The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a “do not drive” warning for owners of nearly 84,000 older Nissan vehicles that are equipped with an airbag that has been recalled for safety risks.
The vehicles equipped with the unrepaired Takata airbags include 2002-2006 Nissan Sentras, 2002-2004 Nissan Pathfinders, and 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4s, officials shared.
The agency shared its announcement after Nissan issued a warning on Wednesday to vehicle owners, notifying them of the defunct airbag.
“If you have one of these vehicles, do not drive it until the repair is completed and the defective airbag is replaced,” NHTSA said in a statement.
The NHTSA also shared that Nissan dealers are offering free towing, mobile repair, and in some instances loaner vehicles to help fix the issue in the cars.
This is not the first batch of vehicles to face recall over the Takata airbag inflators, which have seen more than 7 million recalled in the US, making it one of the most extensive auto safety recalls ever.
In the US, there have been 27 deaths and more than 400 injuries related to the airbags since 2009 in vehicles made by various brands.
It was discovered that the airbags have the chance of exploding and unleashing metal shrapnel inside the vehicle. The issue stems from the airbag’s propellant, which tends to break down over time because of high-temperature fluctuations.
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The NHTSA says that even “minor crashes can result in exploding Takata airbags that can kill or produce life-altering, gruesome injuries.”
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