World

Japanese carmakers recall 3.4m cars over airbag fault

21:55 pm on 11 April 2013

Japan's top four carmakers are recalling 3.4 million vehicles over a defect in passenger airbags.

Toyota, which is recalling 1.73 million cars, said the vehicles had a defective part which "could cause the airbag inflator to rupture and deploy the airbag abnormally in a crash".

Honda Motors is recalling 1.13 million cars, while 480,000 of Nissan's and 45,000 Mazda cars are affected, the BBC reports.

The cars were sold in the years 2000-04, and the firms said the defective part was supplied by parts maker Takata Corp.

Toyota spokesperson Ryo Sakai told the BBC that the company had received reports of five separate incidents of the airbag inflator being ruptured.

Two of these incidents took place in Japan and three in the United States, Mr Sakai said. However, he added that there had been no injuries as a result of the incidents.

Honda, Nissan and Mazda said that there had been no incidents involving their cars.

All four carmakers have said that they will replace the defective parts for free.