New Takata airbag death, NHTSA reminds drivers to check for recalls

In spite of a recall effort spanning nearly 13 years, Takata airbags have claimed another life.

By 2009, nearly 67 million vehicles had been sold with Takata airbags, in models from every major automaker brand. When it was discovered that some of the inflators used to deploy the bags could explode during accidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the auto industry initiated the largest automotive recall in U.S. history.

Unfortunately, notifying and motivating so many drivers to take their vehicle in for a replacement turned out to be a difficult task, which is why the faulty components continue to cause issues to this day. The most recent casualty was confirmed yesterday by Stellantis, following the death of a 2010 Chrysler 300 driver, bringing the global death toll to 33. Injury numbers reach as high as 400 in the U.S. alone.

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The Takata brand has long since gone under, although the lasting effects of the recall continue to plague the auto industry, as federal regulators try to pinpoint the policies which allowed the oversight to happen.

Stellantis and the NHTSA continue to urge drivers to stay informed on recalls, especially where their safety is a concern. Since dealerships provide much of the repairs on affected vehicles, auto-retailers remain an excellent resource for drivers. However, for those looking to check if their car is the subject of a recall, they can refer to the NHTSA’s website, provided they have their vehicle identification number.

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