Takata Airbag Recall Expands In Japan By 1.3 Million Vehicles

The automotive industry’s biggest recall is getting even worse, as automakers will start sending notifications letters for more than one million vehicles in Japan.

Ordered by country’s transport ministry, the action follows pressure from the US government over parts supplier Takata, which agreed to declare most of the airbag inflators sold locally as defective, as AutomotiveNews reports.

More than half of the additional vehicles included in the safety campaign are from Mazda and Mitsubishi, for 490,000 and 520,000 units respectively. The models affected include the Mazda Demio, or Mazda2 as it is known outside JDM, RX-8 and Bongo van, along with the Pajero SUV, Pajero Mini, Delica MPV, Toppo, eK Sport, eK Wagon and the mini vehicles made for Nissan.

Subaru has announced a recall for the Legacy sedans in the Land of the Rising Sun and Mercedes-Benz’s cars aren’t exempt from the campaign either, as the C-Class and E-Class models will have to be taken back to the dealers. Ending the list will be Japan’s UD Trucks, owned by Volvo AB, which will recall roughly 47,000 units.

All of these vehicles will have to get their passenger-side airbags replaced, which are known to explode with excessive force after long exposure to high temperatures and humidity, sending shrapnel towards the occupants. The defective parts have already claimed 14 lives and are responsible for approximately 150 injuries, mostly in the United States.

Note: Mitsubishi eK pictured