Toyota and other manufacturers have committed to a zero-hassle

The number of cars subject to Takata Airbag recall has grown to 53 million. This is a record amount and the biggest recall of automobiles to date in U.S. history. These airbags are defective because of a malfunctioning propellant device as well as an inflator. Inflators that are deflated can discharge metal fragments into compartments of passengers, severely injuring the passengers inside. This recall was created to stop this from occurring.

Takata airbag victims and future claimants

In April of 2013, Takata issued a recall of its airbags. after that, Toyota and the other major automakers also followed suit. When approached by NHTSA the company acknowledged that it did not know the vehicles that had Takata airbags or the root of the problem. The company also imposed regional recalls in areas with high humidity and NHTSA has ordered the elimination of the affected components.

The issue is related to an ammonium nitrate propellant that is used by Takata. The propellant is not compatible with the drying chemical that is used to prevent the airbag from over-inflating. The airbags may explode in humid and hot conditions, releasing metal shrapnel in the vehicle interior. The NHTSA has issued recalls for more than fifty million Takata airbags, and has reported numerous deaths and injuries. The recall has forced automakers to replace a lot of the airbags that are in their vehicles and also their parts.

Despite these issues, Toyota and other manufacturers have committed to a zero-hassle repair for the defective Takata airbags. As of October there were a number of automakers recalling Takata airbags. The company is working to ensure that the procedure is as easy as it is. If you have the Takata airbag, you should contact the company to inquire about their no-hassle replacement. They’ll pay for the replacement, and give you a brand new airbag should it be required.

Over the last year over a dozen of the biggest automakers have announced they will not use Takata airbag inflators inside their automobiles. Even though Honda has been a long-time one of their top customers, they have recently taken the decision to end its purchase of Takata inflatable airbags. Mazda along with Toyota are also looking at the replacement of their inflators by different brands. Both companies make up 40 percent of Takata airbags available on the market.

The NHTSA has opened a new investigation into Takata airbags and this time, it is focusing upon Honda and Acura automobiles. The vehicles in question have a higher risk of rupture during activation of airbags and at present, there are nine deaths that are attributed to the defective airbags. In addition, Acura and Honda have declared that they will be launching an advertising campaign that is voluntary to inform users of airbag recalls with open airbags.

The government is working to stop the spreading of airbags. In the process, Takata has stepped up the recall to cover more vehicles. As of October it was estimated that 34 million cars are affected by Takata airbags. In addition it is estimated that the Takata airbags have been on the market for more than 10 years and are susceptible to break. In the end, authorities from U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as well as Japanese officials are calling for a wider recall.