The Airbag Recall You Need to Know About

When we hear about a recall that has to do with a car, we automatically assume it has to do with the breaks, steering, engine or tires, but a massive recall on Takata airbags has been going on for several years silently. These airbags in particular may explode and cause serious injuries or death to the diver or passenger of a vehicle.

What types of cars have the Takata airbags that are under recall? 

Several types of cars have these airbags and they are not limited to just Japanese, American and German made cars.  Honda in particular is one of Takata’s largest customers, but they have not been impacted like other car brands that have been dealing with these disastrous and deadly detonations.

Why are Takata Airbag detonations so dangerous? 

The actual airbag has a metal airbag inflator that is triggered during a collision to inflate the airbag for the occupants safety. What makes these airbags dangerous is that due to the metal airbag inflator heating up much more excessively, the detonation can shoot out metal pieces that puncture through the airbag and directly hit the upper body of the driver or passenger. Those metal pieces move at such an excessive speed and force that once contact is made with flesh, it can tear, maim and even kill the person in contact with it. Think of it this way, it is as if being shot at with small pieces of metal with heavy force in close proximity.

How many injuries and deaths have been caused by this defect?

Based on the Times report, complaints about these airbags have come through and 139 injuries have occurred and as many as 2 people have been killed by these airbag deploys, an 18 year old girl in a parking lot fender bender and 33 year old Gurjit Rathore hit a mail truck and air bag exploded, shooting shrapnel into her neck and chest, and she bled to death in front of her three children according to her family.

A new crash happened this October with nail salon worker Hein Tran, deceased, was in an accident and her vehicle, a Honda Accord, was included in the recall for Takata airbags. There were questions as to whether the airbags caused her death. “She was found with several puncture wounds to the neck, which investigators said were not consistent with a crash.”

If you feel that your car may be at risk or part of this Takata airbag recall, click here to check your VIN.