NHTSA investigating 1.1M vehicles for faulty air bags
by The Associated Press
Investigation covers vehicles from five automakers that share air bags made by the same supplier
DETROIT—U.S. safety regulators are investigating whether 1.1 million vehicles from five automakers have air bags that could hurt people in a crash.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it opened the probe Wednesday after getting six reports of air bags rupturing. Three people were hurt when struck by parts, but the injuries were not life-threatening.
Vehicles from the 2002 through 2006 model years made by Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Chrysler and Toyota are being investigated.
All have air bags made by parts supplier Takata Corp., which is based in Japan. Takata says it is co-operating in the investigation.
The safety agency says all the incidents happened in Florida or Puerto Rico where the humidity is high. Ruptured air bags also don’t protect people in crashes.
