NHTSA Releases More Data on Takata Air Bag Repairs

Topics:  Takata

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
29 November 2017

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continuously monitors repair rates for vehicles affected by the Takata air bag recalls, the largest and most complex vehicle recalls in U.S. history. 

To keep the American public informed on the most current status of the recalls, NHTSA today added improved search functions to its website. Consumers can now view Takata air bag repair rates by priority group; repair rates over time for each affected vehicle manufacturer; in addition to repair rates for driver-side air bags, passenger-side air bags, and all air bags. Users will also be able to perform more advanced searches using Recall Campaign Numbers.

This comprehensive data and the outreach recommendations from the Takata Independent Monitor’s November 15 status report, is information all 19 vehicle manufacturers can use to increase their completion rates. It’s information that can help consumers understand where they fit into the recall schedule and how they might be notified by vehicle manufacturers, beyond a recall letter in the mail.   

Currently, the recalls involve approximately 34 million vehicles and approximately 46 million defective Takata air bags. Additional air bags are scheduled to be recalled by December 2019, bringing the total number of affected air bags to around 65-70 million. Vehicle manufacturers are currently prioritizing repair parts for older air bags—believed to be higher risk—while working to replace them all, following an unprecedented coordinated remedy program schedule that prioritizes the repairs into groups.  

Safety is NHTSA’s top priority. The agency is committed to ensuring that consumers are kept informed of current and future recalls and that they can get remedy parts as quickly as possible. NHTSA urges consumers to stay informed and safe, by taking the following five actions. 

1. Visit NHTSA.gov to find out if your car or truck is under recall. Search using your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Your search result will tell you if your car or truck is included in this or any other safety recall at this time. Vehicles scheduled for future recalls will not show up in this search, so it is important that people check regularly, at least twice per year.
2. If your vehicle does have a recall, call your local dealer to schedule the free repair. Just remember that in the Takata air bag recalls, there are priority groups; parts are only available for certain vehicles starting at certain dates. 
3. Sign up at NHTSA.gov/Alerts to be notified by e-mail if your vehicle is affected by a future recall. 
4. Get answers to frequently asked questions at NHTSA.gov/takata.
5. Help spread the word: Share NHTSA’s consumer fact sheet and video with friends and family.