DETROIT — The federal government is demanding that the auto industry recall millions of additional cars equipped with faulty air bags that can injure — even kill — a driver.
Tuesday’s action by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covers driver-side air bags equipped with inflators made by Takata Corp. of Japan. The inflators can erupt and send metal fragments into the passenger compartment.
Previously, cars with the inflators had been recalled only in regions with high humidity such as Gulf Coast states. Takata has said that prolonged exposure to moisture can cause the air bag propellant to burn faster than designed.
About 8 million cars in the U.S. with Takata inflators have been recalled for problems with either the driver- or passenger-side air bag, or both.
Tuesday’s action is based on incidents involving a death in California and an injury in North Carolina. Both states are outside of the area covered by the earlier recalls. “One can be an anomaly. Two becomes a trend, and we feel we need to act,” said NHTSA deputy administrator David Friedman.
