Takata Airbag Recalls:  Texas & California Have The Most Unrepaired Recalls

CarFax is sharing new data about the Takata air bag recall.  It says that ten years after the recall began more than six million vehicles still need their faulty air bags replaced. 

In a press release,  CarFax says that according to its data, 6.4 million vehicles in the U.S. still have faulty air bags, ten years after the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's mandated recall. CarFax also says that 2.5 million - roughly 40% - of the unfixed vehicles are located in states that NHTSA calls Zone A, according to CARFAX vehicle history data. These states "pose the highest threat to safety" because of their high heat and humidity. They are Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas.

Credit: CarFax.

According to CarFax's data, fourteen states have 150,000 or more unfixed vehicles with Takata airbags, with Texas number one on the list, followed by California and Florida. 

*Zone A states

Extended exposure to heat and humidity can cause Takata airbag inflators to deploy far more explosively than expected, launching pieces of metal surrounding the inflator into a vehicle's cabin like shrapnel, posing a high risk to occupants.

"Even after a decade of a dedicated and committed effort by the vehicle manufacturers, government, non-profits and businesses, it's concerning that so many affected vehicles continue to be driven on U.S. roads with these potentially dangerous airbags sitting inside," said Faisal Hasan, CARFAX General Manager for Data. "It's easy to see recall fatigue settle in for many consumers, but they need to act. We know that raising the alarm with local media can make that happen urgently. Getting an airbag replaced is quick, free to them, and could save the life of a loved one – or their own!"

To date, NHTSA has confirmed 27 people in the U.S. have been killed by defective Takata airbags. NHTSA also reports that at least 400 people have allegedly been injured. The recall involves more than 67 million airbags in more than 40 million vehicles that have been recalled in models from 19 automakers.  Most recently, NHTSA shared a Do Not Drive warning issued by Nissan and INFINITI regarding certain old model vehicles equipped with the air bags.

CarFax says consumers can track recalls for their vehicle by getting the free CARFAX Car Care app. It will notify them when any new recall is issued for their car, at no cost to them. More than 40 million users are getting these recall alerts today. Consumers can also check to see if their vehicle has an unfixed recall by going to Carfax.com/recall and entering either their Vehicle Identification Number or their license plate information. CARFAX will tell them instantly – for free – if there’s an unfixed recall.

In addition, CARFAX is working with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation to involve more states with the Vehicle Recall Search Service. The Vehicle Recall Search Service is used by Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maryland, New York State, Ohio, and Texas to alert residents to open safety recalls and get them fixed. Launched in 2018 as a completely free system, the Vehicle Recall Search Service has checked more than 5.8 billion vehicles since its launch 6 years ago.

As always, recalls do not cost any money to be repaired.  This is a very serious problem that can be life threatening.  If you are not sure if your vehicle needs this free repair, get your 17-digit VIN, make sure it is exactly duplicated, and enter it on the NTHSA's recall website here. Also, check our special Takata airbag section at CarPro.com.

- The Car Pro, Jerry Reynolds