Takata airbag recall: how to check if your car is affected

Author: Mariano · Last updated: October 20, 2026

Takata airbags are behind the largest safety recall in U.S. history. According to NHTSA, it covered tens of millions of inflators in cars from more than a dozen brands, including Honda, Acura, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Mazda, Subaru, BMW, Chevrolet, Dodge and Chrysler.

Why they are dangerous

The inflator is the part that fills the airbag in a crash. Takata inflators used a chemical (ammonium nitrate) that breaks down over time with heat and humidity. When the airbag deploys, the inflator can rupture and shoot metal fragments at the driver or passengers. NHTSA has recorded deaths and hundreds of injuries in the U.S. from this defect.

The risk grows as the car ages and is higher in hot, humid places (such as Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico or the Gulf Coast), but the recall covers the whole country.

Which cars are affected

Mostly cars built from about 2002 to 2015, with the driver airbag, the passenger airbag or both. Some examples that appear in the official recalls:

• Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Odyssey, Pilot and Acura models from those years.
• Toyota Corolla, Matrix, Sequoia, Tundra and others.
• Nissan Sentra, Altima, Maxima, Pathfinder and others.
• Ford Ranger, Mustang, Fusion and Edge; Mazda, Subaru, BMW and several GM and Chrysler models.

The exact list varies by year, trim and plant. Don’t rely on the list: check your VIN. Two cars of the same model and year can get different results.

“Do Not Drive” warnings. For some older models (for example, certain 2001–2003 Honda and Acura vehicles and certain Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series trucks), NHTSA and the automaker warned owners not to drive them until the inflator is replaced, because the chance of failure is very high.

How to check, step by step

1. Find the VIN (driver-side dashboard, door frame, title or insurance card).
2. Look it up at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It is free. If an “Incomplete” or open recall mentions the airbag or inflator, your car needs the repair.
3. Call a dealer of the brand and book the recall repair. It is free, even if the car is used or you bought it from a private seller.
4. Ask for proof of the repair and keep it with the car’s paperwork.

On VIN Fácil you can see, for free, the recalls issued for a car’s year, make and model, in plain language. Remember that this is by model. To know whether your car has been fixed, the VIN lookup at NHTSA is what counts.

If you are about to buy a used car

• Get the VIN before you see the car and look it up at NHTSA.
• An open Takata recall is not a reason to walk away, but it is a reason to ask the seller to fix it before the sale, or to take it to a dealer right after you buy. See what to do if you bought a car with an open recall.
• If the seller says “it’s already been fixed,” ask for the receipt or confirm it with the VIN.
• Some cars first got a temporary replacement inflator and later needed a second replacement. That is why it is worth checking the VIN again even if the car has already been to the dealer.

Summary

• Takata inflators can rupture and throw metal in a crash.
• Millions of cars from many brands are affected, mostly 2002–2015.
• The only reliable way to know is to check the VIN at NHTSA.
• The repair is free at a dealer of the brand.
• More on this: what a recall is and how to get it fixed for free.

Official sources

• NHTSA — Takata Recall Spotlight
• NHTSA — Recall lookup by VIN
• NHTSA — Report a safety problem