Takata’s deadly airbags affected more than 67 million vehicles in the most expensive period in recorded history

Takata filed for bankruptcy amid “the largest and most complex safety recall in US history,” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Not only did the recall cost the Japanese auto parts company billions of dollars, but the timing of the recall added to its complexity.

The recall didn’t take weeks or months to complete. In fact, the recall is still ongoing, as millions of cars are still equipped with lethal airbags.

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Read more about Takata’s recall and affected vehicles below.

1. What happened to Takata?
2. What vehicles are affected by Takata airbags?
3. How many vehicles are affected by the Takata airbag recall?

1. What happened to Takata?

Japanese auto parts company Takata filed for bankruptcy in June 2017, according to Reuters, following several years of multibillion-dollar bailouts.

Takata has agreed to be acquired, in large part, for $1.6 billion by Key Safety Systems, according to Reuters.

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Billions of dollars lost to the company come from recalls and lawsuits over deadly airbags.

2. What vehicles are affected by Takata airbags?

Thirty-four vehicle models made by 19 different automakers are affected by the recall, according to Consumer Reports.

The crash airbags were mostly installed in cars from 2002 to 2015, according to the source.

Vehicle owners can check if their vehicle is affected by the recall on the NHTSA website with their vehicle identification number. If the vehicle has an unreported recall that requires repair, this information will be presented.

Millions of vehicles have been recalled due to dangerous airbags manufactured by Takata. (iStock / Stock)

If it does, NHTSA says owners should call dealers immediately to fix the problem.

There are several vehicles listed under the “do not drive” warning. For these vehicles, NHTSA and manufacturers strongly recommend that the vehicles not be driven until repairs are made.

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This list includes Dodge, Ford, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Poniac, Toyota, Acura, BMW and Chrysler. A full list can be found at NHTSA.gov.

Airbags manufactured by Takata are prone to exploding when deployed after prolonged exposure to high temperatures and humidity, according to NHTSA.

NHTSA has determined that the main cause of this problem is “air bags that use an ammonium-nitrate-based propellant without a chemical drying agent.”

Certain Honda vehicles are among those on the “do not drive” list due to the recall. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Explosive deployment of Takata airbags can send pieces of metal flying at drivers and passengers, causing serious injury and, in some cases, death.

To date, there have been 28 deaths in the US due to Takata airbags since 2009, according to the NHTSA, including one that occurred as recently as September 2024.

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3. How many vehicles are affected by the Takata airbag recall?

There have been about 67 million vehicles with Takata airbags recalled, according to NHTSA.

As of April 2024 data, NHTSA reported that approximately 88% of airbags have been repaired or replaced.

Although many airbags have been repaired or replaced, there are still millions on the road that still contain this dangerous product.