The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday that automakers who use air bags made by Japanese supplier Takata will recall vehicles sold in states with hot, humid weather. Automakers will repair the vehicles for free, and in most cases replace both the driver’s side and passenger side air bag inflators, which can rupture. All of the automakers except Honda are limiting the recalls to Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, on the advice of Takata.
The following automakers and vehicles will be included in the recall, according to letters sent to NHTSA by the various automakers:
BMW: BMW 2001-2005 3 Series sedan, 2001-2006 3 Series coupe, 2001-2005 3 Series sports wagon and 2001-2006 3 Series convertible. BMW says it has not yet determined how many vehicles are affected. It will begin notifying owners in August.
CHRYSLER: Chrysler is still determining which vehicles are affected.
FORD: Ford expects to recall 58,669 vehicles, including the 2005-2007 Mustang, 2005-2007 GT and 2004 Ranger pickup truck. Ford said it is still working on a schedule to notify owners.
HONDA: Honda will recall vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas. The company hasn’t yet determined the number of vehicles, but believes it is more than 1 million. Honda will replace the driver’s side air bag inflator in the 2001-2007 Accord (four-cylinder engine), 2001-2002 Accord (V6), 2001-2005 Civic, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2002-2007 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003-2006 Acura MDX and 2002-2003 Acura TL/CL. The company will replace passenger side air bag inflators in the 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Element, Odyssey, Pilot; the 2003-2005 Acura MDX and the 2005 Acura RL.
MAZDA: Mazda expects to recall 34,600 vehicles, including the 2003-2007 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV. Mazda is still working on a schedule to notify owners.
NISSAN: Nissan said it is still determining which vehicles are affected.
TOYOTA: Toyota has twice recalled vehicles for problems with Takata air bags. The company says it will recall certain 2003-2005 Corolla, Matrix, Sequoia, Tundra, Lexus LC and Pontiac Vibe cars not covered in the previous recalls, to repair their passenger-side air bag inflators. It has not yet set a schedule for notifying owners.
Source: NHTSA
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