Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Honda has confirmed that a woman driver in Malaysia died after suffering chest injuries when a Takata airbag exploded during a minor crash.
There have been 13 deaths worldwide linked to faulty Takata airbags in Honda vehicles but the carmaker said “no official cause of death has been yet determined” in the latest incident.
“Honda has confirmed that the Takata single stage driver's airbag inflator ruptured in a crash,” it said.
The company added that an inspection by Malaysian police showed that the driver's airbag inflator ruptured in the crash on sunday, which involved a 2005 Honda City.
Earlier police said they were investigating the death of the driver.
“I confirm the woman died in the accident,” said Petaling Jaya district chief of police Mohamad Zani Che Din. “ We are looking at all possibilities as to the cause of her death.”
The mother of two was killed when the airbag in her Honda City exploded after the crash outside the capital Kuala Lumpur.
Recall notices
Honda said since 2015, three mailed recall notices were sent to the owner of the vehicle but the repair was never completed.
Firefighter Rosdi Hainan, who led the rescue team, said the victim suffered chest injuries.
“When I arrived at the scene I noticed there were injuries and blood on her chest. The airbag had ruptured and she was gasping for breath,” he said.
Takata is struggling to deal with a defect that can send metal and plastic shrapnel from the inflator canister hurtling toward drivers and passengers when an airbag is deployed.
Last week Honda recalled 147 894 vehicles in Malaysia to replace deadly front passenger airbag inflators - part of a global programme which will involve more than 50 million recalls.
The latest recall in Malaysia applies to models manufactured from 2003 to 2011 and the City, Accord, CR-V, Jazz and Civic.
Previous deaths in malaysia involving airbags in Honda City cars were reported in April in Sabah state and in Kedah state in May. In 2014 a pregnant Malaysian woman died when a Takata airbag malfunctioned.
AFP
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