Updated at 2:48 p.m. ET
Japanese air bag supplier Takata says nearly 34 million vehicles were fitted with its defective inflator mechanisms, doubling the number of vehicles affected in the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today.
The recall is believed to be the largest in NHTSA's history.
The problem lies with Takata air bags that can potentially explode, sending metal shards flying into the passenger compartment. The air bags have been linked to six deaths and more than 100 injuries worldwide, prompted lawsuits and a criminal inquiry in the U.S.
A NHTSA statement said "these inflators were made with a propellant that can degrade over time and has led to ruptures."
Ten automakers are affected and NHTSA said it was waiting for them to supply a complete list of affected vehicles. Honda, Toyota and eight other automakers have already recalled 17 million vehicles in the U.S. and more than 36 million worldwide in connection with the problem. Those numbers will now increase.
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