The risks associated with the air bag systems manufactured by Takata have been forcing several car makers to issue recall after recall in order to address the problem. But while the recalls are being launched, the company is having a hard time producing enough fixes for all impacted vehicles. But in order to respond to the U.S. Transportation Department’s recommendations, Takata has finally agreed to increase the number of vehicles listed under its air bag recalls by doubling the scope of its previous recalls.

Reports show this is the largest automotive air bag recall in U.S. history.

The consent puts the company in a position in which it would have to replace the air bags in 33.8 million vehicles in the United States. While this agreement comes after a long period of resistance, many safety advocates are pleased with the change of heart. The replacement of potentially defective air bags could help save countless lives in spite of the fact the company has never directly acknowledged that its products are defective.

In its latest statement, Takata claims to be working along with the government to make sure this issue is fully addressed and the problems are fixed.

Up until now, over 17 million vehicles had been recalled over these issues. Now that Takata agreed to expand the recall, it will impact 16 million more. The first recalls launched by Takata with the help of the impacted automakers affected mostly Southern states due to the high humidity. Takata believes that the humid weather is one of the factors that causes the air bag inflators to explode when the air bags deploy.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has claimed that since General Motors’ latest campaign, no other recall had impacted more than 2.6 million vehicles. The latest Takata campaign impacts over 33 million.

The air bag issues are associated with the inflators deploying aggressively in the event of a collision. Since the metal and other plastic shrapnel may be thrown into the air forcefully, occupants may end up being impacted and serious to deadly injuries may occur as a result.

At least five accidents involving Honda vehicles fitted with the defective air bags resulted in deaths in the United States. Another deadly accident involving a vehicle with the Takata air bags took place in Malaysia.

The risks associated with the air bags should never be ignored. If consumers with the recalled vehicles are serious about making sure their vehicles are fitted with the replacement air bag inflators, they must contact their automakers or Takata for more details.

For the full article covering this major Takata recall, follow this link.