Takata inflators can blow apart a metal canister, sending shrapnel into drivers and passengers. At least 11 people have died worldwide and over 100 have been hurt. (Representational image)
Two people in Malaysia have died in recent traffic crashes in which Takata air bag inflators exploded with too much force, but authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of either death.
Both crashes involved driver's air bag inflators in older Honda City small cars, according to a statement released today by Honda.
The automaker says cars in both crashes were under recall to fix faulty Takata inflators, but repairs had not been made.
Both cars had inflators that the company does not use in the US or Canada, but are used in other countries and largely in Asia, the company said.
Takata inflators can blow apart a metal canister, sending shrapnel into drivers and passengers. At least 11 people have died worldwide and over 100 have been hurt. If the inflators caused both recent deaths in Malaysia, the death toll would rise to 13.
The first of the recent Malaysian crashes happened April 16 in Sabah state, according to Honda. A driver's inflator on a 2006 Honda City ruptured in the crash. The car was part of recall announced on May 21. The second crash happened May 1 and involved a 2003 Honda City. That car was recalled on Dec. 8, 2014.
In both cases, Honda officials inspected the cars with the Royal Malaysia Police and determined that the driver's inflator had ruptured, according to Honda. Representatives of the Royal Malaysia Police could not be reached by The Associated Press late Wednesday.
Honda said it is communicating with the drivers' families and out of respect, would not provide further information about the crash victims.
News of the deaths comes just hours before US authorities will announce that the size of the Takata recall in the US will more than double. But a spokesman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the announcement has nothing to do with the crashes in Malaysia.
NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind is scheduled to hold a news conference at Wednesday afternoon to make the announcement. Three people briefed on the matter say the agency is likely to add more than 35 million inflators to the recall, which already is the largest automotive recall in US history at 28.8 million inflators. The people requested anonymity because the official announcement has not yet been made.
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