Feds call for air bag recall to go national

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- The federal agency that oversees highway safety called Tuesday for a national recall of all vehicles with certain air bags made by automotive supplier Takata.

The move by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would expand a regional recall of cars in high humidity areas -- such as the California Gulf Coast and Hawaii -- that have Takata's air bags installed.

This comes after a driver of a 2007 Ford Mustang in North Carolina -- a state not within the recall area -- reported an air bag incident.

"By demanding this national recall, NHTSA has demonstrated once again that it will follow data and evidence to protect the lives of Americans on the road and to hold manufacturers accountable," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx in a news release on Tuesday.

The agency says if Takata and the makers of the affected cars do not "quickly agree" to a nationwide recall, the NHTSA will order one.

According to the agency, the 10 car makers involved include: BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota. A list of the cars affected was posted online last month by the NHTSA.

A senate committee has scheduled a hearing on the air bags for Thursday.