Amajor automotive recall could mean the vehicle in your driveway may not be as safe as expected.
Airbag manufacturer Takata is recalling millions of vehicles because of a possible defect that could cause airbags to explode and send shrapnel into the driver.
It’s one of the largest recalls in automotive history. 34 million vehicles are affected. That means one out of every seven cars, trucks and vans on the road today in the U.S.
Joann Claybrook, Former Administrator at NHTSA, says, “Takata has now conceded that it has a defect and it’s time to recall these vehicles.”
The massive recall will not be easy to implement. In fact it could take years.
So how do you find out if your car is part of the recall
Your first stop is on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration web site. They’ve set up a special page just for this recall.
Look for the box, type in your vin number and if there is a match, you will need a recall.
Even if your car doesn’t pop up, that is not a guarantee that you are in the clear. The list is still being populated. It could take weeks before it is finished and the NHTSA suggests checking back again in a few weeks.
If your vehicle does pop up, you should contact your dealership right away to find a time to have it fixed, but don’t expect to get in immediately.
Officials say it can take years to do it because34 million new airbags have to be manufactured and then replaced in the vehicles.
In the meantime, one automotive safety expert suggests keeping the airbag connected even though there is no guarantee it will work. This as a precaution, in case you have a crash where an airbag is desperately needed.
The massive and expensive predicamentcould leave millions of motorists vulnerable until the problem is fixed.
Click here: http://www.nhtsa.gov/to check if your vehicle is included in this massive recall.
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