Japanese Automaker Takata discovered that the defective airbags that came from their production lines were made as early as 2008 to 2014.
Meanwhile, Takata promised to open two new manufacturing lines early next year in order to replace the defective airbags of 7.8 million vehicles, according to NHTSA report on Friday.
From 14 million vehicles in October, the number has reached to over 17 million of vehicles in the U.S. have been recalled for reportedly having defective air bags produced by Japan's Takata Corp manufacturing plant in Monclova, Mexico.
Over 4.3 million cars of car manufacturer giants Honda Motor, Chrysler and Toyota motor have been recalled due to the defective airbags.
The recalls started in June when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received reports of air bag explosions related to problems with the airbag inflator device, which helps to inflate the airbags in less than a second. The issue started out in Puerto Rico and Florida, places in the United States were the climate is reported to be humid.
NHTSA investigated on the working conditions of Takata Corporation's airbags that were produced in the year 2000 to 2007. The NHTSA was looking for the improper sealing of the airbag inflators, which could prove fatal as it could expose the explosive material inside the inflator to blast the airbags when an accident occurs.
The NHTSA has also ordered a "geographical recall" of vehicles from Honda, Chevrolet, Nissan, Buick, and BMW, especially from the high-humidity areas like the Gulf Coast and Florida.
Meanwhile, Toyota's released a memo to its more than 875,000 drivers in the United States prompting them not to seat any passengers in the front seats of few of its vehicle models.
The NHTSA said that the car-parts maker have not went to other air bag makers about helping them produce the replacement parts because of "concerns of quality" but the agency "made it clear we will evaluate if their quality argument is valid. We are also reaching out to other suppliers and manufacturers to discuss the potential and risks of having those suppliers provide replacement air bags."
Meanwhile, Takata has committed to significantly increase its testing of returned air bags in order to help in the investigation process. The problems with the air bags appear to be linked to high-humidity areas and the agency is focusing recall efforts in states and territories that are hot and humid.
Takata released a statement to the NHTSA saying that the agency met with Takata representatives in at the agency's offices on Thursday and the agency "made it clear to Takata officials that our top priority is the safety of the American people and that Takata's full cooperation was necessary and expected."
