More than 23 million Takata air bag inflators have been recalled since May, but letters sent by regulators last week suggest that recall could grow even larger. Seven additional companies, including Tesla Motors and Mercedes-Benz, could be exposed to recalls next if their vehicles carry the defective airbag, the Associated Press reported.
Takata’s recall is considered the largest U.S. Recall in automotive history, as it has already affected almost 20 million vehicles. The faulty air bag inflators, which in some cases exploded, have been linked to eight deaths.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sent letters to Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar-Land Rover, Suzuki, Tesla, Volvo Trucks, Volkswagen and Spartan Motors seeking information on which models have Takata inflators.
“It is expected that the scope of the current Takata recalls may expand as time goes on and will likely grow to include vehicles that are outside the scope of the current recalls,” the letter said. The recall already covers 11 companies, but it could expand to include other vehicles using the problematic air bag.
The other companies that received letters last week were Jaguar-Land Rover, Suzuki, Volvo Trucks, Volkswagen and Spartan Motors.
For more on Takata, here’s why the airbag recall has been so confusing for consumers.