Mazda Recalls Another 80,000 Vehicles for Defective Takata Airbags

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The recall affects front passenger inflators on certain 2007 through 2009 and 2012 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda 6 vehicles. Specific models included in the recall vary by state and age of the vehicles.

Takata airbags have been blamed on at least 16 deaths and nearly 200 injuries worldwide, mostly in Honda vehicles in the U.S.

The recalled airbags contain ammonium nitrate, a highly-explosive chemical that inflates the airbag, which can explode with excessive force — even in response to minor collisions — ejecting metal shrapnel at high speed inside the cabin.

The latest recall is an updated version of one issued in January, which temporarily replaced older Takata inflators with the same parts. Ammonium nitrate used in the inflators can deteriorate over time.

Takata claims the newer inflators are safer. In the latest recall, dealers will install permanent replacement inflators that don’t use ammonium nitrate.

Source: ABC News