Is your car affected by the Takata airbag recalls?
The recent Takata airbag recalls have made headlines recently after some of these devices malfunctioned. The AA make respond to a number of queries from the public.
“Our first message to all motorists in vehicles fitted with these air bags is not to panic but to nonetheless take the safety recall very seriously. Millions of cars around the world have been fitted with Takata air bags, and manufacturers are recalling these vehicles to replace the defective parts,” the AA said.
The problems and reason for the Takata airbag recalls are due to a defective airbag inflator on the driver and passenger side airbags. Meaning that when these airbags deploy, they could potentially cause injury or death. The AA is not aware of any local incidents involving Takata airbags as of yet.
Manufacturers listed by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) that may be affected by the Takata airbag recalls include: Honda, Mazda and Toyota.
More than 20 million cars worldwide are being recalled to ensure all vehicles fitted with faulty Takata airbags are made safe. To date, of all of the crashes involving cars fitted with Takata air bags, a total of ten people worldwide (nine in America) have been confirmed to have died because of the defective air bags, while a further 140 injuries have been recorded.
“If you own a vehicle produced by one of the manufacturers listed above, it is important that you contact them with your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to determine if you are affected or not. Even if you have done this in the past, we suggest motorists do it again, as the list of vehicles affected is expanding. You may not have been on the list before but may be on it now,” said the AA.
“Manufacturers will have sent letters directly to customers, and will have processes in place to deal with this issue. But do not wait, this is your safety, be proactive. We trust all owners will receive expert guidance if they contact the manufacturers directly,” the AA concluded.