6.4 Million US Vehicles Still Need Dangerous Takata Airbags Replaced

Despite a decade-long recall effort by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 6.4 million vehicles in the United States still have unrepaired Takata airbags. These airbags, known for their risk of causing severe injury or death, continue to pose a significant threat to vehicle occupants.

According to recent data from CARFAX, approximately 40% of these vehicles are located in what NHTSA designates as Zone A states. These areas, including Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, face the highest safety risks due to their high heat and humidity. Such conditions exacerbate the defect in Takata airbag inflators, leading them to deploy with excessive force. This force can send metal fragments into the vehicle cabin, acting like shrapnel and endangering passengers.

The widespread presence of these faulty airbags remains a critical issue. Among the most affected states, Texas leads with 788,000 vehicles, followed by California with 739,000, and Florida with 305,000. Other states with significant numbers of vehicles still equipped with Takata airbags include North Carolina, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Alabama.

The risks associated with Takata airbags are well-documented. Since the recall’s inception, 27 fatalities and over 400 injuries in the U.S. have been attributed to these defective airbags. In total, more than 67 million airbags in over 40 million vehicles have been recalled, spanning models from 19 different automakers.

Efforts to address this ongoing safety hazard have been substantial, involving vehicle manufacturers, government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses. Despite these efforts, millions of vehicles remain on the road with unrepaired airbags, highlighting a concerning level of recall fatigue among consumers. CARFAX general manager for data, Faisal Hasan, emphasizes the importance of continued vigilance and action to ensure these dangerous airbags are replaced.

CARFAX offers several tools to help consumers stay informed about recalls. The CARFAX Car Care app notifies users of new recalls for their vehicles at no cost. Over 40 million users currently receive these alerts. Consumers can also check for open recalls by visiting Carfax.com/recall and entering their vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate information to receive instant, free recall information.

Furthermore, CARFAX collaborates with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation to enhance recall awareness through the Vehicle Recall Search Service. This service, operational in states like Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Ohio, and Texas, has conducted over 5.8 billion vehicle checks since its launch in 2018. It serves as a vital resource for alerting residents to open safety recalls and encouraging timely repairs.