8 Auto Makers Reportedly Agree to Seat Belt Recall

Eight auto makers have agreed to recall more than 8 million cars in the United States to replace Japanese-made seat belts that might unlatch in crashes, according to a newspaper report.

Three more auto makers were expected to agree to the recall this week. The seat belts were installed in some 1986-1991 models of Honda, Nissan, Daihatsu, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Suzuki, General Motors, Chrysler and Ford vehicles, the Detroit News reported in today’s editions, citing unidentified sources.

The three car companies that had not yet agreed to the recall were not identified.

Federico Pena, transportation secretary, and Ricardo Martinez, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, planned to announce the agreement Tuesday, the newspaper reported.

The seat belts made by Takata Inc. could increase safety risks because pieces of the release buttons break off and jam the buckling mechanism, sources told the News.

The NHTSA has reports of at least 539 consumer complaints and 47 injuries, but no deaths.