The air bags were made by Japanese supplier Takata Corp (7312.T), which received a similar order last Thursday from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For the past 18 months, Takata has been besieged by chronic, widespread problems with defective inflators in its air bags, which can explode with excessive force and spray metal shards inside the vehicle. The issues have led to recalls at 10 automakers, but only Honda, Takata’s biggest customer, has been sent a special order by the NHTSA.