US reports 28th death caused by exploding Takata air bag inflators that can spew shrapnel

DETROIT– US regulators have linked another fatal accident to dangerous airbags from Takata, the 28th fatal accident in the United States.

The driver was killed in a Honda vehicle in Alabama in 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said, but did not provide further details. The administration said the death underscores the need for people to replace recalled airbag inflators.

Takata used ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate airbags in a crash. But the chemical can deteriorate over time due to high heat and humidity and explode with too much force. That can blow a metal canister apart, sending shrapnel into the passenger compartment. More than 400 people in the U.S. have been injured.

At least 35 people worldwide have been killed by Takata inflation systems in Malaysia, Australia and the US

Potential for a dangerous malfunction led to the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history, involving at least 67 million Takata inflators. The U.S. government says many have not been repaired. About 100 million inflators have been recalled worldwide. The exploding airbags sent Takata in bankruptcy.