It has been nearly 10 years since the first report of a potentially dangerous flaw in the airbags manufactured by the Japan-based Takata Corporation, one of the largest suppliers of auto safety parts. To date, the defective airbags have injured at least 139 people and linked to at least 4 fatalities in the U.S., 6 worldwide.
Takata’s failure to properly address this long-standing issue jeopardizes the safety of motorists and their passengers that may be traveling in the nearly 8 million vehicles affected.
Placing Profits Over Safety
According to a New York Times article, Takata has known for a decade about the dangerous and potentially deadly defect. In 2004, after receiving a report that one of its airbags ruptured and ejected metal shrapnel in Alabama, it conducted a secret investigation. Rather than disclosing its findings to the federal safety regulators, Takata appears to have placed profits over public safety by ordering its employees to destroy all of the physical evidence and testing data.
List of Affected Vehicles
- 2000–2005 3 Series Sedan and Sports Wagon; 2000–2006 3 Series Coupe and Convertible;2001–2006 M3 Coupe and Convertible
Chrysler: (371,309 vehicles)
- 2003–2008 Dodge Ram 1500; 2005–2008 Dodge Ram 2500, Dakato, Durango and Chrysler 300; 2006–2008 Dodge Ram 3500 and 4500; 2008–Dodge Ram 5500; 2007–2008 Chrysler Aspen
Ford (58,669 vehicles)
- 2004–Ranger; 2005–2006 GT; 2005–2007 Mustang
Honda (5,051,364 vehicles)
- 2001–2007 Honda Accord; 2001–2005 Honda Civic; 2002–2004 Honda Odyssey; 2002–2003 Acura TL/CL; 2002–2006 Honda CR-V; 2003–2011 Honda Element; 2003–2006 Acura MDX; 2003–2007 Honda Pilot; 2005–Acura RL; 2006–Honda Ridgeline
Mazda (64,872 vehicles)
- 2003–2007 Mazda6; 2004–2005 MPV; 2004–B-Series Truck; 2004–2008 Mazda RX-8; 2006–2007 MazdaSpeed6
Mitsubishi (11,985 vehicles)
- 2004–2005 Lancer;2006–2007 Raider
Nissan (694,626 vehicles)
- 2001–2003 Nissan Maxima
2001–2004 Nissan Pathfinder, Infiniti I30/I35; 2002–2004 Nissan Sentra; 2002–2003 Infiniti QX4; 2003–2005 Infiniti FX35/FX45
Pontiac
- 2003–2005 Vibe
Saab (# of vehicles affected unknown at this time)
Subaru (17,516 vehicles)
- 2003–2005 Baja, Legacy, Outback; 2004–2005 Impreza
Toyota (877,000 vehicles, including Pontiac Vibe and Lexus)
2002–2005 Lexus SC, Corolla and Sequoia; 2003–2005 Corolla Matrix and Tundra
Consult a skilled product liability attorney if you have been affected by the recall.
