Defective Airbags Lead to Record 33.8 Million Vehicle Recall

Airbag
Various components of a Takata airbag, from a Honda automobile, are seen before the start of a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on "Examining Takata Airbag Defects and the Vehicle Recall Process." in... Gary Cameron/Reuters

A massive recall has been issued by Takata, a Japanese airbag manufacturer. The recall affects 33.8 million vehicles in the United States. It is the largest product recall in history.

Both driver and passenger airbags were recalled. The United States Department of Transportation found "these inflators were made with a propellant that can degrade over time and has led to ruptures." The reptures have killed six people.

"Today is a major step forward for public safety," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. "The Department of Transportation is taking the proactive steps necessary to ensure that defective inflators are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible, and that the highest risks are addressed first. We will not stop our work until every air bag is replaced."

Recalls have already been issued for 17 million vehicles at the regional level.

These airbags were used by BMW, Chrysler, Daimler Trucks, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota. The Transportation Authority is still working to determine exactly which models used the airbags so the public can best determine if they were affected by the recall.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Polly Mosendz is a breaking news reporter for Newsweek. She was previously a staff writer for The Wire and associate ... Read more

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go