What does it mean when your airbag light is flashing? Usually, it means there’s something wrong with the module and/or the system. However, sometimes, there are no visible warning signs that something is wrong with your airbag.
Takata has been in a lot of hot water over the last couple of years, and with good reason. They’ve made defective airbags that have been linked to hundreds of injuries and nearly two dozen deaths across the globe in recent years. Several years ago, there were 3.6 million other airbags by Takata that were recalled as well. That was due to the possibility of inflation and leading passengers to risk of being hit with shrapnel.
It’s reached a point where consumers are unsure whether or not their car is affected, let alone what steps to take if that’s the case. For the United States, roughly 278 injuries and a minimum of 15 deaths were attributed to these defective airbags in 2018. It’s gone on to become the largest airbag recall in the history of American automotive. This is a full recall, with Takata airbags in both affordable and luxury brands affected.
Far Beyond the Airbag Light
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that roughly 67 million vehicles are under recall, so their Takata airbags can be replaced. Those numbers are current to this year, 2021. It should be noted that this isn’t just a matter of fixing damaged mechanisms. A defective Takata airbag can make all the difference between life and death for both driver and passenger.
Receiving a recall notice regarding a Takata airbag can understandably be worrisome. It essentially means that the vehicle must be sent in for repairs within a number of weeks. A good rule of thumb is to start making arrangements as soon as the Takata airbag recall notice is received. That way, the repairs that are needed can be made immediately.
Climate plays a role in defective airbags by Takata as well. A good number of the vehicles being recalled can be found in California, Florida, and Texas, which are states with high humidity and heat. They are more likely to be unstable and cause fatalities and injuries. Common defective airbag-caused injuries, which will also be discussed in another blog, can thus be avoided by quick servicing once a recall notice is received.
How can a driver/owner determine for sure whether or not their vehicle is part of the Takata airbag recall?
Luckily, this is fairly simple. The easiest way to get accurate information regarding the airbag recall in terms of one’s vehicle is through a VIN search. The VIN is a code made up of 17 characters, which all vehicles have. No two VIN numbers are alike, with each vehicle having one that is uniquely theirs.
The VIN can be found by looking at the following locations:
- Car Dashboard (Driver’s Side)
- Insurance Card
- Title
- Registration
Conclusion
The Takata airbag recall is a serious matter that vehicle owners should look into. It’s easy to find out if a vehicle is under recall through searching for the VIN. In the next blog, more about the vehicles involved and the recall.
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