HOUSTON, Texas — Takata airbags were recalled ten years ago, but there are still millions of unfixed cars on the road. The airbags are potentially harmful and even deadly. Experts have said the recalled Takata airbags need to be replaced because they can explode in Texas's hot, humid climate.
According to Carfax, compared to other states, Texas leads the nation in the airbag recalls and in the Houston area, 187,000 vehicles are still not fixed.
It’s something most drivers get behind the wheel and don’t ever think about.
“It really is like a small hand grenade, is what it is," said Houston attorney Mo Aziz said. "So to expect this is a problem that’s going to go away, it’s naïve."
The problem is nothing new. Ten years ago, the government issued a recall of Takata airbags. Houston attorney Mo Aziz represented the family of Huma Hanif, a 17-year-old who was killed in Fort Bend County in 2016.
“The airbag exploded, and a piece of this part went through her neck," Aziz said. "She bled out.”
Carfax is still keeping an eye on how many unfixed vehicles are still on the road. It's recently released new data.
“In the early days of this recall, there was a struggle to get replacement airbags, nowadays replacement airbags are plentiful," said Patrick Olsen, the company's editor-in-chief.
He said keeping consumers informed is a challenge.
“I think these cars are now in the hands of a lot of teen drivers, first-time drivers, college students, people who don’t think a lot about recalls and aren’t familiar with recalls," Olsen said.
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Consumers need to know the repairs are free. Dealerships are required to do the work, but you should call in advance to ask if they have the parts. You can also call the automaker and ask where the closest place is to get your airbags swapped out.
“The core issue is these vehicles are still out there. Should this have ever been used in this application? Absolutely not," Aziz said.
Don’t forget about your passenger-side airbag. It may also need to be replaced. To check if your car is impacted, go to the National Traffic and Safety Administration's website, type in your vehicle's VIN, and any recalls will pop up.