Honda is recalling 164,388 Fit cars after reports of six fires related to an engine control systems flaw and 118,715 Fit cars and Vezel crossovers over a power steering defect.

A hacker group is stepping up attacks on the websites of Japanese institutions in protest against the countrys whale hunting.

Takata President Shigehisa Takada made his first public apology for the eight deaths and hundreds of injuries related to the companys air bags.

The safety crisis plaguing the global automotive industry deepened as Japans three biggest carmakers said they would recall more than 11 million additional vehicles because of faulty air bags that can shoot shrapnel at motorists.

The safety crisis involving faulty air bags that shoot shrapnel deepened after Toyota and Nissan added more than 6 million vehicles to their global recalls, with Honda planning to expand a call back.

Defective Takata air bags caused the July 27 death in Malaysia of a woman in a 2003 Honda City subcompact.

Toyota Motor Corp. made its fourth global recall involving more than a million vehicles this year, as the worlds largest automaker begins operating with stricter supervision over safety from U.S. regulators.

Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. recalled almost 3 million vehicles to repair flaws in Takata Corp. air bags, adding to a call back by Toyota Motor Corp. earlier this month.