Millions of drivers urged to repair defective, potentially deadly airbags

World Today

Drivers throughout the United States and the world are being urged to get the airbags in their cars repaired. As CCTV’America’s Mark Barger reports, the airbags pose a dangerous and potentially deadly risk.

The U.S. government has issued an emergency plea to more than 4.7 million people to get the air bags in their cars repaired after reports of a defect in the devices has become apparent. The inflator mechanisms in the air bags can rupture, causing metal fragments to fly out when the bags are deployed in crashes. Safety advocates say at least four people have died from the problem and there have been multiple injuries.

Multiple automakers have recalled vehicles in the U.S. over the past two years to repair air bag inflators made by Takata Corp., a Tokyo-based supplier of seat belts, air bags, steering wheels, and other auto parts. In a statement Monday, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration warned owners of those cars to act immediately.

The agency has been investigating the problem since June, and has cited reports of six inflators rupturing, causing three injuries. Worldwide, automakers have recalled about 12 million vehicles due to the problem.

The warning covers cars made by Toyota, Honda, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, General Motors and Ford. Passenger or driver air bags or both could have the faulty inflators. Safety advocates say the problem could affect more than 20 million vehicles in the United States.