Thursday, Honda announced it would recall about 4.9 million of its vehicles equipped with Takata airbags.
The announcement comes only about 24 hours after Toyota and Nissan ramped up recalls of vehicles featuring the same airbag made by the Japanese supplier, Takata.
The trio of automakers have been testing used vehicles, and those recovered from junkyards, for the integrity of their airbags. For months now, reports have come in about airbags spontaneously going off and propelling shards of metal at the vehicle’s occupants.
Among the tests that Toyota reportedly conducted included a CT scan, not unlike those used to see inside the human body, to check inside the dashboard and evaluate the quality of the airbag system.
According to a statement from Takata, which reportedly has been working closely with at least Honda to test faulty airbag components, moisture buildup is suspected as a contributing factor in the rash of incidents.
Mazda, BMW, Chrysler and Ford are also among the automakers conducting at least some form of recalls in connection with the faulty airbags, according to a statement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Indeed, the NHTSA cites warm, moist climates as those where a faulty Takata airbag incident is most likely.
