Takata Corp, NHTSA agree to recall 33.8 million airbags in largest recall in US history.

The AP (6/1, Gordon) reports Takata Corp. has declared 33.8 million air bags defective in an agreement with NHTSA regulators. It’s the biggest auto-safety recall in US history. The AP adds that a top Takata Corp executive says the company plans to “replace the chemical in its air bags that has been linked to a defect responsible for at least six deaths and more than 100 injuries.”

        Bloomberg News (6/1, Plungis, 3.81M) reports about 50% of the replacement air-bag kits that Takata Corp. sent to automakers in May “have inflators made by competitors, including some with a different chemical than the one linked to explosions that have killed six people.” BN adds that the portion is expected to reach 70% by the end of the 2015, according to a Monday statement by Takata.

        The AP (6/1) reports although the NHTSA and the auto industry are “still trying to determine exactly what is causing Takata’s inflators to explode,” the agency said last week it “decided the recall action needed to be taken immediately to protect the public.” The AP says Takata’s agreement with NHTSA adds over 18 million air bags to existing recalls. The story says NHTSA “sparred with Takata for the past year over the size of the recalls and the cause of the problem.”

        CBS News (6/1, 8.2M) reports although the NHTSA and the auto industry are still trying to determine exactly what is causing Takata’s inflators to explode and the agency said last week it “decided the recall action needed to be taken immediately to protect the public.”