This mishap has led to more headache than airbag manufacturer Takata, or automakers, ever expected. As more faulty equipment is exposed, the number of affected vehicles keep climbing. This time, Ford, Honda, and Toyota announce the recall of more than 2 million cars collectively.
Toyota has the lowest number of included recall models, still totaling up to an eye-watering 543,000 cars, SUVs, and trucks. Front passenger airbag issues are existing in the 2008-2009 and 2012 Scion xB, 2009 and 2012 Toyota Corolla, 2009 and 2012 Toyota Corolla Matrix, 2007-2009 and 2012 Toyota Yaris, 2012 Toyota 4Runner, 2012 Toyota Sienna, 2006-2009 and 2012 Lexus IS250/350, 2012 Lexus IS250C/350C, 2008-2009 and 2012 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2009 and 2012 Lexus ES350, 2012 Lexus GX460, and 2012 Lexus LFA.
Ford finds itself repairing 654,695 vehicles. This news includes everything from common commuter cars to the super Ford GT. The list consists of the following models: the 2005-2009 and 2012 Ford Mustang, 2005-2006 Ford GT, 2006-2009 and 2012 Ford Fusion, 2007-2009 Ford Ranger, 2007-2009 Ford Edge, 2006-2009 and 2012 Lincoln Zephyr and Lincoln MKZ, 2007-2009 Lincoln MKX, and 2006-2009 Mercury Milan.
Lastly, Honda takes the cake at a colossal 1.29 million affected vehicles. This is the largest case out of the three, more than doubling that of the others individually. The recall encompasses the 2005-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Crosstour, 2006-2011 Honda Civic, 2005-2011 Honda CR-V, 2005-2011 Honda Element, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity, 2007-2012 Honda Fit, 2010-2012 Honda Insight, 2005-2012 Honda Pilot, and the 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline.
All of these manufacturers will be compensated by Takata as they are required to pay back a total of $850 million to automakers. This makes up a large portion of their $1 billion in fines overall, adding to $125 million for consumer reparations and $25 million in criminal fees. This adds to the growing list of recalled vehicles fitted with Takata’s malfunctioning airbag systems. They’ve been proven to explode under high heat and humidity conditions, bursting without notice and therefore injuring or even killing drivers and passengers.