3 On Your Side: Dangerous Airbags Could Take 2+ Years To Repair
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The biggest recall in automotive history involving exploding air bags is causing lots of confusion for consumers. With nearly 34 million airbags needing to be replaced, 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan finds that most drivers don't even know if their vehicle is affected and likely won't know for some time.
Nearly 34 million airbags have been recalled, yet replacement parts just aren't available, and at the rate they're being manufactured, it could be two and a half years before all cars get fixed.
"The number is absolutely staggering," says Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. He says, "It's confusing for consumers to have these vehicles because you can't always get them fixed right away."
It's expected that repairs will focus first on airbags in states with humid weather. Takata Corp., the maker of the airbags, still has not named a root cause of the airbag problem but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes moisture in high humidity regions leaks into the air bags inflator, changing the properties of the chemical used to inflate the bags. When this happens, the explosive force can rupture the metal casing, sending shrapnel into the vehicle.
One reason this recall is so confusing is that it's the first time Takata has issued one. All previous recalls involving the company's airbags have been issued by individual automakers. In fact, the eleven car companies involved say they're still waiting for information from Takata on which vehicles need to be repaired.
As a result, it could be months before many drivers get a notification from dealers. Meanwhile, car owners are asked to regularly check the www.safercar.gov website to see if your car is impacted by the recall.
