Thousands of airbags in El Paso still need to be replaced
More than 50,000 vehicles in El Paso still contain Takata airbags that have been recalled due to the possibility they could explode and cause injury.
That’s according to numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which also found over 1.7 million cars in Texas have the recalled airbags.
To help raise awareness of the need to replace the airbags, local Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram dealers are launching Airbag Recall Repair Month in September. They want to encourage drivers of any brand of automobile to check for an airbag recall on their vehicle and schedule an appointment for repair.
As part of Airbag Recall Repair Month, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S. said in a news release that its local Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram dealers will reach drivers through targeted advertising and street teams at local events to help drivers check their vehicles for open recalls. Many local dealers are open extended hours and provide complimentary transportation while a driver’s vehicle is being repaired. Repairs take about an hour to complete and are free, according to FCA US.
The Takata airbag recall affects millions of makes and models built from 2003-2013 by the majority of auto manufacturers.
The recalled airbags have been shown to spray metal fragments into the vehicle, causing serious injury or even death to the driver and passengers when the inflators rupture during a crash. The risk of rupture increases in the heat and humidity common to El Paso and Texas overall, according to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S.
The easiest way to check for recalled airbags is with a vehicle’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN), typically located on the driver’s side dashboard by the windshield and on vehicle registration and insurance documents.
Drivers of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles can check for recalls and schedule an appointment with an authorized dealer through this link. Drivers of any vehicle can check their vehicles for open Takata airbag recalls here.
