NHTSA Wants Auto Industry To Move Faster On Takata Airbag Recalls

Worried that things are stretching out too far, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Friday pressed the auto industry to speed up replacement of faulty Takata airbag inflators. The largest safety recall in history, the agency said the callback would eventually include about 42 million vehicles in the U.S. And, it would also include between 64 and 69 million airbag inflators.

NHTSA issued an Amended Coordinated Remedy Order that continued the speedup of recall repairs for millions of U.S. cars. An Amended Coordinated Remedy Order sets requirements for when automakers must have replacement parts available for customers and set progress and completion deadlines for replacements.

12.5 Million Replaced Here

To date, about 12.5 million of the 46 million airbag inflators have already been replaced, NHTSA said. And, the recall has added another manufacturer, Tesla Motors. Certain of its Model S vehicles, built from 2012-16, are affected by the recall.

“The Department of Transportation (DOT) is maintaining its aggressive oversight of the efforts to recall Takata air bags as quickly as possible,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “The amended order will speed up the availability of replacement airbags, and continues to prioritize the highest risk vehicles to protect the traveling public.”

Earlier this year, DOT identified a particular vehicle population of 313,000 2001-03 Hondas and Acuras that had the greatest danger of explosive airbag inflator failure. Some of the vehicles have been estimated to have a 50 percent chance of an explosive failure. The NHTSA told operators of those vehicles to stop driving them until they had the problem fixed. Nine of the 11 U.S. deaths – another cluster of five were reported in Malaysia – were reported in 2001-03 Honda and Acura vehicles.

A spokesman for airbag manufacturer Takata, Jared Levy, said the company backed NHTSA’s accelerated effort to gain a 100 percent completion rate. Further, he said, that Takata “has dramatically ramped up production and capacity of airbag replacement kits in advance of the increased demand that will come as additional recalls take effect."

Critic Raps Recall Pace

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., has complained about the slow pace of the recall, stating that at the rate it is moving the callbacks wouldn’t be completed until sometime in the next decade. “Drivers should not have to wait that long to get what could be a ticking time bomb out of their cars," Nelson said.

U.S. safety regulators have linked the 11 deaths in the U.S. to Takata airbags that have ruptured on deployment. The force of the blast was large enough to shatter the metal airbag housing whose shards then scythe through the interior of the vehicle, striking the drivers and passengers. Officials say the force of the blasts destroyed the metal airbag housings whose shards then scythed through the interior of the vehicle, hitting the drivers and passengers. Officials linked the sometimes lethal airbags to 184 serious injuries. Worldwide a total of 16 deaths have been associated with the faulty airbag inflators, including a cluster of five in Malaysia. Nearly 100 million airbag inflators have been recalled worldwide. Some have speculated that when the recall has been completed in about three years that nearly 300 million vehicles will have been recalled worldwide.

Meantime, Tesla Motors has joined the recall list, becoming the 19th automaker with vehicles affected by history's largest recall.

Here is a complete list of the automakers involved in the Takata airbag inflator recall:

Acura

• 2003 Acura 3.2CL
• 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL
• 2013-2016 Acura ILX
• 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid
• 2003-2006 Acura MDX
• 2007-2016 Acura RDX
• 2005-2012 Acura RL
• 2009-2014 Acura TL
• 2009-2014 Acura TSX
• 2010-2013 Acura ZDX

Audi

• 2006-2013 Audi A3
• 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant
• 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet
• 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan
• 2010-2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet
• 2003-2011 Audi A6 Avant
• 2005-2011 Audi A6 Sedan
• 2009-2012 Audi Q5
• 2017 Audi R8
• 2008 Audi RS 4 Cabriolet
• 2007-2008 Audi RS 4 Sedan
• 2005-2008 Audi S4 Avant
• 2007-2009 Audi S4 Cabriolet
• 2005-2008 Audi S4 Sedan
• 2010-2012 Audi S5 Cabriolet
• 2007-2011 Audi S6 Sedan
• 2016-2017 Audi TT

BMW

• 2008-2013 BMW 1 Series
• 2000-2013 BMW 3 Series
• 2002-2003 BMW 5 Series
• 2011-2015 BMW X1
• 2007-2010 BMW X3
• 2003-2013 BMW X5
• 2008-2014 BMW X6
• 2010-2011 BMW X6 Hybrid

Cadillac

• 2007-2014 Cadillac Escalade
• 2007-2014 Cadillac Escalade ESV
• 2007-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT

Chevrolet

• 2007-2013 Chevrolet Avalanche
• 2007-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD
• 2007-2013 Chevrolet Silverado LD
• 2007-2014 Chevrolet Suburban
• 2007-2014 Chevrolet Tahoe

Chrysler

• 2005-2015 Chrysler 300
• 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen
• 2007-2008 Chrysler Crossfire

Daimler Trucks North America (Sterling Bullet)

• 2008-2009 Sterling Bullet

Daimler Vans USA LLC (Sprinter)

• 2007-2009 Dodge Sprinter
• 2007-2017 Freightliner Sprinter
• 2010-2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Dodge/Ram

• 2008-2014 Dodge Challenger
• 2006-2015 Dodge Charger
• 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota
• 2004-2009 Dodge Durango
• 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum
• 2003-2008 Dodge Ram 1500/2500/3500 Pickup
• 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup
• 2007-2010 Dodge Ram 3500 Cab Chassis
• 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500 Pickup
• 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500/5500 Cab Chassis

Ferrari

• 2010-2015 Ferrari 458 Italia
• 2014-2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale
• 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A
• 2012-2015 Ferrari 458 Spider
• 2016-2017 Ferrari 488 GTB
• 2016-2017 Ferrari 488 Spider
• 2009-2014 Ferrari California
• 2015-2017 Ferrari California T
• 2013-2017 Ferrari F12
• 2016-2017 Ferrari F12 tdf
• 2016 Ferrari F60
• 2012-2016 Ferrari FF
• 2017 Ferrari GTC4Lusso

Fisker

• 2012 Fisker Karma

Ford

• 2007-2010 Ford Edge
• 2006-2012 Ford Fusion
• 2005-2006 Ford GT
• 2005-2014 Ford Mustang
• 2004-2011 Ford Ranger

GMC

• 2007-2014 GMC Sierra HD
• 2007-2013 GMC Sierra LD
• 2007-2014 GMC Yukon
• 2007-2014 GMC Yukon XL

Honda

• 2001-2012 Honda Accord
• 2001-2011 Honda Civic
• 2003-2011 Honda Civic Hybrid
• 2001-2011 Honda Civic NGV
• 2010-2015 Honda Crosstour
• 2002-2011 Honda CR-V
• 2011-2015 Honda CR-Z
• 2003-2011 Honda Element
• 2010-2014 Honda FCX Clarity
• 2007-2013 Honda Fit
• 2013-2014 Honda Fit EV
• 2010-2014 Honda Insight
• 2002-2004 Honda Odyssey
• 2003-2015 Honda Pilot
• 2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline

Infiniti

• 2003-2008 Infiniti FX
• 2001 Infiniti I30
• 2002-2004 Infiniti I35
• 2006-2010 Infiniti M
• 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4

Jaguar

• 2009-2015 Jaguar XF

Jeep

• 2007-2016 Jeep Wrangler

Land Rover

• 2007-2012 Land Rover Range Rover

Lexus

• 2007-2012 Lexus ES350
• 2010-2017 Lexus GX460
• 2006-2013 Lexus IS250/350
• 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C/350C
• 2008-2014 Lexus IS F
• 2012 Lexus LFA
• 2002-2010 Lexus SC430

Lincoln

• 2007-2010 Lincoln MKX
• 2006-2012 Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ

Mazda

• 2004-2009 Mazda B-Series
• 2007-2012 Mazda CX-7
• 2007-2015 Mazda CX-9
• 2003-2011 Mazda6
• 2006-2007 Mazda Mazdaspeed6
• 2004-2006 Mazda MPV
• 2004-2011 Mazda RX-8

McLaren

• 2016-2017 McLaren 570
• 2015-2016 McLaren 650S
• 2016 McLaren 675LT
• 2012-2014 McLaren MP4-12C
• 2011-2015 McLaren P1

Mercedes-Benz

• 2005-2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
• 2010-2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• 2011-2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabrio
• 2010-2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
• 2009-2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
• 2010-2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
• 2009-2010 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class
• 2009-2012 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
• 2007-2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
• 2011-2015 Mercedes-Benz SLS-Class

Mercury

• 2006-2011 Mercury Milan

Mitsubishi

• 2012-2017 Mitsubishi i-MiEV
• 2004-2007 Mitsubishi Lancer
• 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
• 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
• 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider

Nissan

• 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima
• 2002-2004 Nissan Pathfinder
• 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra
• 2007-2012 Nissan Versa

Pontiac

• 2003-2010 Pontiac Vibe

Saab

• 2005-2006 Saab 9-2x
• 2006-2011 Saab 9-3
• 2006-2009 Saab 9-5

Saturn

• 2008-2009 Saturn Astra

Scion

• 2008-2015 Scion XB

Subaru

• 2003-2006 Subaru Baja
• 2009-2013 Subaru Forester
• 2004-2011 Subaru Impreza
• 2003-2014 Subaru Legacy
• 2003-2014 Subaru Outback
• 2006-2014 Subaru Tribeca
• 2012-2014 Subaru WRX/STI

Tesla

• 2012-2016 Tesla Model S

Toyota

• 2010-2016 Toyota 4Runner
• 2003-2013 Toyota Corolla
• 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix
• 2009-2013 Toyota Matrix
• 2004-2005 Toyota Rav4
• 2002-2006 Toyota Sequoia
• 2011-2014 Toyota Sienna
• 2003-2006 Toyota Tundra
• 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris (Hatch Back)
• 2007-2012 Toyota Yaris (Sedan)

Volkswagen

• 2009-2017 Volkswagen CC
• 2010-2014 Volkswagen Eos
• 2010-2014 Volkswagen Golf
• 2013 Volkswagen Golf R
• 2009-2013 Volkswagen GTI
• 2012-2014 Volkswagen Passat
• 2006-2010 Volkswagen Passat Sedan
• 2006-2010 Volkswagen Passat Wagon

Source: USA Today, www.safercar.gov, Automotive News