Nissan Urges Owners to Stop Driving Older Vehicles Due to Takata Airbag Danger
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Nissan have issued a grave warning to owners of older Nissan and Infiniti vehicles: stop driving them immediately. The urgency of the message is apparent in the language used by the NHTSA, which described the potential injuries as “gruesome”. The reason for this warning is the danger posed by Takata airbag inflators, which have been known to explode during even minor crashes, resulting in life-altering injuries or even death.
Approximately 84,000 older vehicles with Takata airbag inflators are at an increased risk of exploding and hurling dangerous metal fragments in the event of a crash. This risk is particularly heightened in older model year vehicles, as the age of the airbag is one of the contributing factors to their potential failure. Tragically, a front passenger was killed in a 2006 Nissan Sentra due to an exploding inflator, and there have been 58 reported injuries caused by airbag inflators in Nissans since 2015.
Focusing on the age factor, Nissan emphasized the increased risk associated with older vehicles equipped with defective Takata airbag inflators. These inflators can explode during airbag deployment, propelling sharp metal fragments that can cause serious injury or even death. In light of this, Nissan has urged owners to check if their vehicles are affected by visiting nissanusa.com/takata-airbag-recall or infinitiusa.com/takata-airbag-recall and entering their car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN).
It is crucial for owners to take action, as recall notices may not have been sent to subsequent owners given the age of these cars. Nissan may not have been able to keep track of current owners, making it necessary for individuals to proactively check the recall status of their vehicles. If a car is affected, Nissan has requested owners to contact a dealer. In such cases, the car will be towed to the dealership, and the airbag inflators will be replaced free of charge. Some locations may even offer repair technicians who can come to the owner’s location, and loaner cars might be available.
This recall is not the first for Takata airbag inflators. In 2020, Nissan recalled 736,422 vehicles to replace these inflators. Sadly, despite these efforts, the latest announcement reveals that 84,000 vehicles remain unrepaired and are still on the road. Nissan has made numerous attempts to reach owners with unrepaired Takata inflators; however, tracking down current owners has proven challenging.
The dangers associated with faulty Takata inflators have caused numerous fatalities and injuries worldwide. In the United States alone, faulty inflators have resulted in 27 deaths and over 400 injuries. Globally, at least 35 deaths have been attributed to Takata inflators in countries such as Malaysia, Australia, and the United States. These incidents have led to the largest auto recall series in U.S. history, with approximately 67 million Takata inflators involved. Unfortunately, a significant number of these inflators remain unrepaired, prompting concern from government authorities.
It’s worth noting that other automakers, including Honda, Ford, BMW, Toyota, Stellantis, and Mazda, have also issued similar “do not drive” warnings for vehicles equipped with Takata inflators. The widespread nature of this issue highlights the seriousness of the problem and underscores the need for immediate action to ensure the safety of vehicle owners and occupants.
