Automakers Still Installing Defective Takata Airbags In Many Vehicles

The now infamous Takata air bag recall has grown exponentially since their inflators were found to be defective last October, with another 4.4 million cars added to the list just a few weeks ago. The scope of this recall is enough to make anyone scratch their head and wonder what’s going on with the now maligned air bag supplier.

The faulty inflators, which can over inflate and throw metal shrapnel around the cabin in a crash, have already lead to 13 deaths and over 100 injuries. Ten of these fatalities have occurred in the United States. This malfunction tends to happen in more humid environments, but new studies show that the issue can happen anywhere.

Recently, a few manufacturers admitted to selling new vehicles with recalled Takata inflators in about 2.1 million vehicles. The four brands that have admitted to still utilizing Takata inflators are Fiat Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Toyota, and Volkswagen. These manufacturers are allowed to utilize these inflators under an existing order from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), however, these affected vehicles are expected to be recalled for a second time.

The automakers are installing these newer Takata inflators as placeholders, as there is a massive shortage of replacement parts. So, this is viewed as a passable alternative by the NHTSA because the issue is caused by the breakdown of the ammonium nitrate in the inflator. Newer Takata inflators have fresher ammonium nitrate, the chemical that triggers the inflation, than the ones already installed in these vehicles. So the newer ones will take longer to deteriorate and buy some time until a permanent fix can be installed.

So far 20 different automakers have been affected by this recall, now the most extensive in automotive history. And while it’s been some eight months since this recall first began, the list of affected brands, vehicles, and consumers doesn’t appear to be getting any shorter.