The New York Times uncovered former employees of Takata that say there was a cover-up. This recall is only going to get uglier folks. Eleven automakers have recalled more than 14 million vehicles worldwide because of the rupture risks, and it was all hidden by the Takata executives.
Takata Airbag Recall
Takata airbags, courtesy Takata
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received notification from BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota that they are conducting limited regional recalls to address a possible safety defect involving Takata-brand airbag inflators.
All of the car companies that use Takata airbags
“Based on the limited data available at this time, NHTSA supports efforts by automakers to address the immediate risk in areas that have consistently hot, humid conditions over extended periods of time.
Honda
Honda has listened to NHTSA and made an official recall, 14V-700, of the Hondas that are in the immediate risk areas that have consistently hot, humid conditions over extended periods of time. You will need to check your Acura, or Honda, Vin code but these are the affected models, 2003-2005 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2003-2004 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003-2005 Acura MDX and the 2005 Acura RL.
Other cars that could have a voluntary limited local parts collection campaign are below, although each manufacturer has not determined that a safety defect exists:
BMW
2001 – 2005/3 Series Sedan
2001 – 2006/ 3 Series Coupe
2001 – 2005/3 Series Sports Wagon 2001 – 2006/3 Series Convertible
Inclusive Dates of Manufacture
Jun 2000- Aug 2005 Jun 2000- Aug 2006 Jun 2000-Aug 2005 Jun 2000-Aug 2006
Chrysler
“It is Chrysler’s intention to conduct a field action to replace the driver airbag inflators built between January 1, 2004, and June 30, 2007. As the passenger airbag inflators made between June 1, 2000, and July 31, 2004, in the Chrysler vehicles located in the regions identified by Takata (Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands). Chrysler is currently working with Takata to determine the serial numbers for the suspect inflators.”
Ford
“According to our information, Ford vehicles that contain inflators the Agency would like obtained are 2005 through 2007 model year Ford Mustangs, 2005 through 2006 model year Ford GTs, and 2004 model year Ford Rangers. Because NHTSA believes that humidity is a contributing factor to this conduit ion, the Agency asked Ford to conduct a field service action for the above vehicles are registered or were sold in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
Vehicles:
Certain 2005 through 2007 model year Ford Mustang cars, built at the AutoAlliance Plant from August 1, 2004, to June 30, 2007, that were originally sold or registered in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and equipped with driver airbags incorporating Takata PSDl-4 inflators.
Certain 2005 through 2006 model year Ford GT vehicles, built at the Wixom Assembly Plant that was initially sold or registered in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Driver airbags are incorporating Takata PSDl-4 inflators (produced from April 1, 2004, to June 30, 2007) or passenger airbags incorporating Takata PSPI inflators (produced from Apr il 1, 2004, to July 31, 2004) for these vehicles.
Certain 2004 model year Ford Ranger vehicles, built at the Twin Cities Assembly Plant and the Edison Assembly Plant from August 1, 2003, to July 31, 2004. Originally sold or are currently registered in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and are equipped with passenger airbags incorporating Takata PSPI inflators.
The vehicle VIN order is not consecutive. Information as to the applicability of this action to specific vehicles can best be obtained by either calling Ford’s toll-free line (1-866-436-7332) or by contacting a local Ford or Lincoln dealer who can get accurate information regarding the vehicles from the Ford On-line Automotive Service Information System (OASIS} database.
The estimated number of vehicles, listed above sold in Florida, Hawaii,
Puerto Rico or the U. S. Virgin Islands are below:
VEHICLES: EST.SALES VOLUMES*
Mustang 44,299
Ranger 13,921
GT 449
Mazda
REVISED Notification of a Special Service Program (SSP) for 2003-2007 Model Year (MY) Mazda6, 2004-2008 MY RX-8, 2006-2007 MY Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MY MPV vehicles with Airbag Inflators supplied by Takata Corporation and TK Holdings, Inc.
Mazda has determined that the subject vehicles of the SSP are certain model years of the Mazda6, Mazdaspeed6, RX-8, and MPV equipped with similar types of airbag inflators. Specifically, the vehicles are:
2003-2007 MY Mazda6 built from October 4, 2002, through July 31, 2007.
Plant information: Auto Alliance International, Inc. Flat Rock, Michigan.
Vin Range: 1YVFP8***35 M00415- M57051 , 1YVHP8***35 M00460- M53091 ,
1YVFP8***45 M07463- M99253, 1YVHP8***45 M07480- M99243, 1YVFP8***55 M00087- M76942, 1YVHP8***55 M00054- M77480, 1YVFP8***65 M00408- M71141, 1YVHP8***65 M00086- M71444, 1YVHP8***75 M00016- M61951
2008 MY RX-8 built from April 23, 2003, through July 26, 2007.
Plant information: Hiroshima plant of Mazda Motor Corporation, Japan
Vin Range: JM1FE1***40 100063-140879 , JM1FE1***50 140895-161156,
JM1 FE1 ***60 200013- 207444 , JM1 FE1 ***70 207473 – 214011 JM1FE1***80 214012-214263
2006-2007 MY Mazdaspeed6 made from August 25, 2005, through June 28, 2007. Plant information: Hofu plant of Mazda Motor Corporation, Japan
Vin Range: JM1GG1***61100133 -108016 , JM1GG1***71 108061 -110732
2004 MY MPV built from August 21, 2003, through July 28, 2004.
Plant information: Hiroshima of Mazda Motor Corporation, Japan
Vin Range: JM3LW2***40 500024-531700 , JM3LW2***50 531899-556188,
JM3LW2***60 556764- 571747 Basis of determination of the recall population: The vehicle population-based on manufacturing records of Mazda.
Affected Component: Driver and or Passenger side frontal air bag unit
(For Mazda6)
Manufacturer: TK Holdings Inc.
Address: 888 16th Street, NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20006 Country of Origin: Mexico
(For RX-8, Mazdaspeed6, and MPV)
Manufacturer: Takata Corporation
Address: 12-31 Akasaka 2-Chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-8508, Japan Country of Origin: Japan
The estimated population is approximately 34,600 vehicles that were originally sold or registered in Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Mazda vehicles have not been sold or registered in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Description of the concern:
On the vehicles identified above the airbag may not deploy properly in the event of an accident.
V. Chronology of Events:
On June 11, 2014- NHTSA opened the Preliminary Evaluation (PE14-016) concerning the excessive deployment of both driver and passenger side frontal airbags manufactured by Takata.
On June 13, 2014- NHTSA coordinated a conference call with several OEMs, including Mazda, to discuss a limited voluntary recall action with parts collection and analysis to quickly understand this concern more fully and identify the cause.
On June 19, 2014- Mazda has decided to conduct an SSP, which will include owner notification in the affected regions, on the vehicles, 2003-2007MY Mazda6, 2004 – 2008MY RX8, 2006- 2007MY Mazdaspeed6 and 2004MY MPV.
Nissan
Description of Field Action
Consistent with Takata’s commitment to the agency, Nissan will initiate a field action in Puerto Rico, Florida, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, based on the high levels of absolute humidity in those areas. Specifically, Nissan will
replace SPI, and PSPI inflators (used passenger-side airbags) manufactured between January 1, 2003, and July 31, 2004. The subject inflators are collected and shipped to Takata for additional analysis.
We note that Takata June 11 letter also references older inflators manufactured as early as June 2000. These inflators were subject to a previous Nissan campaign (number 13V-136). We will communicate separately to you concerning the inflators in this date range.
Toyota
Toyota has not yet received information containing affected airbag module serial numbers from Takata. However, based on Takata’s June 11 letter, we believe that some MY2003 to 2005 Toyota Corolla, Matrix, Sequoia, Tundra, Lexus SC, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles produced up to December 31, 2004, and not included in the previous inflator recalls. Front passenger inflators targeted for replacement and collection. We will provide
more detailed information on vehicles involved when it becomes available. Concerning driver’s airbags,
Toyota has confirmed that the driver’s inflators targeted for replacement and collection are not in any Toyota vehicles.
