The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·16E006000·Announced 2016-01-25

Takata Recalls Driver-Side Air Bag Inflators in Multiple Vehicle Brands

Takata is recalling driver-side air bag inflators in Audi, Ford, Mazda, Sprinter, and Volkswagen vehicles that may rupture during deployment.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that the defect could result in 'serious injury or death' and involves a structural vehicle defect (air bag inflator rupture).

Plain-English summary

Takata Corporation is recalling certain SDI driver-side air bag inflators manufactured from January 1, 2002, through production impacting up through model year 2014 vehicles. These inflators were assembled as part of the driver-side frontal air bag modules in certain Audi, Ford, Mazda, Sprinter, and Volkswagen vehicles. The affected inflators may have been installed as original equipment or as replacement equipment during service.

The inflators may rupture due to exposure to persistent conditions of high absolute humidity and/or manufacturing variability. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Takata will work with vehicle manufacturers to identify which vehicles have the affected inflators. As this work progresses, numerous vehicle recalls will likely be announced by the impacted vehicle manufacturers. Ford has already launched a recall campaign to remedy their affected vehicles under recall number 16V-036. Owners may contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit www.safercar.gov for more information.

The recalled product

Product
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE recall
Manufacturer
Takata Corporation
Affected units
1,200,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.