These notorious Takata airbags—those with the accelerator that may ship shrapnel flying in the direction of the faces of parents sitting within the entrance of them—are nonetheless a huge drawback on U.S. roads. Worse but, among the most humid and due to this fact harmful states are residence to almost half of all unfixed automobiles
Simply as a refresher: a decade in the past, the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration issued a recall for a staggering 67 million automobiles because of defective airbag inflators. When the recall was first issued, authorities realized that there was no method to exchange that many airbags in a well timed vogue. Manufacturing clever, and time clever, it made no sense. So within the final ten years, the airbags have continued to kill. In 2022, not less than 5 folks died as a result of defective airbags. NHTSA says not less than 27 Individuals have been killed, although the issue is worldwide. New information from CarFax exhibits simply how widespread the issue continues to be within the U.S.:
Ten years after the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) mandated the recall of Takata airbags nationwide due to the chance they pose for bodily hurt – and even dying – to occupants, greater than 6.4 million automobiles within the U.S. nonetheless have these airbags, in response to CARFAX information.
Greater than 2.5 million – roughly 40% of all these unfixed automobiles – are positioned in states that NHTSA calls Zone A. These states “pose the best menace to security” due to their excessive warmth and humidity. They’re Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas.
States with among the highest concentrations of Takata airbags—like Texas and California—additionally occur to be locations the place the luggage are most vulnerable to inflicting accidents due to the airbag’s deadly flaw, from Shopper Stories:
On the coronary heart of the issue is the airbag’s inflator, a metallic cartridge loaded with propellant wafers, which in some instances has ignited with explosive drive. If the inflator housing ruptures in a crash, metallic shards from the airbag may be sprayed all through the passenger cabin—a probably disastrous final result from a supposedly lifesaving gadget.
NHTSA has decided the basis reason behind the issue: airbags that use ammonium-nitrate-based propellant with out a chemical drying agent. As postulated early on, environmental moisture, excessive temperatures, and age as related to the defect that may improperly inflate the airbags and even ship shrapnel into the occupant.
In the event you’re car is affected by a Takata airbag recall you’ve seemingly already been contacted indirectly, however it may be more durable you probably have purchased a used car within the final 10 years to know for certain. Nineteen automaker take part within the recall, nevertheless some automobiles are extra vulnerable to deadly airbag deployment than others. NHTSA issued a Do Not Drive order on these automobiles:
Acura
- 2002-2003 Acura 3.2 TL
- 2003 Acura 3.2 CL
BMW
- Sure 2000-2006 BMW 3 Sequence (E46) together with M3 fashions
- Sure 2000-2003 BMW 5 Sequence (E39) together with M5 fashions
- Sure 2000-2004 BMW X5s (E53) fashions
Chrysler
Dodge
- 2005-2010 Dodge Magnum
- 2005-2010 Dodge Charger
- 2005-2010 Dodge Challenger
- 2003 Dodge Ram 1500
Ford
- Sure 2006 Ford Ranger fashions
Honda
- 2001-2002 Honda Accord
- 2001-2002 Honda Civic
- 2002 Honda CR-V
- 2002 Honda Odyssey
- 2003 Honda Pilot
Mazda
- Sure 2006 Mazda B-Sequence fashions
You possibly can at all times enter your VIN in NHTSA’s “Open Recall” software to double test in case your car is below a recall, together with the Takata airbag recall. Such airbags (and every other repairs) must be repaired without spending a dime by your native dealership, however there could also be an extended wait time for elements. Ford issued a recall of its recall earlier this yr to double checking some sloppy handwork accomplished in an effort to repair recalled Takata airbags on almost 250,000 automobiles.
