The Takata Recall Continues; Now Includes 1.4 Million Additional Vehicles

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

The largest automotive recall in history just got a little more inclusive. Takata is recalling another 1.4 million vehicles after the airbag-related death of a BMW driver. The German manufacturer has issued three recalls covering roughly 116,000 U.S. vehicles containing the faulty equipment, saying it is aware of at least one fatality in Australia, plus a few injuries.

By now, you’re probably familiar with the issue. Takata supplied tens of millions of defective air-bag inflators over several years. The units are prone to exploding in the event of a crash, spraying metal shrapnel inside the cabin, after its propellant becomes compromised by nothing more than moisture. This has led to many senseless deaths, the largest automotive recall in history, and Takata declaring bankruptcy two years ago before its purchase by China’s Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp.

The supplier issued a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in November notifying it of the recall. Bloomberg reports that the new inflator issue stems from a manufacturing defect affects inflators containing a non-azide propellant — not the ammonium nitrate mixture that turned previous Takata units into unintentional grenades.

In fact, NHTSA documents clearly specify that “these inflators do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant.” However, the end result is basically the same.

Takata claims “moist propellant subsequently dried could burn aggressively, increasing internal pressure” and, in a worst-case scenario, can cause the inflator to rupture. Unfortunately, the parts are old (manufactured between 1995 and 1999) and will be difficult to locate. Some of the vehicles impacted are definitely in an automotive graveyard by now. Others might be on their second or third owner.

From Bloomberg:

The parts maker said it produced and sold 4.45 million of the inflators globally during the time period covered by the recall. According to Takata’s safety recall report to the NHTSA, the number of inflators it produced for vehicles sold in the U.S. was “substantially smaller but is not precisely known at this time.” Because of the age of the potentially affected vehicles, only a portion remain in service, the company said.

While BMW is the only manufacturer to have issued recalls in the U.S. at this time, the issue also affects vehicles from Volkswagen, Audi, Honda, Toyota, and Mitsubishi. They’re all trying to figure out which models are affected and where they can be found before issuing recalls of their own. NHTSA documents suggests customers will begin receiving notifications early in 2020.

[Image: 360b/Shutterstock]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Inside Looking Out Inside Looking Out on Dec 05, 2019

    It looks like Hyundai. And it is a Hyundai. It does not look upscale or elegant. I think Germans can sleep well at night.

    • See 1 previous
    • Quaquaqua Quaquaqua on Dec 11, 2019

      @Inside Looking Out Cool. By the way, Mercedes sedans look cheap, most Japanese luxury cars have terrible driving dynamics, and Genesis is already surpassing most of its competition with their first attempt out of the gate. BMWs are bought as status symbols, so you're right, they'll still be fine. The G70 looks absolutely nothing like a Hyundai, by the way.

  • MorrisGray MorrisGray on Dec 12, 2019

    And hopefully a manual transmission!

  • Tassos Jong-iL Communist America Rises!
  • Merc190 A CB7 Accord with the 5 cylinder
  • MRF 95 T-Bird Daihatsu Copen- A fun Kei sized roadster. Equipped with a 660cc three, a five speed manual and a retractable roof it’s all you need. Subaru Levorg wagon-because not everyone needs a lifted Outback.
  • Merc190 I test drive one of these back in the day with an automatic, just to drive an Alfa, with a Busso no less. Didn't care for the dash design, would be a fun adventure to find some scrapped Lancia Themas or Saab 900's and do some swapping to make car even sweeter. But definitely lose the ground effects.
  • MRF 95 T-Bird These 164s, as documented by its owner have to be constantly sorted, as they say. They are nice drivers. I’d rather find a, under the 25 year rule nice and easier to deal with Type 916 Alfa Romeo GTV/Spyder.
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