Minn. Case Causes NHTSA To Call For Expanded Airbag Recall
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- People across the country are taking their vehicles in to get a defective airbag replaced.
When activated, Takata airbags have sent metal fragments flying at drivers and passengers.
At least four people have died and 139 people have been injured, including a Minnesotan. Right now the recall applies only to drivers in southern states.
The defective airbags are more likely to explode in high humidity, but we know that in 2013, a woman involved in a crash in Minnesota was blinded when her airbag deployed. Shrapnel flew into her eyes.
At Richfield Bloomington Honda, calls from customers started coming in a couple of weeks ago. That's when they started replacing the Takata airbag inflators.
"A lot of people are calling and asking about this recall," said service manager Jason Weverka. "And not all vehicles are affected by this recall either."
But millions of vehicles are on the list, including those made by Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, BMW, Mazda, Toyota, Subaru, Nissan and Mitsubishi. The affected model years range from 2001 to 2008.
Dealerships are responding by replacing the defective airbag inflator with a new, updated one.
"We do approximately ten to fifteen a day right now," Weverka said.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar is urging federal transportation officials to get all the vehicles that use the defective air bags off the road nationwide until they are repaired.
She says the Minnesota case underscores an alarming lack of urgency of the part of NHTSA and automakers.
"Obviously we're real concerned for them as well, and just want to make sure their vehicles are safe and fixed," Weverka said.
As a result of that Minnesota case, the NHTSA is now urging Takata to expand its recall nationally as of Wednesday afternoon.
Weverka says it takes about an hour and a half to do the replacement work, but it could take longer if the service departments are busy.
The car companies will mail you a recall notice if you are affected, or when you go in for maintenance, a recall notice should come up when they enter your VIN number.
You can also call the dealership and give them your information, and they'll look it up.
Click here to see a full list of recalled cars.
