Honda recalls another 4.5 million cars over Takata airbag fears

Japanese automaker Honda has said it is recalling another 4.5 million vehicles globally, including about 1.63 million more cars in Japan, to replace air bag inflators made by supplier Takata Corp.

In a filing to the Japanese transport ministry, Honda said North America is not included in this latest recall.

The move takes the total number of vehicles that the country's number three auto manufacturer has called back to 24.5 million after the airbags were linked to eight deaths around the world, all in cars made by Honda.

The defect - thought to be associated with a chemical propellant that helps inflate the airbags - can cause them to deploy with explosive force, sending metal shrapnel hurtling toward drivers and passengers.

Honda last month restated its financial results for the business year ended March, to account for additional costs related to its recalls of cars equipped with Takata air bag parts.

"Like other carmakers, we are investigating vehicles on the market in connection with this issue, and we found that some inflators have uneven gas density, which we worry could do some harm," a Honda spokesman told AFP. "It is a preventive measure and unlike other normal recalls we are not waiting for the full results of the research," he added.

Toyota and Nissan, too, have expanded their huge global recalls, with worldwide totals now well into the tens of millions.