Nissan Expands Global Recall by 260,000 Vehicles

Nissan Motor Co. expanded a global recall of cars using Takata Corp.-made air bags, which have been linked to four deaths in Honda Motor Co. cars.

Nissan will call back 260,000 vehicles worldwide, including 104,905 units in Japan, Yuriko Masuda, a spokeswoman for the Yokohama-based carmaker said today by phone. No deaths or injuries were reported, according to Nissan.

The latest recall comes amid widening global recalls of cars with potentially faulty air-bag inflators that can blast shrapnel into passengers. General Motors Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. have warned people not to sit in front passenger seats of cars that have the possibly faulty air bags.

Nissan had as of yesterday recalled 694,626 vehicles in the U.S. in 2013 and this year, to correct the air-bag flaws, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Takata’s air bags in Honda vehicles are being examined in at least four deaths in the U.S., and have led to recalls of 7.8 million cars by 10 auto companies in the U.S. in the past two years, according to NHTSA.

Honda, Takata’s largest customer, has called back 6 million vehicles with the potentially flawed air bags since 2008, based on figures from the carmaker.

Honda is also replacing air bags in 3.5 million cars in 11 U.S. states that have high humidity, which is suspected of helping cause the malfunction.

Separately, the company said today it will recall 425,825 vehicles, including the Fit compact car and the Vezel crossover in Japan, for flaws in ignition coils and electrical circuits.

Honda has recalled the Fit five times since the car was remodeled in September, 2013 for flaws including the new transmission system and engine controls. The company hasn’t received any reports of injuries or deaths.

Honda’s president and executives will take pay cuts of 10 percent to 20 percent because of vehicle recalls, the Tokyo- based automaker said today on its website.