The recall of Japanese-made Takata air bags found in millions of cars became the largest in the history of the auto industry.
The air bags have explosive deflators that can shatter during a fender bender sending shrapnel into drivers or passengers. The defect has been linked to 13 deaths in the United States and hundreds of injuries.
But while the recall has made headlines, fewer than half of these dangerous air bags were replaced, reported CBS News.
The defect led to the recall of a staggering 41 million air bags, CBS reported. Many models of car are impacted but Honda was particularly hard hit.
CBS reported some Honda employees were going door-to-door to hunt down approximately 100,000 cars with the most hazardous defective Takata air bags that have up to a 50/50 chance of failing.
Despite millions of calls, mailers and a Facebook campaign, Honda says its campaign has not reached everyone.
Few Takata air bags are recalled
The teams are seeking out unrepaired 2001-2003 Hondas and Acuras.
Teams from Honda have replacement airbags allowing a technician to remove the defective one on the spot. The operation is unprecedented in the history of Honda.
The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration states about 34 million vehicles are currently under recall for approximately 46 million defective Takata air bags.
Most of the episodes of air bags exploding took place in humid climates in the southern states. Additional air bags are set to be recalled by December 2019, bringing the total number of affected air bags to a staggering 65-70 million.
Takata supplied defective air bags to a wide range of vehicle manufacturers for years, resulting in a massive recall. The NHTSA and the vehicle manufacturers urge the public to get their cars fixed as soon as possible. The repair is free. The affected vehicles are listed on the NHTSA’s website.
The automobile industry has been hit by a series of scandals in recent years. General Motors recalled millions of smaller cars due to faulty ignition switches that caused a potentially deadly loss of power.
Meanwhile, a design fault on some older Chrysler vehicles was linked to vehicle fires and deaths.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective vehicle, please call our Georgia car accident lawyers at (404) 913-1529.