Automakers Still Selling Cars With Defective Takata Airbags

[question everything]

Source: NYT

At least four automakers — Toyota, Volkswagen, Fiat Chrysler and Mitsubishi — continue to sell new vehicles with defective Takata airbags that will need to be recalled, according to a Senate Commerce Committee report released on Wednesday.

The report underscores the convoluted way the mass recalls of Takata airbags have unfolded, with new models still being fitted with defective airbags and, in some cases, recalled cars also receiving defective airbags.

Automakers are not required to tell buyers of the new cars about the problems with the airbags. Regulators emphasize, however, that the newer airbags do not pose an immediate threat, because it takes time for them to deteriorate.

At least 13 deaths worldwide have been linked to the defective airbags. The interior of the bags is sensitive to moisture and can rupture, sending shrapnel flying toward the car’s occupants. The defect has also been linked to more than 100 injuries, many of them critical.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/02/business/automakers-still-selling-cars-with-riskiest-takata-airbags.html

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Automakers have until 2018 to recall these new airbags..

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Capacity does not exist

to fix them all at once immediately

[stopbush]

2. Our 2009 MB C300 has one of those defective airbags.

Our model year just came on the list for a recall. The letter we received notified us of the problem but said the actual recall wouldn't happen until they had enough parts made to start fixing things. I guess model years thru 2008 have been fixed.

So in the meanwhile, we're driving a car whose airbag might explode. The bag in the headrest already screwed up. My mechanic fixed it, but he can't reset the warning lights, so I have to turn them off manually whenever I turn over the car. And there's a red light on on the dashboard that they can't turn off.

Took the car to the local dealership a few months ago, and they said that as the recall hadn't yet been extended to the 2009 models, they would have to charge me for the expensive repair, and would have to install a defective part! Well, I understand it takes time for the thing to deteriorate, but, c'mon: that's the solution? Pay thru the nose for a defective fix or drive a potential hazard until they can do it right?

[canoeist52]

3. Been waiting well over a year for parts to be availabe to fix ours as well.

Nothin' like driving a tickin' time-bomb, eh?