Automakers expand air-bag recall

Associated Press

TOKYO

Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi announced more recalls for the same possibly defective Takata air bags that Toyota recalled earlier this month after one exploded during scrapping in Japan.

Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday it’s recalling the Presage, X-Trail and other models totaling 83,000 vehicles in Japan, some 6,000 in China, another 49,000 in Europe and 14,000 in other regions. In the U.S., the company will recall certain 2003 and 2004 Pathfinder SUVs and 2004 Sentra compact cars. Exact numbers were still being counted, but a spokesman said this will add tens of thousands of vehicles to a recall from 2013.

The recall by Nissan and other Japanese automakers is meant to address possible problems with passenger-side air bags.

Japanese supplier Takata Corp. is under fire for air-bag inflators that can explode, shooting out metal and plastic pieces. At least five deaths and dozens of injuries have been linked to the problem worldwide.

Honda Motor Co. is recalling 400,000 vehicles worldwide for the Fit, Stream, CR-V and other models. That includes 175,000 in Japan; 6,000 in North America, excluding the U.S. where a recall already has been carried out; 16,000 in South America; 100,000 in Europe; 70,000 in Asia; and 30,000 in other regions.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. recalled 300 Lancer cars in Japan. Mitsubishi said the comparable recall already has been carried out in the U.S.