Nissan has issued a warning to owners of older vehicles, urging them to refrain from driving cars equipped with recalled Takata airbags that have not yet been repaired. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced this alert, which applies to 83,920 cars, including 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra, 2002-2004 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 vehicles. These models may still have Takata airbags that were recalled in 2020.
The NHTSA emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “If you have one of these vehicles, do not drive it until the repair is completed and the defective airbag is replaced.” The agency further urged all vehicle owners to check if their cars have an open Takata airbag recall.
Nissan’s stock experienced a decline of approximately 3% following this warning. However, the company is taking proactive measures to assist affected owners. Both Nissan and its division, Infiniti, will provide free towing and mobile repair services, as well as loaner cars in select locations.
The reason behind this urgent warning lies in the potential danger posed by these faulty airbags. Due to the age of the vehicles equipped with defective Takata airbag inflators, there is an increased risk that the inflator could explode during an airbag deployment. This explosion could propel sharp metal fragments, leading to serious injuries or even death. To emphasize the severity of the issue, the NHTSA reported that 27 people in the United States have already been killed by defective Takata airbags, with at least 400 others sustaining injuries.
The scale of the Takata airbag recall is staggering. In the United States alone, at least 67 million Takata airbag inflators have been recalled, while the global figure exceeds 100 million. This recall is one of the largest in automotive history, underscoring the urgency of addressing this safety concern.
Takata’s history is marred by controversy and legal issues. In 2017, the company filed for bankruptcy protection in both Japan and the U.S. after agreeing to pay $1 billion in criminal penalties. These penalties were tied to allegations of fraudulent conduct in the sales of their defective airbag inflators.
In conclusion, Nissan’s warning to owners of older vehicles highlights the ongoing safety concerns regarding Takata airbags. With the potential for these airbags to explode and cause serious harm, it is crucial for affected owners to heed this advice and have their vehicles repaired immediately. The NHTSA’s call for all vehicle owners to check for open Takata airbag recalls serves as a reminder of the importance of proactively addressing automotive safety issues.
