Takata Airbag Recall Expands to Vehicles Already Repaired

Takata air bag recall

USA- The carconnection.com writes that many of the vehicles subject to the Takata airbag recall are now being recalled a second time. The cars were serviced once but given temporary replacements while the manufacturers struggled to determine how to handle the recall, which is one of the largest ever initiated.

Nissan issued a recall of more than 300,000 vehicles that were previously serviced with temporary fixes. The original recall was addressing the issue caused by the defective inflators, which could explode shooting shrapnel into the vehicle and putting occupants in harm’s way.

BMW is also recalling 350,000 vehicles that have Takata airbags, while General Motors and Ferrari also recall many of their vehicles.

The massive Takata airbag recall impacted cars around the world and involved almost every vehicle manufacturer. Since the recall was first issued, Takata went bankrupt. The company came out this month and listed an additional ten million airbag inflators that will need replacement. This updated recall impacts fourteen different manufacturers.

The issue with the airbags is the chemical used, ammonium nitrate, which deteriorates over time and more rapidly in warm or humid climates. When the chemicals become unstable, they can then explode in an uncontrolled way.  Vehicles exposed to warm and humid weather conditions have been serviced with priority over similar vehicles in cooler regions.

The defect has already killed sixteen people in the United States, a total of 24 worldwide, and injured hundreds of other people. There are about thirteen million cars still driving with the defective inflators.

Manufacturers will notify consumers next month about the replacements, which will be performed for free.