Air bag danger: US counts 85M unrecalled Takata inflators

DETROIT (AP) – The nation’s highway safety watchdog says U.S. cars and trucks have about 85 million Takata air bag inflators in them that haven’t been recalled.

Takata’s inflators can explode with too much force and spew shrapnel into drivers and passengers. All of the inflators would have to be recalled if Takata can’t prove that they are safe.

The 85 million air bag inflators are in addition to the 28.8 million inflators already slated for replacement in what has become the largest automotive recall in the nation’s history. A recall that massive would take years to complete and cost Takata billions of dollars.

At least 11 people have died worldwide and more than 100 have been hurt by the exploding inflators.