What Cars Are on the Recall List for Airbags?

The recall list for airbags continues to grow as aging vehicles start to exhibit problems with parts that don’t continue to operate as intended. In some cases, airbags were faulty at the time the vehicle was assembled. Designed and proven to save lives, airbags have themselves become deadly hazards when components fail.

How Many Cars Are Affected by the Takata Airbag Recall?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 41.6 million vehicles made with 56 million defective Takata airbags are under recall because the airbags may explode upon deploying, seriously injuring or even killing occupants in the vehicle.

Were Certain Vehicles Equipped with Particularly Dangerous Takata Airbags?

The NHTSA says certain 2001-2003 Honda and Acura cars, the 2006 Ford Ranger, and Mazda B-series trucks contain what is referred to as “Alpha” airbags. The NHTSA says of these vehicles that they should not be driven unless the driver is headed straight to a dealership to have the airbags immediately repaired.

What Is Wrong with Defective Takata Airbags?

The airbag inflators may explode. Takata has provided a variety of excuses for the exploding airbags, from excessive humidity damaging the propellent to defective inflators.

I Thought These Airbag Recalls Happened Years Ago. Are There New Vehicles Added to the Recall List for Airbags?

According to Consumer Reports, certain older vehicles made by Audi, Honda, Mitsubishi, Toyota and BMW were added to the list as of Dec. 4. BMW has told anyone with a 1999 model 323i or 328i sedan to stop driving the cars until a repair is available.

The NHTSA commented on the Dec. 4 recall list for airbags, clarifying it’s a separate group affecting 1.4 million vehicles that contain a Non-Azide Driver Inflators (NADI), which are different than the inflators that were covered in the bigger Takata recalls. These defective NADI inflators may either explode or underinflate when deployed.

Since the initial Takata airbag recall was announced, the recall has been expanded several times as more car companies find evidence of defective airbags in their vehicles. In April 2020, auto manufacturer Nissan announced an expansion to the Takata airbag recall. More than 250,000 vans, pickup trucks, and SUVs may be affected by this recent expansion.

Vehicles that have been added to the recall list under Nissan’s expansion include Nissan NV Cargo and Passenger vans manufactured between 2012 and 2017, as well as Titan pickup trucks made between 2013 and 2015, Armada SUVs made between 2013 and 2015, and Infiniti QX56 SUVs manufactured between 2011 and 2012.

According to Nissan, the company will replace the defective airbags in these vehicles free of charge for consumers.

Has Anyone Died from Faulty Airbags?

The NHTSA has confirmed 16 people in the U.S. have been killed when their defective Takata airbags exploded. Another 250 people have allegedly suffered injuries from shrapnel sent flying by exploding airbag inflators.

What Is Causing the Defective Airbags?

According to Nissan, the airbags included in their recall expansion may have been rendered defective by a manufacturing problem at a Takata facility in Monclova, Mexico. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also stated that a faulty seal on the inflator could be to blame. If the airbag inflator is not sealed correctly, moisture may seep into it and cause it to malfunction, either by failing to deploy appropriately during a crash, or deploying unexpectedly and exploding.

Takata has also suggested that propellant chemicals may have been mishandled during the assembly of the airbags, leading to intense pressure inside of the airbags that may cause them to burst.

Has Anyone Filed a Takata Airbags Lawsuit?

According to AutoNews.com, the family of Oklahoma teenager Ashley Parham reached a settlement with Honda and Takata for an undisclosed sum. Ashley was killed in 2009 when the Takata airbag in her 2001 Honda Accord exploded.

In December 2009, Gurjit Rathore died when the airbag in a 2001 Honda Accord exploded after being in a minor accident. Her family filed a lawsuit against both Honda and Takata, asking for upwards of $75 million because of allegations both companies knew about airbag issues as far back as 2004. Court documents indicate the lawsuit was settled for $3 million in January 2013.

What Other Airbag Issues Have Been Problematic?

In October 2019, Subaru recalled certain 2015-2018 Forester SUVs after discovering the front airbag could become deactivated even when the seat is occupied. The recall is due to an electrical connection that may loosen in the occupant detection system sensor mat, which is located under the front seat.

When someone is seated in the seat, the sensor activates the airbag. If the connection is loose, the airbag might be left dormant even if someone is sitting in the seat.

Subaru said the problem only occurs in Foresters that are equipped with heated seats.

Join a Free Vehicle Safety Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you own a vehicle that you believe has a safety defect and you are outside of the warranty period or you believe the defect should be covered by the warranty and it’s not, or you or a family member have been injured by a safety related defect, you may qualify to join this vehicle safety defect class action lawsuit investigation.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.