A serious problem now affects millions of vehicles worldwide, including over 34 million in the United States. Dozens of car brands are affected, and the problem seems to be unrelenting, as new recalls continue to be issued. To make matters worse, replacement parts from Takata are either not available or they also are defective. For your own safety and that of your loved ones, it is essential to determine if vehicles you own or drive are listed as potentially dangerous due to defective Takata airbags.

Takata Airbags – Deadly Deployments

The story of defective Takata airbags is not a new one. In fact, this problem was discovered by that manufacturer as many as four years before the issue gained publicity. Some reports indicate that as long ago as 2004, Takata engineers knew of this problem, but top executives ordered that related data and physical evidence from secret tests be destroyed. Later on, the company failed to fix faulty inflators and they also did not notify federal safety regulators of the problem.

This issue came to light in the public eye when news stories reported fatalities and injuries that appeared to be caused by malfunctioning airbag explosions. In one early case, a 17 year old Texas girl died after she had a slow speed accident in a Honda fitted with Takata airbags. The inflator mechanism that expands the airbag fractured, sending sharp pieces of the metal casing through the air like shrapnel. She was hit in the neck by a metal shard and died from wounds to her jugular vein and carotid artery.

This problem continues to be newsworthy, and as recently as August 22, 2016, a truck carrying Takata airbag inflator replacements exploded and burned, killing a woman at her house near a Texas highway where the accident occurred. Takata denied the alleged connection between the accident and their replacement parts that were carried on that truck.

Millions of Vehicles Worldwide

Worldwide to date, about 100 million Takata airbags have been issued recalls. The company faces lawsuits, investigations and payment of huge compensation awards. Their airbag inflators have been linked to at least 15 deaths and many other incidences of injuries worldwide. Even though recalls were issued, many vehicle owners never received them, as the brother of the Texas teen who died from inflator shrapnel wounds has claimed.

Even people who did receive recall notices have had trouble getting parts for replacement, and many of the replacement parts also are defective. This recall is the largest in U.S. history, affecting 14 automakers. Unfortunately, only about 27 percent of the recalls have been acted upon. Dealers cannot get the parts, which is another problem causing replacement delays.

Super List of Airbag Recalls

The list of car brands affect by the Takata airbag recalls is lengthy, including cars manufactured all around the world. In a response to an inquiry from Edmunds, NTHSA spokesman Bryan Thomas confirmed there are still 85 million Takata airbag ammonium nitrate inflators that may be recalled in the U.S. There may be more vehicles added to existing recall lists. So far, 14 manufacturers have recalled 28.8 million Takata inflators for replacement. Takata also must demonstrate to federal safety regulators by 2019 that unrecalled inflators are safe.

Here are 20 of the 31 popular brands and models that have been issued recalls for Takata airbag inflators:

#1 Acura

  • 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL
  • 2003 Acura 3.2CL
  • 2003-2006 Acura MDX
  • 2005-2012 Acura RL
  • 2007-2016 Acura RDX
  • 2009-2014 Acura TL
  • 2009-2011 Acura TSX
  • 2010-2013 Acura ZDX
  • 2011 Acura TSX Sportswagon
  • 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid
  • 2013-2016 Acura ILX

#2 Audi

  • 2004-2008 Audi A4
  • 2005-2011 Audi A6
  • 2005-2013 Audi A3
  • 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabrio
  • 2009-2012 Audi Q5
  • 2010-2011 Audi A5 Cabrio

#3 Cadillac

  • 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade
  • 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV
  • 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT

#4 Chevrolet

  • 2007-2011 Chevrolet Avalanche
  • 2007-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • 2007-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  • 2007-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  • 2007-2011 Chevrolet Suburban
  • 2007-2011 Chevrolet Tahoe

#5 Chrysler

  • 2005-2010 Chrysler 300C
  • 2005-2010 Chrysler SRT8
  • 2005-2012 Chrysler 300
  • 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen
  • 2007-2008 Chrysler Crossfire

#6 Dodge/Ram

  • 2003-2009 Dodge Ram 1500
  • 2003-2009 Dodge Ram 2500
  • 2003-2010 Dodge Ram 3500
  • 2004-2009 Dodge Durango
  • 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum
  • 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota
  • 2006-2012 Dodge Charger
  • 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500
  • 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 5500
  • 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger

#7 Ford

  • 2004-2011 Ford Ranger
  • 2005-2006 Ford GT
  • 2005-2014 Ford Mustang
  • 2006-2011 Ford Fusion
  • 2007-2010 Ford Edge

#8 GMC

  • 2007-2011 GMC Sierra 1500
  • 2007-2011 GMC Sierra 2500
  • 2007-2011 GMC Sierra 3500
  • 2007-2011 GMC Yukon
  • 2007-2011 GMC Yukon XL

#9 Honda

  • 2001-2004 Honda Civic CNG
  • 2001-2011 Honda Accord
  • 2001-2011 Honda Civic
  • 2002-2004 Honda Odyssey
  • 2002-2011 Honda CR-V
  • 2003-2011 Honda Civic Hybrid
  • 2003-2011 Honda Element
  • 2003-2011 Honda Pilot
  • 2006-2011 Honda Civic GX
  • 2006-2011 Honda GL1800
  • 2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline
  • 2009-2013 Honda Fit
  • 2010-2011 Honda Accord Crosstour
  • 2010-2014 Honda FCX Clarity
  • 2010-2014 Honda Insight
  • 2011-2015 Honda CR-Z
  • 2013-2014 Honda Fit EV

#10 Jeep

  • 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler

#11 Lexus

  • 2002-2010 Lexus SC
  • 2006-2011 Lexus IS 250
  • 2006-2011 Lexus IS 350
  • 2007-2011 Lexus ES350
  • 2008-2011 Lexus IS F
  • 2010-2011 Lexus GX460
  • 2010-2011 Lexus IS 250C
  • 2010-2011 Lexus IS 350C

#12 Lincoln

  • 2006-2011 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2006-2011 Lincoln Zephyr
  • 2007-2010 Lincoln MKX

#13 Mazda

  • 2003-2011 Mazda6
  • 2004-2006 Mazda B-Series Truck
  • 2004-2006 Mazda MPV
  • 2004-2011 Mazda RX-8
  • 2006-2007 Mazda Mazdaspeed6
  • 2007-2011 Mazda CX-7
  • 2007-2011 Mazda CX-9

#14 Mercury

  • 2006-2011 Mercury Milan

#15 Mitsubishi

  • 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  • 2004-2007 Mitsubishi Lancer
  • 2004-2007 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
  • 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider

#16 Nissan

  • 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima
  • 2002-2004 Nissan Pathfinder
  • 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra
  • 2007-2011 Nissan Versa

#17 Pontiac

  • 2003-2010 Pontiac Vibe

#18 Saturn

  • 2008-2009 Saturn Astra

#19 Subaru

  • 2003-2006 Subaru Baja
  • 2003-2011 Subaru Legacy
  • 2003-2011 Subaru Outback
  • 2004, 2006-2011 Subaru Impreza
  • 2006-2011 Subaru Tribeca
  • 2009-2011 Subaru Forester

#20 Toyota

  • 2002-2007 Toyota Sequoia
  • 2003-2006 Toyota Tundra
  • 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix
  • 2003-2011 Toyota Corolla
  • 2004-2005 Toyota Rav4
  • 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris
  • 2009-2011 Toyota Matrix
  • 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner
  • 2011 Toyota Sienna

Brands not included in the above list are: BMW, Daimler Trucks North America (Sterling Bullet), Daimler Vans USA LLC (Sprinter), Ferrari, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Saab, Scion and Volkswagen (VW).

Check Your VIN Number

It is recommended that you check your VIN number to verify if the vehicle you drive is on a recall list for any reason. Check online at the government website that features the latest information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.safercar.gov/rs/takata/index.html, or by checking your VIN number.