Takata Airbag Recall

What you should know and what owners of recalled vehicles should do

As of June 12, faulty deployment mechanisms in airbags produced by the Japanese supplier Takata have caused seven fatalities, as well as over one hundred injuries. According to the New York Times report, injuries have been caused by the over-pressurization of the deployment mechanism, causing it to rupture and send metal fragments flying through the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Because of this defect, over thirty million vehicles made by ten different manufacturers have been recalled in the United States. Honda recently added over one million more vehicles to the recall.

Is My Car Affected?

With one out of every seven cars in the United States affected, there is a good chance that your car is part of the recall. The defective airbags were installed mainly in cars made between 2002 and 2008, although they may appear in some newer models as well. If your car is affected, you should receive notice from the manufacturer that it is part of the recall. However, due to the large number of affected vehicles and the limited availability of parts, some manufacturers have prioritized humid areas, such as Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, because humidity seems to be a factor in the malfunction of the airbags. If you haven’t received a recall notice from your manufacturer, you can find out whether your vehicle is part of the recall by entering your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) HERE. You can also call the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. Read: Product Liability Litigation

What should I do if my car has been recalled?

If your car is part of the recall, you should contact your local dealership. A dealership in your area will replace the airbag free of charge if it is part of the recall. However, because so many cars have been affected, there is limited availability of replacement parts. Because of this, there may be some delay in getting your airbag replaced. In the meantime, manufacturers suggest that you drive your car as little as possible until it can be fixed. Additionally, if your passenger airbag is defective, it is recommended that any passengers sit in the backseat only. Some manufacturers, such as Toyota, have suggested that you have the passenger airbag turned off as long as no passengers sit in that seat until it is replaced. This is something you should discuss with the dealership.

List of Recalled Vehicles

BMW

Driver’s Side Airbag:

2002 – 2005 BMW 3 Series sedan and wagon

2002 – 2006 BMW 3 Series Coupe and Convertible

2002 – 2003 BMW 5 Series sedan and wagon (Including M5)

2003 – 2004 BMW X5

2004 – 2006 BMW 325Ci, 330Ci, 330i, M3,

2004 – 2005 BMW 325Xi, 330Xi

Passenger’s side airbag and Driver’s side airbag:

2000 – 2005 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Sports Wagon

2000 – 2006 3 Series coupe, 3 Series Convertible

2001 – 2006 M3 Coupe, M3 Convertible

Chrysler

2005 – 2010 Chrysler 300

2007 – 2008 Chrysler Aspen

Dodge

2005 – 2010 Dodge Charger

2005 – 2011 Dodge Dakota

2004 – 2008 Dodge Durango , Dodge Ram 1500

2005 – 2008 Dodge Magnum

2005 – 2009 Dodge Ram 2500

2006 – 2009 Dodge Ram 3500

2003 – 2005 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, 3500

Ford

2004 – 2006 Ranger

2005 – 2006 GT

2005 – 2014 Mustang

General Motors

2003 – 2005 Pontiac Vibe

2005 Saab 9-2x

2007 – 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 & 3500

2007 – 2008 GMC Sierra 2500 & 3500

Acura

2003 – 2006 Acura MDX

2002 – 2003 Acura TL

2003 Acura CL

2005 Acura RL

Honda

2001 – 2007 Honda Accord

2001 – 2005 Honda Civic

2002 – 2006 Honda CR-V

2003 – 2011 Honda Element

2002 – 2004 Honda Odyssey

2003 – 2008 Honda Pilot

2006 Honda Ridgeline

Mazda

2003 – 2008 Mazda6

2006 – 2007 Mazda Speed6

2004 – 2008 Mazda RX-8

2004 – 2005 MPV

2004 – 2006 B-Series Truck

Mitsubishi

2004 – 2006 Lancer (including Evolution and Sportback)

2006 – 2010 Raider

Infiniti

2003 – 2005 Infiniti FX

2006 Infinity M35, M45

2001 – 2004 Infinity I30, I35

2002 – 2003 Infiniti QX4

Nissan

2001 – 2003 Nissan Maxima

2001 – 2004 Nissan Pathfinder

2002 – 2006 Nissan Sentra

Subaru

2003 – 2005 Baja, Legacy, Outback

2004 – 2005 Impreza (including WRX/ STi)

Toyota

2002 – 2005 Toyota Corolla, Sequoia

2003 – 2005 Toyota Matrix, Tundra

Lexus

2002 – 2005 Lexus SC

For more information and updates