Check Your Car’s Airbags: If They’re This Brand, You Could Be at Risk – How to Inspect and Replace Them

A growing number of vehicles on the road may be equipped with defective or counterfeit airbags, posing a serious safety risk to drivers and passengers, according to recent reports and safety alerts.

The concern centers on airbags manufactured by Takata, which have been linked to a widespread recall affecting tens of millions of vehicles across multiple automakers due to the risk of explosive deployment during a crash.

Long-term exposure to high heat and humidity can cause the ammonium nitrate-based propellant in these airbags to deteriorate, leading to ruptures that can shoot metal fragments into the vehicle cabin when deployed.

This issue has resulted in numerous injuries and fatalities worldwide, prompting regulatory agencies and consumer protection groups to urge vehicle owners to check whether their cars are affected by the recall.

Consumers are advised to verify their vehicle’s status using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) recall lookup tool by entering their vehicle identification number (VIN).

If a recall is confirmed, owners should contact an authorized dealership to schedule a free replacement of the airbag, as repairs are covered at no cost under the recall campaign.

To avoid fraud, experts recommend inspecting the replacement airbag before installation to ensure it is in a sealed package from the original manufacturer and verifying that the repair facility sourced the part directly from the manufacturer.

Recent legal actions have highlighted cases where vehicles were sold with counterfeit airbags, including a lawsuit alleging that a dealership sold a car containing a dangerous, non-genuine airbag that could fail to protect occupants in a collision.

These incidents underscore the importance of purchasing replacement parts only from verified suppliers and maintaining documentation of all repairs, particularly for safety-critical components like airbags.

Automakers affected by the Takata recall include major brands such as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota, among others, spanning multiple model years.

Vehicle owners are encouraged to act promptly, as the risk of airbag rupture increases with the age of the vehicle and environmental exposure, especially in regions with high temperatures and humidity.

Staying informed through official channels and responding to recall notices remains the most effective way to mitigate the danger posed by defective airbags in consumer vehicles.