Air Bag Injury – Takata Airbag Recall

Motor Vehicles made by nineteen various auto manufacturers have been notified to recall and replace front air bags on either the driver’s side and/or the passenger’s side, or both in what NHTSA has has now determined this is ” the largest and most complicated security recall in UNITED STATES history. ” These air bags, made by huge conglomerate parts provider Takata, were mainly used in cars from manufacture year 2002 – 2015.

Defective Airbag Inflators Can Explode, Spray Shrapnel

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association has defined the main cause of the problem: Taka airbags use an ammonium nitrate-based propellant without a chemical drying agent. This leaves the bags vulnerable environmental moisture, high temperatures, and age as associated with the  ammonium defect that can improperly inflate the airbags potentially sending shrapnel into the occupants as the driver or passenger. To date, there have been 11 deaths and approximately 180 injuries due to this problem in the U.S.

Through various reporting agencies, it looks like the recall has tripled in the number of vehicles affected over the past year. It is expected that the air bag safety manufacturer’s recall will directly involve over 42 million vehicles in the U.S. More realistic number of airbags will be more like up to 65 and 70 million.

Takata-Airbag-Injury-Statistics-Infographic

 

How Do I Know if My Vehicle Has Takata Airbags?

There are several ways to examine whether your specific automobile is affected. You’ll need to know your vehicle identification number, VIN, located in the lower driver-side corner of the windshield or usually on the inside of your drivers door. I usually take a snapshot with my camera and then increase the size of the picture. It’s always a good idea to have access to your insurance ID card but this recall has nothing to do with your insurance. But your VIN number is on your insurance ID card. Enter your vin into NHTSA’s on line  VIN-lookup tool.

This such a great idea because it will tell you If your automobile is impacted for the air bag recall you might find other safety re calls. You can find out where your local airbag recall service center is and this should be a freebie.  Or you can just call any franchised dealership for your vehicle brand brand.

Visit www.safercar.gov to check the recall status of your vehicles.

How important is that I respond to the recall?

Any and all manufacture defective recalls, by definition, are primarily announced with human safety concerns and should always be treated seriously. As with all safety motor vehicle  recalls, Our Chiropractors recommend having the air bags replaced as soon as parts are available and the dealer service can be scheduled. Since airbag age has been determined as a key factor in most of the Takata airbag ruptures to date, it’s particularly important you own of older recalled vehicles to get this work done. All air bag retro fitting work must be done at a franchised dealer in order for you insurance to be valid. Do Not take you recall for air bags or for that matter and recall service to Independent mechanics as they can’t perform recall work as far as your car insurance is concerned and they certainly won’t do it fro free.

Is my car dealer required to give me a rental while I wait for a new airbag?

The quick answer is no they are not. I suggest that you ask for a loaner in writing at the same time you ask someone from service call you to make arrangements to have the work done. Legally it would be best to have a denial in writing. Here is the real problem the (Takata) air bag recall has become so enormous and convoluted that most vehicle owners might delay months for repairs, which means you actually could be driving around in a veritable death trap! This is serious stuff. You did read that there have 11 deaths and over 180 injuries reported in the US as of the publishing of this article. However some dealerships are compensating customers  for rental cars, but most need to be pushed into providing them. And drivers under 25 or with lower limit insurance coverage or credit say they are running into closed doors when they get to the rental coverage. Insurance coverage should really not be the reason the work is not done. My son had his 2006 Dodge Ram front airbags replaced the next day and they did it in about 3 hours.

Does the Takata bankruptcy stop me from receiving my new airbags?

No. Takata states that air bag replacements should occur  in the same time frame as pre bankruptcy. Takata wants to stay in control of the airbag industry and adamantly states they will not decrease production until the demand for replacement airbags has been met.

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