Published May 12, 2025
Takata Airbag Recall: Is Your Car Still Affected?
The Takata airbag recall is the largest safety recall in automotive history, affecting over 67 million airbag inflators in the United States across 19 automakers. Years after the recall began, millions of vehicles remain unrepaired. Here is everything you need to know about the Takata recall, how to check if your car is affected, and what to do next.
What Is the Takata Airbag Defect?
Takata Corporation manufactured airbag inflators using ammonium nitrate as a propellant. Over time, exposure to heat and humidity causes the propellant to degrade, which can cause the metal inflator housing to rupture during airbag deployment. Instead of cushioning the occupant, the airbag sends metal fragments into the vehicle cabin at high velocity.
The defect has been linked to at least 27 deaths and over 400 injuries in the United States, according to NHTSA. Globally, the death toll exceeds 30. The risk increases with vehicle age and cumulative exposure to high heat and humidity, making older vehicles in southern states particularly dangerous.
Which Vehicles Are Affected?
The Takata recall affects vehicles from nearly every major automaker, spanning model years 2001 through 2015. Affected manufacturers include Honda, Acura, Toyota, Lexus, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, BMW, Nissan, Infiniti, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Ferrari, McLaren, and others.
Honda vehicles are the most heavily affected, with certain models like the 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Honda Civic, and 2002-2006 Honda CR-V among the highest-priority recall vehicles. You can check specific vehicle recall histories on our Honda make page or search for your specific model.
How to Check If Your Vehicle Is Affected
The fastest way to check is by entering your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at NHTSA.gov/recalls. This will show all open recalls for your specific vehicle, including Takata airbag recalls. You can also call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
Many automakers also have their own recall lookup tools on their websites. These manufacturer-specific tools may provide additional details about parts availability and repair scheduling.
Priority Groupings
Because of the massive scale of the recall, NHTSA and automakers established priority groupings based on risk level. Vehicles in high-humidity regions (such as the Gulf Coast states, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico) and older vehicles are given the highest priority because the propellant degradation accelerates with heat and moisture exposure.
If your vehicle falls into a high-priority group, NHTSA urges you to stop driving the vehicle until the repair is completed. For lower-priority groups, repairs should still be scheduled as soon as parts become available.
Getting the Repair
All Takata airbag recall repairs are free. Contact your vehicle dealership to schedule an appointment. The repair typically involves replacing the airbag inflator module, which usually takes one to two hours. However, parts availability has been a persistent challenge due to the enormous number of vehicles requiring repair.
If replacement parts are not yet available for your vehicle, your dealership should be able to provide an estimated timeline. Some manufacturers have offered loaner vehicles or rental car reimbursement for owners of high-risk vehicles that cannot be driven safely.
Why Completion Rates Remain Low
Despite years of recall notices, millions of Takata-affected vehicles remain unrepaired. According to NHTSA data, Recall completion rates for the Takata campaign vary widely by manufacturer, ranging from under 50% to over 85%. Second and third owners who may not have received recall notices, vehicles that have been sold or scrapped, and general consumer inattention all contribute to the low completion rate.
If you are buying a used car, checking for open Takata recalls is one of the most important steps you can take before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or SaferCar.gov to check if your vehicle is covered by the Takata airbag recall. Affected vehicles span model years 2001-2015 across 19 automakers including Honda, Toyota, Ford, BMW, Nissan, and many others.
Yes. Although the recall began in 2013-2014, millions of vehicles remain unrepaired as of 2025. NHTSA continues to issue amended and expanded recalls as additional Takata inflators are identified as defective. Check your VIN regularly for updates.
NHTSA considers certain Takata airbag inflators to be an urgent safety risk, particularly those in high-humidity regions and older vehicles. The defective inflator can rupture in a crash, spraying metal fragments at occupants. If your vehicle is under recall, schedule a repair as soon as possible.
The repair is completely free. Federal law requires manufacturers to fix safety recall defects at no cost to the vehicle owner. Contact your vehicle manufacturer or local dealership to schedule the repair.