American driver seriously injured in Takata inflator rupture, Honda states

Honda Motor stated a driver of a 2002 Accord was seriously injured after a malfunctioning Takata air bag inflator ruptured during a March 3 crash in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The automaker stated the inflator had not been set up by a dealership but most likely was a salvaged part from a junk yard.

Honda stated it has bought over 60,000 restored Takata air bag modules in an effort to prevent such incidents.

The victim, 18, suffered a puncture injury to her trachea in a rear-end crash, as per a police report.

The inflators, which can blow up with extreme force and unleash metal shrapnel inside vehicles, are blamed for at least 16 deaths and 180 injuries across the world. The safety issue has prompted an international recall of about 100 million inflators by more than a dozen significant car manufacturers.

In June 2016, federal regulators stated inflators in 2001-2003 model Honda and Acura automobiles have up to a 50% chance of a harmful air bag inflator rupture in a crash.

Takata stated before that it highly recommends customers to check a government website to check if their inflators have been recalled.

Takata is presently responsible for the largest auto recall in history.