Nissan South Africa reiterates recall over Takata airbags

Nissan South Africa has reiterated calls made two years ago that older vehicles, especially those made between 2001 and 2018, should be taken for inspection in response to the global Takata airbag recall that resulted in the components manufacturer filing for bankruptcy six years ago.

Models at the centre of attention

While the automaker didn’t disclose which vehicles are impacted by the exploding airbags this time around, in 2021, it identified the following models as being potential dangers:

• Tiida
• Livina
• D40 Navara
• Y61 Patrol
• D22 NP300,
• K13 Micra
• Second generation (T31) X-Trail
• N16 Almera

Owners wary of whether their vehicles could be at risk can use the VIN checker on the Nissan South Africa website, before proceeding to drop it off at a approved Nissan dealer in the case of it being part of the recall.

The actual repair itself won’t cost owners anything, with Nissan stating it will use “only genuine Nissan parts”, that the repair will be covered by a standard service warranty and that it will do “our best to schedule an appointment at your convenience”.

ALSO READ: Nissan issues recall over faulty Takata airbags

The latest

One of the biggest automotive recalls in recent years, the National Highway Transportation Safety Board in the United States now alleges that some 67-million vehicles have been impacted by the recall first identified in the States more than a decade ago.

Of the marques worst affected is Honda and its luxury Acura division, followed by Toyota and Lexus, Nissan and its premium offshoot Infiniti, various models from General Motors, Ford, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

In the most recall earlier this month, just shy of 100 000 versions of the previous generation North American-market Ford Ranger had been recalled for fear of the airbags exploding on the move or when stationary.

Prior to this, Honda instructed a recall of its own affecting 8 200 Civics, CR-Vs, Accords, Odysseys and Pilots, as well as Acura TL and CL models made between 2001 and 2003 believed to be fitted with the faulty airbags.

According to the latest Consumer Report findings in the US, a total of 23 deaths have now been attributed to Takata airbags and 30 globally, with the latest fatality being three separate incidents between April and November last year, involving two 2010 Dodge Chargers and a single Chrysler 300 C of the same year.

Around same time, parent company, Stellantis, initiated it’s “Do Not Drive” warning involving 276 000 examples of the Charger, 300 C, Dodge Challenger and the Dodge Magnum estate whose twin, the 300 C Touring, was briefly sold in small numbers in South Africa.

Reason for the recall

As is known by now, the recall involves fixing the airbag inflator that, overtime, becomes weakened as a result of prolonged exposure to sunlight and fluctuating temperatures.

This leads eventually leads to the propellent filled canister located inside exploding, causing to the airbag to explode and send shrapnel throughout the vehicle’s cabin regardless of it having been in an accident or not.

At present, it remains unknown as to whether any fatalities involving the Takata airbags had taken place in South Africa.

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