The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, has recently recalled 7.8 million vehicles due to defective air bags. The air bags, which are manufactured by Takata, deploy with too much force, causing metal and plastic fragments to be thrown into the vehicle.
The air bags were installed in vehicles that were manufactured between 2002 and 2008 and spans over 10 different automakers, including Ford, BMX, Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, and Subaru. There have been four deaths and over 100 injuries that have been linked back to the faulty air bags.
Takata has apologized for the issue and says that they are doing everything they can to try and solve it. The air bag manufacturer thinks that the problem is linked to the chemical inside the air bag that causes it to inflate. If the chemical comes into contact with any moisture, it can cause the air bag to deploy without warning and with too much force.
The link to humidity is especially concerning for people living in hot, humid areas such as Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida. The NHTSA has urged drivers in those areas to take extra precautions and take their car into a dealership to get it checked out.
Notices have been sent out to owners of affected vehicles warning them about the problem. If you have not received a notice but still want to find out if your car has a faulty air bag, contact the NHTSA with the VIN number of your vehicle. You can also take your car into a dealership to get it checked.
Having the right auto insurance policy is the best way to ensure that you are protected in case of any unfortunate situation. Contact the insurance experts at Cook, Disharoon & Greathouse in Oakland, California for all of your auto insurance needs.
