Massive Takata Air Bag Recall Expanded, Up To 69 Million Vehicles Affected

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Another 35 million to 40 million cars with potentially defective airbags are being recalled, U.S. safety officials said Wednesday.

That order expands the unprecedented recall of air bag inflators, made by Japanese manufacturer Takata, on 28.8 million vehicles.

Ruptures of the Takata inflators have been tied to 10 deaths and more than 100 injuries in the United States.

"Today's action is a significant step in the U.S. Department of Transportation's aggressive oversight of Takata on behalf of drivers and passengers across America," said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "The acceleration of this recall is based on scientific evidence and will protect all Americans from air bag inflators that may become unsafe."

The five recall phases are based on prioritization of risk, determined by the age of the inflators and exposure to high humidity and fluctuating high temperatures that accelerate the degradation of a chemical propellant in the airbag, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a news release.

In 2015, NHTSA imposed the largest civil penalty in its history for Takata's violations of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, and for the first time used its authority to accelerate recall repairs to millions of affected vehicles.

Consumers can find complete information about the Takata air bag inflator recall can at http://www.safercar.gov/rs/takata

For a list of affected vehicles, consumers can click here.