Toyota, Nissan recall 6.5mln vehicles globally to replace Takata airbags

PanARMENIAN.Net - Toyota Motor Corp and smaller rival Nissan said on Wednesday, May 13, they were recalling some 6.5 million vehicles globally to replace potentially faulty airbag inflators, the latest in a series of recalls involving parts made by Takata Corp, according to Reuters.

Both automakers said the recalls were for investigative purposes and that no accidents or injuries had been reported.

They did not give further details about the suspected fault but around 25 million cars have been recalled worldwide since 2008 over Takata air bag inflators that have erupted with too much force, spraying shrapnel inside the car.

Honda Motor Co Ltd also said on Wednesday it was preparing to file additional recalls related to Takata air bags. It did not give any further details.

Asked about the recall, a Takata spokeswoman said a probe into the causes for the air bag defects was ongoing and that the company continued to fully cooperate with the automakers.

Toyota, Japan's biggest automaker, said it would recall just under 5 million Corolla, Vitz and other models, mostly in Japan and Europe.

Many of the models were built between March 2003 and November 2007, including 1.36 million in Japan.

Nissan Motor Co Ltd said it was recalling about 1.56 million cars globally over the same issue. It did not give further details about the models affected.

Six deaths have so far been linked to the defective Takata airbags, all on cars made by Honda Motor Co, which announced disappointing profit forecasts last week citing high quality-related costs.

Takata faces multiple class action lawsuits in the United States and Canada as well as a U.S. criminal investigation and a regulatory probe.