Is Your Airbag a Killer?
Judy Antell
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The Takata airbag recall gets scandalous.
More and more defective airbags are being recalled, but in a strange twist, new cars and being sold that knowingly have the compromised airbags installed.
According to Autoblog, there are three main areas of renewed concern:
- Some new Audi, Mistubishi and Volkswagen cars contain the Takata airbags. And Toyota and Fiat Chrysler America are still using the defective airbags.
- Many replacement airbags already installed in recalled vehicles will have to be replaced a second time: they lack a drying agent that prevents the degradation of the ammonium nitrate, which can lead to explosions.
- Airbags waiting to be installed in recalled vehicles also don’t have that drying agent.
No one is safe from the Takata airbag recall. Photo: Creative Commons
What is your next step?
Keep checking the manufacturer’s website of your vehicle for recalls. Also look-up your vehicle by its vehicle identification number (VIN) on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website to keep abreast of new recalls.
Note, too, that those new cars using defective airbags are safe in the short time; it takes about six years for the airbag to start to degrade.
But that is small comfort to those who drive their vehicles for longer than six years.
Do you drive an older car? Have you checked the safety of your airbag?