NHTSA Opens Probe Into Additional 1.4 Million Takata Airbags

(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. government has opened an investigation into a report that another 1.4 million vehicles need repairs over a newly discovered defect in airbags made by bankrupt supplier Takata.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents posted Thursday that it’s asking for information from five car manufacturers that installed the suspect airbags, which were linked to the death of a BMW driver and two other injuries in overseas markets.

Takata, the parts supplier behind the largest auto recall ever, notified the NHTSA of the issue earlier this month. The carmakers are BMW, Volkswagen AG’s Audi, Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alan Levin in Washington at alevin24@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jon Morgan at jmorgan97@bloomberg.net, Ros Krasny

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