.

The defective air bag inflators can spray shrapnel at the vehicle's occupants and have been related to four traffic fatalities in the U.S. and one in Malaysia. Ten automakers have recalled around 19 million vehicles worldwide for the issue.

Honda has also expanded its regional campaigns nationwide, affecting 2.6 million additional vehicles.  

Despite U.S. government orders, Japanese supplier Takata and fellow automaker Chrysler have refused to expand air bag-related recalls nationwide. The faulty inflators seem to be risky in areas with more moisture, leading some carmakers to limit their recalls to regional campaigns in states and territories with high humidity.

The NHTSA has told Chrysler that neglecting to expand the recall nationwide is putting consumers in danger. Ford and BMW have yet to reach a decision on expanding their respective recalls to the whole country.