WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators are addressing the deadly defects in Takata airbag inflators as they move toward taking over management of the massive recalls to speed repairs.
A public meeting Thursday held by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, regulators will discuss repairs to inflators on millions of U.S. vehicles in the largest auto-safety recall in U.S. history. Eight people have died worldwide because of exploding inflators and more than 100 have been hurt.
About 23.4 million Takata driver and passenger airbag inflators have been recalled on 19.2 million U.S. vehicles sold by 11 automakers, including Honda and Fiat Chrysler. As of Sept. 1, only 4.4 million inflators had been replaced.
NHTSA recently sent letters to seven more companies seeking information and warning that the recalls could be expanded.
The deadly flaw in Takata airbag inflators continues to spread to newer vehicles.
Over the weekend, GM said that it was recalling more than 400 vehicles because the side airbag inflators could rupture and send shrapnel into drivers and passengers, according to the company and documents posted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.