NATIONWIDE — The federal government launched an investigation into four automakers on Thursday.
- Feds investigating automakers not issuing new Takata recall
- Recall involves air bags that might under-inflate
- Find out if you’re affected NHTSA.gov/recalls
Officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents that the manufacturers have not recalled the cars issued with a new Takata air bag warning.
The recall, issued earlier this month, affects Audi, Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi owners.
So what's the problem and how do you know if you're affected?
The probe centers on a new problem with Takata airbag.
These airbags might not even inflate during an accident.
“These inflators were used in some brands of 1995-2000 vehicles and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant,” read the NHTSA advisory. “Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to under-inflate.”
The recall affects a smaller number of vehicles, an estimated 1.4 million, as opposed to the already 41 million recalled so far for explosions.
The new recalls add to a total of 65 to 70 million affected airbags.
If you want to find out if you're affected, the process is easy:
- Find your vehicle VIN number on the side of your car door or on your vehicle registration.
- Punch the 17-digit number in a federal recall search website and it'll let you know of any recall, not just the airbag problem.
Ruptured airbags have reportedly been linked to at least 29 deaths and hundreds of injuries around the world.