100,000 cars with defective airbags on the road in Louisiana

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Photo credit Getty Images - AleksOrel

Defective airbags under recall by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have not been replaced.  

According to a release from the NHTSA, long-term exposure to high heat and humidity can cause these air bags inflator unit to explode when deployed. Such explosions have caused injuries and deaths. 

The airbags, manufactured by Takata, are under recall because when they deploy the inflator can explode upon deployment blasting sharp metal fragments at drivers and passengers, resulting in serious injury or death, even in a minor crash.

A release by PR Newswire cites two incidents in Louisiana where drivers were killed when their airbags deployed and the defective inflator exploded.  The driver one vehicle died when schrapnel from the inflator severed her carotid artery, another died when schrapnel fractured the driver's larynx.  

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administation reports at many as 100-thousand cars and trucks have not had the recalled airbags repaired or replaced.  Almost every major automobile manufacturer has a recall of these defective airbags in place.  NHTSA feels these airbag replacements are so crucial, a specific 'Do Not Drive' list has been compiled.  They are 2001-2003 Honda and Acura models and 2006 Ford Ranger and Mazda B-series pickups are part of a special list:

  • 2001-2002 Honda Civic
  • 2001-2002 Honda Accord
  • 2002-2003 Acura TL
  • 2002 Honda CR-V
  • 2002 Honda Odyssey
  • 2003 Acura CL
  • 2003 Honda Pilot
  • Certain 2006 Ford Ranger
  • Certain 2006 Mazda B-Series

The release says at least 400 unrepaired airbags fall into the high-risk 'do not drive' list.   

If your car is on this list, you can find out of your car is on the airbag recall list by going to AirbagRecall.com or the governments recall site Safercar.gov.   

Repair and replacement costs of recalled airbags are already covered at no cost to you by the manufacturer.