WASHINGTON Reuters : U.S. auto safety investigators closed a new probe into 30 million vehicles built by nearly two dozen automakers with potentially defective Takata airbag inflators, a government document seen by Reuters on Sunday showed
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA has opened an engineering analysis into an estimated 30 million U.S. vehicles from the 2001 to 2019 model years. Automakers were alerted to the investigation, which is not yet public.
Two automakers on Sunday either declined to comment before the expected NHTSA public announcement on Monday or did not respond to requests for comment. NHTSA refused to comment.
The 30 million vehicles include both vehicles that had the inflators installed when they were manufactured as well as some inflators that were installed in prior recall repairs, NHTSA said in the document.
Over the last decade, more than 67 million Takata air bags have been recalled in the United States - and more than 100 million worldwide - in the biggest auto safety callback in history because inflators can send deadly metal fragments flying in rare instances.
There have been more than 28 deaths worldwide, including 19 in the United States tied to faulty Takata inflation valves and with more than 400 injuries.
The 30 million vehicles that are part of the new investigation have desiccant or drying agents inflators. According to the document, NHTSA said there have been no reported ruptures of vehicles with air bags inflators with the drying agent on the roads.
While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is required to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled inflators, NHTSA said in opening its engineering analysis seen by Reuters. Inflators need further study to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflation devices. The cause of the inflator explosions linked to the recall of 67 million inflators that can emit deadly fragments is propellant breaking down after long exposure to high temperature fluctuations and humidity. The agency has required all similar Takata without a drying agent to be recalled.
In the United States, 16 deaths in Honda vehicles have been reported, two with Ford vehicles and one in a BMW, while 9 other Honda deaths have occurred in Malaysia, Brazil and Mexico.
NHTSA did not immediately release a breakdown of how many vehicles were covered by the probe.
The Safety Agency said the investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Earlier in the year, NHTSA said that of the 67 million accounted for inflators, approximately 50 million have been repaired or otherwise recalled.