What You Need to Know About the New Takata Airbag Recall

by Staff Blogger | March 9th, 2020

If you visit a car lot this year, you’ll notice that vehicles at all price points are loaded with safety features that were either reserved for high-end luxury vehicles or simply not possible just a decade or two ago. Bells and whistles such as lane departure warnings, blind spot indicators, stability control, collision avoidance systems, and backup cameras are commonplace or even mandatory on new models, making vehicles safer than ever. However, when it comes to protecting occupants during crashes, nothing is more effective than the tried and true seat belt and airbag. But what happens when one of those safety devices is defective and potentially dangerous? That’s exactly what happened to millions of vehicles manufactured since 2003. In November 2014, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) demanded that Takata Corporation recall its defective airbags that were equipped in millions of cars, trucks, and SUVs made by manufacturers ranging from Ford and Toyota to GM and Honda. The recall continued to expand for years after it was announced, making it the largest consumer product recall in history. In December 2019, Takata was forced to recall yet another airbag component. Like the first recalled airbag, this one is capable of exploding during collisions, but it can also under-inflate, rendering it less effective at protecting occupants. All told, between 65 and 70 million vehicles are part of the recall, putting countless Americans at risk of serious injuries and even death.

Use These Websites to Find Out if Your Vehicle Is Affected

Everyone who owns an affected vehicle was supposed to receive a notification from its manufacturer informing them of the recall and instructing them on what to do next. However, some people didn’t receive the notifications, misplaced them, or simply forgot about them. If you’re unsure whether your vehicle is equipped with defective and recalled airbags, visit the following websites and enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to quickly find out:
  • NHTSA’s Safercar.gov website
  • NHTSA’s website
Please note that not all vehicles included in the December 2019 recall have been added to the recall database as of right now. More information will be released over the coming months, so continue to check back to find out if your vehicle is included. You can also subscribe to the NHTSA’s Recall Alerts system to get up-to-date information when it’s released.

What Should You Do if Your Vehicle’s Airbags Are Recalled?

The overall risk of your vehicle’s airbags exploding or under-inflating during an accident are low. However, any level of risk above zero is unacceptable, and that’s why the airbags are being recalled. If your vehicle is affected by the recall, schedule a replacement as soon as possible at your local dealership. Because of the dangers posed to drivers and passengers in these vehicles, dealerships are offering free replacements. If you own a 2006 Ford Ranger or 2006 Mazda B-series pickup truck, the manufacturers recommend that you don’t drive them unless absolutely necessary or if you’re taking them to have their airbags replaced. These vehicles are known for posing higher airbag explosion or malfunction risks than other vehicles and should be kept off the road until they’ve been serviced.

Let Us Help You Get Paid After a Defective Airbag Injury

Defective, exploding, and under-inflating airbags have already injured or killed dozens of Americans. If you or someone you love was hurt by a recalled airbag, you deserve compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The California defective product attorneys at Berg Injury Lawyers have protected the rights of people who were hurt by a variety of dangerous products, including medical devices, household items, and vehicular components. We know what it takes to win, and we don’t settle for less than what our clients deserve. It’s our goal to help you get maximum compensation so you can move forward with your life. Contact us today for a free consultation. We’re ready to put our experience to work for you.