Toyota recalls more cars for air bag problems

TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. recalled more than 40,000 vehicles in Japan on Thursday as part of a worldwide scare over defective air bags and officials are investigating a new type of air bag problem that could lead to further recalls.

Toyota's recall for driver-side air bags is the latest in the widening safety problems related to Takata Corp. air bags. Toyota's recall involves three models: Vitz, Yaris and RAV4 vehicles made in 2002 and 2003.

Daihatsu Motor Co. said it's also recalling more than 27,000 Mira compact models in Japan for the same air bag problem linked to an inflator.

Takata air bags can inflate with excessive force, sending metal shrapnel toward the driver and passengers.

Officials are also investigating a new type of air bag problem found Wednesday in a 2003 car that could lead to further recalls. In that case, the air bag ruptured when it was launched while a vehicle was being scrapped.

There were broken metal fragments found but nobody was injured at the site, according to Masato Sahashi, a ministry official in charge of recalls. He said the cause of the rupture is still under investigation and the vehicle's details are not being disclosed.

Transport minister Akihiro Ohta earlier this week ordered Japanese automakers to expedite their recalls.

The air bag problems have been blamed for at least six deaths and dozens of injuries.

Millions of cars have been recalled worldwide, including 2.54 million in Japan so far. There were four cases of ruptures in Japan but none involved injuries.