* UPDATED 5/20/15
This Takata airbag recall has been expanded to nearly 34 million vehicles.
In a horrifying case of negligence, a massive airbag recall is underway in the automobile industry. The issue involves defective inflators that can deploy improperly during a crash and shoot metal fragments into the vehicle’s occupants. Four fatalities and more than 100 injuries have been linked to this dangerous defect. In some cases, metal shards penetrated the driver’s face and neck. Approximately 17 million vehicles are affected in the United States, and another 7 million worldwide. (Scroll to the end of this article to see the full list of affected vehicles.)
Takata, the company responsible for the shrapnel-shooting airbags, has known about the problem since 2004, but instead of notifying federal safety regulators, executives ordered its engineers to destroy the data and dispose of all physical evidence. This occurred four years before any public acknowledgement of the problem.
When the company’s error was finally exposed, they claimed chemicals were mishandled and improperly stored during assembly which caused the metal airbag inflators to burst open under excessive pressure. Takata says that rust, pieces of metal, and even chewing gum were dropped into at least one inflator. One Takata plant shipped approximately 60-80 defective parts for every 1 million distributed.
There are several ways to check whether your car is effected. You’ll need your vehicle identification number which can be found on the lower driver-side corner of the windshield. You’ll also need your registration and insurance documents. Type the number into NHTSA’s online Vin-lookup tool. The website is: http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Owners/vin-lookup-sites.
Unfortunately, many owners are learning that it takes weeks or months for their replacement air bags to arrive. Takata’s assembly lines are at maximum capacity. Therefore, if your car is involved in the recall, then, contact your car dealer immediately. Don’t let anyone sit in the passenger seat. Toyota has advised taping “Do Not Sit Here” messages to the dashboard. Consider minimizing your driving, carpooling, utilizing public transportation, or renting a car. You may also ask your dealer for a loaner vehicle or have your air bags shut off until replacements can be installed.
AFFECTED VEHICLES (total number if known in parentheses):
Acura: 2002–2003 TL; 2002 CL; 2003–2006 MDX; 2005 Acura RL
BMW (approximately 765,000): 2000–2005 3-series sedan and wagon; 2000–2006 3-series coupe and convertible; 2001–2006 M3 coupe and convertible
Chrysler (approximately 2.88 million, including Dodge): 2004–2008 Chrysler 300; 2007–2008 Aspen
Dodge/Ram (approximately 2.88 million, including Chrysler): 2003–2008 Dodge Ram 1500; 2004–2008 Ram 2500, Dakota, and Durango; 2004–2007 Charger; 2004–2008 Ram 3500 and 4500; 2008 Ram 5500
Ford (538,977): 2004–2005 Ranger; 2005–2006 GT; 2005–2008 Mustang
Honda (approximately 5.5 million, including Acura): 2001–2007 Accord (four-cylinder); 2001–2002 Accord (V-6); 2001–2005 Civic; 2002–2006 CR-V; 2002–2004 Odyssey; 2003–2011 Element; 2003–2008 Pilot; 2006 Ridgeline
Infiniti: 2001–2004 Infiniti I30/I35; 2002–2003 Infiniti QX4; 2003–2005 Infiniti FX35/FX45; 2006 Infiniti M35/M45
Lexus: 2002–2005 SC430
Mazda (330,000, est): 2004–2008 Mazda 6; 2006–2007 Mazdaspeed 6; 2004–2008 Mazda RX-8; 2004–2005 MPV; 2004 B-series
Mitsubishi (11,985): 2004–2005 Lancer; 2006–2007 Raider
Nissan (approximately 765,000, including Infiniti): 2001–2003 Maxima; 2001–2004 Pathfinder; 2002–2006 Nissan Sentra
Pontiac: 2003–2005 Vibe
Saab: 2005 9-2X
Subaru (17,516): 2003–2005 Baja, Legacy, Outback; 2004–2005 Impreza, Impreza WRX, Impreza WRX STI
Toyota (877,000, including Lexus and Pontiac Vibe): 2002–2005 Toyota Corolla and Sequoia; 2003–2005 Matrix, Tundra
* Expanded version of the updated full story, as reported by New York Times: