This supplied file photo shows Nissan Motor Co.'s Roox minivehicle. (Kyodo)

       This supplied photo shows Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s eK X space minivehicle. (Kyodo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Friday they had stopped production and shipment of some of their minivehicles since earlier in the month after finding potential problems with the airbags installed in several models.

       Nissan said that collision tests conducted on its Nissan Roox model showed that the airbags might not function properly under certain conditions. Mitsubishi said in a separate statement that similar issues were found in its eK space and eK X space models.

       The automakers did not elaborate on what conditions would lead to the airbags not functioning properly.

       However, both companies said there are no safety concerns when vehicles are driven regularly and that airbags will function when they collide.

       Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors said they had suspended the production, shipping and sales of the three minivehicle models since Dec. 3 to look into the matter without revealing the timeline for a resumption.

       The three models have been produced under a joint venture between the two companies. The models were developed by Nissan and produced at Mitsubishi's factory in Okayama Prefecture, western Japan.

       The companies said that they will decide whether to launch a recall of the units depending on the outcome of their investigation into the problem.

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