Honda Motor Co. stated that a Takata airbag inflator ruptured in a recent Florida car crash, resulting in what could be the 19th death linked to faulty airbags.
At least 18 deaths and 180 injuries worldwide had been connected to the Takata airbag defect, the inflators can explode, causing metal shrapnel to propel inside vehicles.
Recalls to affected vehicle owners have not been fully effective, as some repairs have not been completed following reported notices to owners. This was the case in the Florida crash, involving a 2002 Honda Accord.
Honda stated that 2001-2003 Honda vehicles pose a significant safety risk.
Last year the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urged owners to stop driving about 300,000 2001-2003 Hondas until repairs were done.
Takata plans to recall about 125 million vehicles worldwide by 2019, including more than 60 million in the United States.