Takata Airbag Recall Expanded to 34 Million Vehicles Because of Risk of Serious Injury

Increasing pressure from regulators has finally led the Japanese company Takata to declare 34 million of its airbags defective, creating what is now the largest auto recall in U.S. history, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports.

A problem with the airbag’s inflator can make it deploy with too much force, destroying a metal component and flinging shrapnel at vehicle occupants. So far, six people have died and more than 100 have been injured in car accidents due to the faulty airbags, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall applies to cars and trucks from at least 10 automakers, including Honda, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota. Since Takata’s announce the expansion of the recall, manufacturers have been scrambling to determine how many more of their models will now be included in the sweeping recall.

The initial concern about the Takata airbags arose more than 10 years ago. The corporation repeatedly denied there was any problem. The company’s refusal to comply with NHTSA requests for information eventually compelled regulators to levy a fine of $14,000 per day starting in February.

What’s the Problem?

In a statement, NHTSA acknowledges that investigators aren’t certain what is causing the inflators to explode. They suspect that moisture is seeping into the defective inflators over time, causing the chemical inside to degrade and burn too quickly. That’s why priority on replacement parts has been placed so far in high-humidity areas such as the Gulf Coast.

Older vehicles are likely to be serviced first as replacement parts come available, but that could take a long time. A Takata spokesperson told Reuters that 3.8 million new inflators have been made so far, but the company plans to be producing 1 million parts per month by September.

A t that rate, it could take more than two years for every car impacted by the worldwide recall to be serviced.

What Do I Do In the Meantime?

As we move further into summer vacation season, it’s critical to check to see whether your vehicle is included in the Takata recall. Honda has been the hardest hit so far, with 19.6 million vehicles affected by the airbag recalls. With the expansion of the recall, automakers are not yet sure which models are going to be added to the list of affected vehicles.

Here’s what you can do:

• Determine whether your call is part of the recall by VIN number here. The VIN can be found on the corner of the driver’s side dashboard where it meets the windshield, or on the inside of the driver’s side door. It is important to check back periodically to see if your car is included in the Takata recall because automakers will be updating their records over the next few weeks and months.
• Pay attention to your mailbox. Automakers will be mailing letters to affected consumers. Some are also turning to social media to encourage motorists to get their cars repaired or making repeated automated calls to get the message out.
• Don’t ignore a recall notice. It may take time before you are able to get your car fixed, but contact your dealer right away to see if you can get on a waiting list once the parts become available.
• Don’t disable your airbags. Your risk of serious injury in a crash with no airbags is much higher than the likelihood of injury from the Takata defect.

The Frank Jenkins Law Office will continue to monitor the developments in the Takata recall. If you have been injured or lost a love one because of a vehicle defect, you may have legal rights to seek compensation. Talk to a Lexington car accident lawyer about your legal rights.  You can also stay up-to-date by checking NHTSA’s new website about the recall as well.