Safety regulators warn nearly 5M about defective airbags

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Federal safety regulators issued a warning about millions of vehicle airbags that could put consumers in danger when behind the wheel.

Regulators are urging nearly five million families to take their cars to be checked out because of defective airbags that could explode without warning and send shards of metal flying through the vehicle.

The affected cars are made by nine major automakers, including Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, BMW and Mitsubishi.