Top four Japanese carmakers are recalling 3.4 million cars globally over a defect in passenger airbags.

Toyota, which is recalling 1.73 million cars, said the vehicles had a defective part which “could cause the airbag inflator to rupture and deploy the airbag abnormally in a crash”.

Honda Motors is recalling 1.13 million cars, while 480,000 of Nissan’s and 45,000 Mazda cars are affected.

Top four Japanese carmakers are recalling 3.4 million cars globally over a defect in passenger airbags

The cars were sold between 2000 and 2004.

The firms said the defective part was supplied by parts maker Takata Corp.

Shares in Takata fell 9% to 1,819 yen on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Thursday.

Ryo Sakai, a spokesperson for Toyota, said the firm had received reports of five separate incidents of the airbag inflator being ruptured.

Two of these incidents took place in Japan and three in the US, Ryo Sakai said.

However, he added that there had been no injuries as a result of the incidents.

Meanwhile, Honda, Nissan and Mazda said that there had been no incidents involving their cars.

All four carmakers have said that they will replace the defective parts for free.

“We are conducting a voluntary safety recall to address this issue and replace the front passenger bag inflator,” said a spokesperson for Nissan.

“We plan to notify the customers over the next 30 days,” he added.