A U.S. auto safety regulator on Thursday identified the 18th U.S. death connected to a Takata air bag inflator rupture following the review of a recent BMW crash.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it had concluded a Takata airbag inflator rupture during a September crash in Arizona had resulted in fatal injuries of the driver.
This was the first reported Takata death in a BMW automobile after 15 U.S. deaths in those of Honda Motor and two in Ford Motor automobiles since 2009.
BMW said its engineers will collaborate with federal investigators to inspect the vehicle and to understand the information of the incident.
The German automaker added it had been working diligently to find out and contact owners of these older vehicles geared up with recalled Takata airbags.
The issue, which leads in rare instances to airbag inflators rupturing and sending metal fragments flying, resulted in the largest automotive recall in U.S. history of about 63 million inflators. About 100 million inflators by 19 major automakers were recalled globally.
Over 290 U.S. injuries are also connected to faulty Takata inflators and at least 27 deaths worldwide. The issues especially affect older automobiles with long-term exposure to hot, humid conditions. A number of deaths have taken place in Arizona.
Millions of unrepaired air bags remain in vehicles on U.S. roads.
NHTSA said in a statement Thursday the incident highlights the importance of replacing every recalled Takata airbag.
