Takata Airbag Recall: What You Need to Do

Whether you own one of the recalled vehicles or not, you’ve likely heard about the Takata airbag recall. Basically, due to device issues, instead of deploying properly during a crash, defective airbags have been explosively firing pieces of metal at people in the car. If this sounds dangerous, it’s because it is. So far, there have been well over a hundred reported injuries, and it has even proven to be fatal.

To date, over a dozen brands have been affected and tens of millions of vehicles are at risk. That’s right—millions.

If your car have been recalled due to Takata, or is at risk of recall, there are a few things you need to do after reading this:

1. Don’t wait for notice.

If your car has been recalled, you should receive a letter from the vehicle manufacturer. That said, don’t wait to receive the letter. You should be checking your VIN number regularly to see if your car has been added to the recall list.

2. Take action immediately.

When you receive the letter of notice from your manufacturer, or see that your VIN number has been added to the recall list, call your manufacturer immediately. They will be able to walk you through next steps and ensure that the defective part is replaced.

3. Know that parts might not be immediately available.

Unfortunately, most of these replacement parts will need to be ordered through your manufacturer. If this is the case for you, talk to your manufacturer about your options and if they can provide a rental car while your part is being ordered.

Remember: Keeping up with the status of the recall is incredibly important. Although most of these airbags are expected to perform correctly in an accident, if your car has been recalled, you must take action immediately. Communicate both with the dealer and manufacturer of your car to make sure you and your family are safe on the road.