US safety agency starts process to take over management of Takata air bag recall

Exploding air bags made by Takata Corp. are so dangerous that U.S. safety regulators want to manage a massive recall so cars can be fixed faster.

On Tuesday Takata doubled the size of its recall to 33.8 million air bags, making it the largest recall in U.S. history.

The air bags can inflate with too much force, sending metal shrapnel into drivers and passengers. So far the problem has caused six deaths worldwide.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the recall involving 11 manufacturers has created a patchwork of solutions that may not fix the problem fast enough.

The agency has started the legal process seeking to control production and delivery of replacement inflators. It would be the first time the agency has used the power.