Toyota recalls three million cars worldwide after exploding Takata airbags linked to 16 deaths

Mitisubishi cars have also been recalled as part of the car industry’s biggest-ever global recall

The airbag inflators made by Takata can explode after prolonged exposure to hot conditions (Reuters)

Toyota is recalling 2.9 million vehicles in Japan, China, Oceania and other regions including its Corolla Axio and RAV4 due to potentially faulty airbag inflators.

Fuji Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi and truck maker Hino Motors have also recalled around 240,000 vehicles in the domestic market over inflators made by Takata which can explode after prolonged exposure to hot conditions.

At least 16 deaths have been linked to exploding Takata inflators, mainly in the United States, prompting the car industry’s biggest-ever global recall.

Global transport authorities consider Takata inflators containing the chemical compound ammonium nitrate to be unsafe if used without a drying agent, and have ordered all of the about 100 million on the market to be withdrawn.

Toyota said that recalls were issued for about 1.16 million vehicles sold in Oceania, the Middle East and the carmaker’s smaller markets, while about 750,000 vehicles had been recalled in Japan.

Vehicles sold in North America, Toyota’s biggest market, were exempt from the latest recall, it added.

Takata is currently seeking a financial sponsor to help pay for the costs related to the recalls. Last month, it pleaded guilty to a US felony charge as part of a $1bn (£800m) settlement over its faulty inflators.