NHTSA Issues Urgent Takata Air Bag Warning After Another Death

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is issuing an urgent consumer alert after confirming another U.S. death attributed to a faulty Takata airbag.  The vehicle involved was a 2006 Ford Ranger in which the Takata driver's side air bag inflator ruptured during a crash, killing the 23-year old driver near Pensacola, Florida.  The vehicle was already under a "do not drive" warning and Ford told Automotive News it had sent out multiple notices and text messages prior to the crash and had also sent someone to the owner's home to schedule a repair.    

This follows another alert in early November in which Fiat Chrysler Automobiles issued a “Do Not Drive” warning for roughly 276,000 model year 2005 - 2010 Dodge Magnums, Chargers, and Challengers, as well as 2005-2010 Chrysler 300s. The warning came after two people died in separate crashes involving 2010 Dodge Chargers where the Takata driver’s side air bags exploded. 

Additionally, the NHTSA says it's aware of several other suspected inflator ruptures in vehicles from other automakers potentially due to exploding Takata air bags. 

At least 22 people have reportedly been killed by the faulty airbags in the U.S. along with hundreds of injuries.

Urgent Warning To Check For Open Takata Airbag Recalls

NHTSA is again calling on everyone to check to see if their vehicle has an open Takata air bag recall.   Owners can contact their dealership to schedule a free repair - and they're urged to follow any warnings from vehicle manufacturers. 

“We need everyone to check right now for open Takata recalls – and if you have one, to schedule an appointment at your dealership immediately for a repair,” said NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson. “Every day that passes when you don’t get a recalled air bag replaced puts you and your family at greater risk of injury or death. Don’t let an open recall cost you or your passengers your lives.”

Safety regulators say even minor crashes can result in exploding airbags that can kill or cause life-altering injuries.

Old model-year vehicles are at a higher risk - since age of the air bag is one of the contributing factors.

Here's a look at the NHTSA airbag repair completion rate as of 8/26/22.

• For Takata-specific information from vehicle manufacturers,  click here.

• For more information from NHTSA on the Takata air bag safety recall,  click here.

How to Check for Recalls

• Use NHTSA’s Recalls Lookup Tool to check your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for any open safety recalls, including the urgent Takata recall.
• Download the NHTSA's SaferCar app and let it check automatically for you.
• If your vehicle does have a safety recall, call your automaker’s local dealer to schedule the free recall repair.
• Sign up for NHTSA recall alerts.

If you think your vehicle may have a safety defect that isn’t part of a current recall, contact NHTSA. Contact NHTSA online or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. For more information, visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls.

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