The Biggest Safety Recall in History is About to Get Way, Way Bigger

Maybe 2016 isn’t Takata’s year.

The airbag manufacturer at the heart of the largest automotive safety recall in history is poised to double the number of airbag inflators it needs to fix, Reuters reports.

A number of people close to the issue said the beleaguered company will soon announce a massive expansion in the scope of the recall, which has already seen 28.8 million airbag inflators recalled in vehicles from 14 automakers. Another 35 to 40 million units require fixing, the sources say.

The new recall will cover all front airbags that don’t contain a drying agent — an issue linked to past incidents resulting in death.

The recalls began last year after it was revealed that some Takata airbag inflators could explode with too much force, spraying metal shrapnel into a motorist’s face during airbag deployment. At least 10 deaths and 100 injuries in the U.S. are linked to the faulty inflators, with hot, humid climates posing the highest risk of malfunction.

Takata has until 2019 to prove to U.S. regulators that all of its airbag inflators are safe.

The company’s spokesperson, Jared Levy, stated, “Takata is working with regulators and our automaker customers to develop long-term, orderly solutions.”

While 40 million is a big number, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the final tally could be double that number.

The scandal and its associated costs have crippled Takata’s finances, with its stock taking a beating following the news of a looming recall. Last month, a source at the company said a worst-case scenario (a recall of every airbag) would cost Takata $24 billion — a penalty it can’t afford.

Bloomberg reports that Takata is seeking financial sponsors to boost its capital, and ultimately save the company. Their plan is to reform the business, likely under a new name.

In the wake of the scandal, many of the world’s largest automakers dropped Takata as a supplier.