The defective Takata airbag problem has affected tens of millions of vehicles making it one of the largest and most complex vehicles recalls in U.S. history. The problematic airbags have caused dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries worldwide.
The issue gained global attention in 2014, and Takata and car manufacturers have been working since then on recalling and replacing defective airbags in affected vehicles. However, even today there are reports of additional car model recalls and Takata airbag accidents and deaths.
Several affected car owners have filed for lawsuits and compensation with the assistance of Takata airbag lawyers. Some have successfully claimed payouts or received free loaner vehicles from authorized dealers while their affected car is waiting for its Takata airbag replacement.
Is my car part of the Takata airbag recalls?
Several auto manufacturers sent out letters and texts to affected drivers. Didn’t receive any letter or text?
You can check with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if your car model is included in the Takata airbag recall list.
You can go to the NHTSA recalls webpage and enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in the search box. Your VIN has 17 characters and is located on the lower left part of your windshield. You can also find it on your car registration and insurance card.
The VIN search tool will notify you if your car is part of any vehicle safety recalls or if it is an unrepaired vehicle affected by recalls in the past 15 years.
Newly announced recalls and recalls more than 15 years old may not be included in the database, so it’s best to stay updated on the latest news about Takata airbag safety recalls.
You can also call the NHTSA directly and/or sign up for their email updates.
What should I do next?
If your car is unfortunately included in the Takata airbag recall, the next step is to make sure you remain safe and that you aren’t inconvenienced by following these steps.
1. Stop driving your vehicle.
Even if airbag tests indicate that not all Takata airbags cause injury when deployed, there is no way to determine in advance if your airbags are one of the fatal ones.
2. Get in touch with your dealership to find out how soon you can get your car repaired.
You can also ask them if it is still safe to drive your car while waiting for repairs. If it will take a while and affect your driving mobility, inquire about free loaner vehicles.
3. Make sure your dealer doesn’t charge you for the Takata airbag repair.
It is your car manufacturer’s responsibility to fix it free of charge. If your dealer tries to charge you or refuses to provide you with a free loaner vehicle promised by your manufacturer, file a complaint with the NHTSA with the help of Takata airbag lawyers.
Did you or someone you know suffer injuries or loss due to defective Takata Airbags?
You are entitled to compensation. Consult with Takata airbag lawyers on the best recourse to file a lawsuit and claim a payout.
After Takata filed for bankruptcy in 2017, Key Safety Systems (based in the U.S.) bought the company. Takata set up a trust fund as part of its bankruptcy agreements. This trust fund is for payouts for injuries from defective Takata airbags, and the compensation is based on the extent of injuries.
Several lawsuits have also been filed against automakers involved in the safety recalls.
