Takata air bags have been linked to eight deaths in the U.S. and about 100 injuries. The air bags can spray drivers and passengers with shrapnel.
It has been reported that the latest fatality linked to a Takata air bag further demonstrates a flawed recall system, that fails to lead to repairs being completed, and repairs taking years to complete.
Almost three quarters of the 19 million vehicles covered under the recall are still unrepaired. Only about 70 percent of vehicles covered under recalls are repaired. The rate for older vehicles, such as those involved in the Takata recall, is about 50 to 60 percent.
NHTSA has expanded the recall to models made by Subaru, Mazda, and Honda. NHTSA has taken steps to speed up the recall, manufacturers in states with high humidity, which have been linked to air bag failures, must have enough parts on hand by March to complete all repairs.
Cars can be sold and registered without recall fixes having to be performed. Motorists can investigate whether their cars are on the recall list at a NHTSA run website, safercar.com, repairs under the recall are free.