Photo: NHTSA
A report published by the U.S. Senate has revealed that some automakers are still selling new vehicles in the USA with Takata airbags that will have to be recalled by the end of 2018.
In spite of how this seems, dealers are allowed to sell new cars fitted with non-desiccated airbag inflators from Takata. It might sound counter-intuitive at first, to knowingly sell a vehicle that will have to return to your service department by the end of 2018 so it that it receives a free repair.
However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has decided that the respective airbag inflators will only become potentially unsafe if the vehicle fitted with them is exposed to high humidity for an extended period.
Safety advocates and some Congress representatives have criticized the sale of these vehicles, but the only excuse that automakers can use in this case is that many other cars need to get their airbag inflators changed before these vehicles will require the same action, but for different reasons.
According to the report, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari are among the automakers that will sell new vehicles fitted with Takata airbags with non-desiccated inflators. Other brands include Toyota, Volkswagen, and Jeep. At this point, we must note that the affected vehicles are not dangerous to their passengers, but they will require a recall action by the end of 2018.
According to the report, seven out of 17 automakers contacted by the senator responsible for the report have admitted to fitting new vehicles with potentially defective Takata airbags, but all of them have agreed to notify buyers of the planned recalls.
You can check if a vehicle is part of an active recall by entering its VIN on the NHTSA website, but these cars will not be present there before the campaign begins.
In the case of Daimler, the affected vehicles are the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and the 2016-2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe/Convertible. Mitsubishi’s 2016-2017 i-MiEV will also require a recall, as will the 2016 Jeep Wrangler.
Toyota will have to replace airbag inflators for the 2015 Scion xB, 2015, Lexus IS250C/350 C, ’15-16 Lexus GX460, and ’15-16 Toyota 4Runner. Volkswagen’s list includes the ’16 CC, 2016 Audi TT, and 2017 Audi R8 and R8 Spyder.
Ferrari has the longest list here, with models including the 2016 FF, 2016-2017 California T, 2016-2017 488 GTB and 488 Spider, ’16-17 F12/F12 tdf, and the 2017 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso.
However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has decided that the respective airbag inflators will only become potentially unsafe if the vehicle fitted with them is exposed to high humidity for an extended period.
Safety advocates and some Congress representatives have criticized the sale of these vehicles, but the only excuse that automakers can use in this case is that many other cars need to get their airbag inflators changed before these vehicles will require the same action, but for different reasons.
According to the report, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari are among the automakers that will sell new vehicles fitted with Takata airbags with non-desiccated inflators. Other brands include Toyota, Volkswagen, and Jeep. At this point, we must note that the affected vehicles are not dangerous to their passengers, but they will require a recall action by the end of 2018.
According to the report, seven out of 17 automakers contacted by the senator responsible for the report have admitted to fitting new vehicles with potentially defective Takata airbags, but all of them have agreed to notify buyers of the planned recalls.
You can check if a vehicle is part of an active recall by entering its VIN on the NHTSA website, but these cars will not be present there before the campaign begins.
In the case of Daimler, the affected vehicles are the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and the 2016-2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe/Convertible. Mitsubishi’s 2016-2017 i-MiEV will also require a recall, as will the 2016 Jeep Wrangler.
Toyota will have to replace airbag inflators for the 2015 Scion xB, 2015, Lexus IS250C/350 C, ’15-16 Lexus GX460, and ’15-16 Toyota 4Runner. Volkswagen’s list includes the ’16 CC, 2016 Audi TT, and 2017 Audi R8 and R8 Spyder.
Ferrari has the longest list here, with models including the 2016 FF, 2016-2017 California T, 2016-2017 488 GTB and 488 Spider, ’16-17 F12/F12 tdf, and the 2017 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso.
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