Why Are Defective Takata Airbags in the News Again?

Defective Takata airbags have returned to the spotlight following Ford’s decision to issue a “do not drive” advisory for affected cars that still haven’t been returned to the dealer for repairs under previous recalls.

Ford says that 318,700 cars equipped with dangerous Takata airbags still haven’t been brought to a dealer to have the old airbags replaced. This is despite the company’s campaign to get these cars brought to a dealer in an effort that has included more than 121 million outreach attempts using letters, emails, phone calls, text messages, and more than a million canvassing visits to customer homes.

These cars have been covered by three previously announced recalls (#15S21, #17S42, and #19S01), that were first issued in 2015. This full-court press has resulted in 95 percent of owners getting their cars fixed, but the remaining 5 percent still represents a large pool of unrepaired and hazardous vehicles. That’s why Ford issued the do-not-drive advisory, which covers the following models.

Driver and passenger airbag inflators in:

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This problem and Ford’s decision to issue the do-not-drive advisory are not new, as other automakers have previously issued this same warning in a bid to get the following cars returned for service.

To make the repair as convenient as possible, Ford is offering mobile repair service, dispatching a technician to the owner’s house, office, or other location. If owners want to bring their car into the dealer for repair, the dealer can tow the vehicle in and will provide a vehicle loan if needed. 

The problem with these airbags is that over time the propellant used in their pyrotechnic inflators can absorb moisture from the air, which makes it explosive when ignited. If detonated, the inflation canister and explode and expel sharp metal canister fragments during a crash, potentially causing serious injury or death to the driver or passengers.

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A Toyota video depicting the airbag canister replacement process shows the technician using a jig with protective shielding to remove the old canister that ensures that mechanics are safe while performing the repair.

Incredibly, there is another, different recall campaign for Takata airbags with another problem. In the case of the non-azide driver inflators recall, the inflator’s problem is a faulty seal that causes the same explosive outcome. This recall covers these vehicles from Acura, Audi, BMW, Honda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, and Toyota, with do-not-drive orders issued for some of these cars too.

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that industry-wide, 88 percent of the 67 million airbags that have been recalled have been replaced. Those were installed in 34 different brands of cars. The immense scope of the recall and the seriousness of the problem, which has resulted in 32 deaths according to research by Autoblog, led Takata to file for bankruptcy in 2018.