- The driver of a 2004 Honda Civic was killed in a high-speed crash in Alabama in 2018.
- Honda says the high-speed nature of the crash made it difficult to determine what killed the driver.
- Over 100M vehicles globally have been recalled for potentially explosive Takata airbag inflators.
A 28th death in the U.S. has been blamed on a faulty Takata airbag inflator. While it’s grabbing headlines now, the deadly accident actually happened six years ago—another stark reminder of the ongoing risk these ticking time bombs pose.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has revealed the driver of a 2004 Honda Civic was killed in a 2018 crash in Alabama due to the inflator. This is the 20th Takata-related death to have occurred in the U.S. involving a Honda/Acura vehicle. At least 36 deaths have been attributed to faulty airbag inflators worldwide, with other deaths confirmed overseas, including in Malaysia and Australia.
Read: Takata Saga Continues As Toyota And GM Urge More Owners To Stop Driving Over Faulty Airbags
Honda says the Civic, which crashed in 2018 in Etowah County, was traveling at a high rate of speed and this made it difficult to determine the cause of the driver’s death.
The airbag inflators in question have ammonium nitrate that can deteriorate over time in high heat and high humidity. In the event of a crash, the airbag can deploy with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister that sends shrapnel into the cabin. The fault hasn’t only been attributed to at least 36 deaths but also more than 400 injuries in the U.S.
More than 100 million vehicles fitted with potentially explosive Takata airbag inflators have been recalled worldwide over the last decade, including 67 million in the United States. Honda used more of these Takata airbags than any other brand. The Japanese marque says it has replaced or accounted for more than 95% of the recalled inflators in its vehicles.
“Honda continues to urge owners of Honda and Acura vehicles affected by the Takata airbag inflator recalls to get their vehicles repaired at an authorized dealership as soon as possible,” it added in a statement.
