Recently, more than 30 million vehicles made by 10 different
manufacturers were recalled into production because an airbag problem was
discovered. The airbags were created by the Takata Company, and they were
installed between 2002 and 2008 on a variety of vehicles, with some models
extending up to 2014. It seems that some of the Takata Airbag models had issues
that lead to injuries or other similar problems, mostly due to an explosion.
This recall is indeed a major issue, in fact it’s the largest
recall in the history of the automobile industry, and it’s all caused by a
problem in the airbag infiltrator. Simply put, each of the Takata Airbag models
that have been recalled includes a metal cartridge that, at its own turn, is
loaded with a few propellant wafers. This is what leads to the creation of the
explosive force, and the problem seems to be appearing during a crash, when the
metal shards included in the Takata Airbags are sprayed throughout the cabin causing
numerous injuries or even worse than that.
After a long investigation, it seems that there are multiple
causes that lead to the issue, such as the exposure to humidity or high heat, a
poor quality control and the bad design of the car which does lead to these
problems. All of these have created a lot of pressure for the car body and, as
such, the shards are spread in a very destructive, unnatural manner.
How to see if your
car is affected?
If you want to see if your model is recalled, then all you
have to do is to visit https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/ as here you can find a
list with all of those cars that need to get back to the manufacturer in order
to remove this major issue.
A few of the manufacturers that seem to have trouble with
this issue include Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Subaru and General
Motors, among many others. Even Ford seems to have recalled no less than 477000
cars, something that’s unseen for the manufacturer.
How long does this
take?
Unfortunately, the process is indeed taking a lot of time, with
Takata saying that they will replace 1 million kits per month. Since more than 30
million cars were affected, one can imagine that this will take quite a while.
The first batches are already sent, with others being available shortly.
How are the repairs prioritized?
The manufacturers are sending the first batches specifically
to the humid areas first, as this is where most of the problems can be
encountered. You are bound to obtain your own airbag very soon, depending on
where you live, but you will need to contact the car manufacturer first.
In the meantime, all you can do is to take preventive
measures until you obtain the replacement. Minimize your driving or, if you
want to leave your car at home to stay safe, rent a car or utilize public
transportation. Wait until the manufacturer will contact you and, depending on
your location and other properties you might be able to get your car up and
running sooner rather than later. Sure, the Takata Airbag recall does affect many
vehicles, but on the other hand the company is working hard to provide replacements
for everyone, even if the whole replacement process might take a while!This article is brought to you by gAuto!
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