Senators express frustration with Takata, US safety regulators over ongoing air bag recalls

Senators are expressing anger and exasperation with Takata Corp. and federal auto safety regulators over defective air bag inflators that have prompted the largest auto-safety recall in U.S. history.

Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, opened a Senate hearing on the issue with graphic photos of a constituent who was injured by Takata air bags. He held up the piece of metal shrapnel that hit Clarabel Nunez in the forehead last July when her air bag exploded in Miami, noting it was only inches from her eyes and neck.

Exploding Takata air bags have caused eight deaths and more than 100 injuries. In May, Takata bowed to U.S. government pressure and agreed to double the number of air bag inflators being recalled to 33.8 million.