Idaho DMV urges consumers to replace airbags

Today, more than 14 million unrepaired recalled Takata airbags remain on U.S. roads, including hundreds of thousands in Idaho.

SafeAirbags.com, an organization working with the manufacturers to help notify vehicle owners about this urgent airbag safety recall, continues to urge owners to have affected vehicles repaired immediately to prevent potentially serious injuries or even death.

Long-term exposure to high heat and humidity can cause a defective part inside the airbag to explode when the airbag deploys, potentially shooting sharp metal fragments at the driver and passengers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has confirmed that 19 people in the U.S. have been killed, with hundreds of others alleged to have been injured by this defect.

In addition to official recall notice letters and postcards, owners are receiving notification through email, social media, and other forms of communication, encouraging them to contact their dealer to schedule an appointment to repair the vehicle.

All recall repairs are free. Replacement parts should be available for all vehicle makes and models at local dealerships.

The call to action is simple.

• Visit SafeAirbags.com or NHTSA.gov/Recalls to find out if your vehicle is affected, even if the vehicle has been previously repaired or if you’re uncertain if the vehicle is part of the Takata airbag recall. Continue to check regularly to learn if your vehicle’s recall status has changed.

• If your vehicle is affected, schedule a FREE recall repair at a local dealership.

“After nearly a decade long recall, many owners are still not taking immediate action, either because they have ignored the repeated safety recall notices, or do not understand the severity of the situation,” said Patrick Juneau, who is leading the nationwide outreach program by SafeAirbags.com. “It is absolutely critical to take the time to check if your vehicle has been recalled and have affected airbags repaired. Make it a priority to protect yourself and your passengers from defective airbags.”

Vehicles affected by the Takata airbag recall include those made by BMW, Daimler Vans, Daimler Trucks, Stellantis (formerly FCA), Ferrari, Fisker, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota and Volkswagen.

For more information, visit www.SafeAirbags.com and www.NHTSA.gov/Recalls.