Takata Airbag Recall Leaves Drivers Waiting Weeks For Fix
BOSTON (CBS) - It is the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history: more than 60 million cars on the road with potentially deadly airbags.
However, despite the safety risk, some drivers are being forced to wait months for replacement parts to be installed as dealers struggle to keep pace with the demand.
College student Lauren Thorne feels like a chauffeur these days. The airbag in the passenger side of Thorne's 2005 Toyota Corolla is one of the millions of cars affected by the Takata airbag recall.
So when Thorne's sister or friends are in the car, they have to sit in the back seat for safety reasons.
"It's kind of frustrating they can't sit in the front with me," Thorne said. "But it's nerve-wracking when the airbag isn't safe."
Lauren's mom, Anke Thorne, learned of the recall in April when a notification showed up in the mail. The letter warned of the potentially deadly consequences of ignoring the repair.
The exploding airbags can send shrapnel into the faces and necks of victims. They have been tied to at least 10 U.S. deaths and more than 100 injuries.
But when Anke Thorne called several Toyota dealerships around the Boston area, she kept hearing the same story.
"The waiting list is hundreds deep and they don't know when they are going to get to our car," Thorne said. "It's extremely frustrating."
Auto safety expert Sean Kane has spent years investigating how automakers responded to the Takata recall.
"When you have a defect this serious, why is the consumer holding the bag?" Kane asked. "This is something manufacturers should be handling."
However, as the recall continues to grow, manufacturers have struggled to provide enough replacement parts to their network of dealers.
Older models and cars driven in year-round heat and humidity are believed to be at greater risk for the safety risk, so those regions of the country have been given higher priority. New England drivers might have to wait longer for the replacement airbags to arrive.
Kane said drivers should be the "squeaky wheel" by continually calling dealers and automakers to get the recall fix.
If drivers do not feel comfortable driving the vehicle while they wait, the federal government recommends asking for a loaner vehicle.
"The drivers and owners of these cars didn't create this problem," Kane said. "They bought the vehicle with an airbag to protect them, not kill them."
For Lauren Thorne, Toyota was willing to provide a loaner vehicle. But at 19 years old, she did not meet the required age to drive a rental.
So when the college student embarks on a six-hour road trip to Pennsylvania later this week, her friend will only be visible in the rear-view mirror.
"It seems like a really important issue that needs to be dealt with immediately. The fact that it hasn't for a very long time and so many people are waiting is really concerning," Thorne said.
You can see if your vehicle is affected by the Takata recall and get answers to frequently-asked questions by visiting the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) online site dedicated to the issue.
NHTSA estimates it will take until at least the end of 2019 before all affected vehicles receive the replacement part.
Ryan Kath can be reached at rkath@cbs.com. You can follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook.
