Honda To Expand Takata Airbag Recall By 21 Million Cars Globally

The largest automotive recall ever is about to get even bigger, as Honda will call back an additional 21 million cars, related to the Takata airbag problem, worldwide.

It’s not clear yet how many of the additional 21 million vehicles are found in the United States or other countries, as the Honda Executive Vice President, Tetsuo Iwamura, did not say. However, the latest batch of cars are likely part of the campaign ordered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) earlier this month, according to the NYTimes.

Takata’s airbag inflators that use ammonium nitrate and lack a moisture-absorbing desiccant can explode with too much force, sending shrapnel into the passenger compartment. Due to this condition, at least 13 motorists have lost their lives in the United States and Malaysia and more than 100 have been injured in accidents worldwide.

Cars from approximately a dozen automakers have been caught up in this crisis and replacing their airbags is a costly job. Honda had set aside $2.45 billion to cover the Takata recall-related costs, but it ended up spending a little over $4 billion, for the financial year that ended in March.

Takata expects a net loss of $121 million for the financial year that has just ended, which will add to a previous net loss of $276 million and comes in contrast with the forecasts that indicated a $46 million profit.