The purpose of airbags in vehicles is to keep you safe in the event of a car crash, but they also have the potential to cause serious injuries. Many Ohio residents have concerns about the recall of vehicles containing airbags manufactured by a company called Takata. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the recall, which has been in effect since May 2015, affects 50 million airbags in 37 million vehicles in the United States.
The issue rests with the inflators of the Takata airbags that can cause the airbags to explode, potentially causing injury or death, upon deployment after prolonged exposure to humidity and high heat. Certain airbags included in the recall, called “alpha bags,” pose a greater explosive risk. Vehicles potentially including alpha bags include Mazda B-series trucks, 2006 Ford Rangers and certain Acura and Honda vehicles with model years between 2001 and 2003. The NHTSA recommends motorists avoid driving these vehicles at all due to the safety risk.
Thus far, defective Takata airbag inflators have injured at least 250 people in the United States, as well as claimed 15 lives. Because weather conditions of heat and humidity increase the risk of airbag explosion, there is a higher priority assigned to vehicles registered in states that experience these conditions most often.
A partial list of vehicle manufacturers affected by the recall includes the following:
- Nissan
- General Motors
- Subaru
- Ford
- Toyota
- Chrysler
If your vehicle is part of the recall and you bought it new, you should receive a notice from the manufacturer. The NHTSA provides online tools on its website allowing consumers to check on the retail status of cars and trucks. If you purchased your vehicle used, it may be a good idea to use these tools to check on your vehicle as the manufacturer may not have had access to your contact information to send you a notice.
The information in this article is not intended as legal advice but provided for educational purposes only.