Ford Motor Co., Mazda Motor Corp. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have banded together in Houston to implement an outreach program to locate owners of certain older vehicles with potentially lethal Takata airbag inflators.

On Feb. 19, the automakers kick-started the program and began sending out canvassers to go door-to-door in the greater Houston area to offer a range of options to affected drivers.

"I applaud these automakers for ramping up efforts to help these drivers get their vehicles fixed and to prevent additional tragedies from occurring on our roadways," Houston Councilwoman Brenda Stardig said in a statement.

The Takata airbag recall has permeated the global auto industry for several years. The company's airbag inflators, particularly in warmer, humid climates, have exploded during accidents and sent metal shrapnel through vehicles' interiors. Following a recent death in Australia, at least 23 deaths and 230 injuries have been linked to the Takata inflators, according to Reuters and other news sources.

About a year ago, Honda Motor Co. -- which has the greatest exposure to the largest recall in automotive history -- began a door-to-door initiative aimed at higher risk Honda vehicles. In August, the company decided to expand the program nationwide, with a team of more than 500 people.

In the Houston program, drivers will have the option to have the defective airbag replaced in their driveway or parking lot by a technician, take a free loaner vehicle during repairs or have the vehicle towed to and from a nearby dealership.

Texas is ranked No. 2 for vehicles affected by the airbag recall that have yet to be repaired, according to a report released by NHTSA in November 2017.

In January, Ford announced an urgent warning for 2,900 2006 Ford Ranger pickups. A month later, Ford issued an expansion of a "do not drive" warning for more than 33,000 2006 Ford Ranger pickups in North America, urging owners to not to drive them until repairs are completed.

Similarly, Mazda said it was issuing a expansion for about 1,800 2006 Mazda B-series trucks after issuing a warning in January for 160.

Takata and its affiliates are in the process of emerging from bankruptcy protection. The company is selling its surviving businesses to Chinese-owned Key Safety Systems in a $1.6 billion transaction.