(AP) — Volkswagen, Audi and BMW are recalling nearly 1.7 million vehicles with Takata air bag inflators that can rupture and hurl shrapnel into drivers and passengers.
The moves bring the number of vehicles in the latest round of Takata air bags to just over 5.1 million. U.S. safety regulators announced the recalls last month after a South Carolina man was killed by an exploding driver air bag inflator.
So far, VW, Audi, BMW, Daimler, Honda, Ford and Mazda have announced recalls in the latest round. Since 2008, about 24 million U.S. vehicles have been recalled due to the inflators, with about 50 million recalled worldwide.
On Wednesday, VW and Audi said they would recall a total of 850,000 vehicles in the U.S. from model years 2006 to 2014.
The recall covers certain 2006 to 2010 VW Passat sedans and wagons made in Germany, as well as some U.S.-made Passats from 2012 to 2014. Also included are the 2010 to 2014 Golf and Jetta SportWagen, the 2009 through 2014 CC, and the 2012 through 2014 Eos. Some Audi A3 cars from 2005 through 2015, some 2006 through 2009 A4 Cabrios, certain 2009 to 2012 Q5 SUVs and some 2010 and 2011 Audi A5 Cabrios are included as well.
BMW added 840,000 later in the day for the same problem. That recall includes certain 1 Series coupes and convertibles from 2008 to 2013, 3 Series sedans from 2006 to 2011, the 335d sedan from 2009 to 2011, and the 3 Series Sports Wagon from 2006 to 2012. Also covered are the 2007 to 2013 3 Series Coupe and Convertible, the X1 SUV from 2013 to 2015, the X3 SUV from 2007 to 2010, the X5 SUV from 2007 to 2013, the X5 xDrive35d SUV from 2009 to 2013, the X6 SUV from 2008 to 2014, and the X6 SUV Hybrid from 2010 and 2011.
Takata inflator problems have caused at least 11 deaths and 139 injuries worldwide. VW, Audi and BMW all say they don't know of any driver's inflator ruptures in their vehicles.
The companies will notify owners of when to bring their cars in to get replacements.
