Faulty Takata Airbags: Nine Automakers, Millions Of Cars Affected So Far In Ongoing NHTSA Investigations

Airbag manufacturing Takata — A woman arranges airbag cushions at a plant for Japanese car parts maker Takata Corp. in Sibiu, 280km (175 miles) northwest of Bucharest, in this Sept. 4, 2006 file photo. Faulty Takata airbags have been found in cars made by all major Japanese and U.S. automakers. Reuters/Mihai Barbu

Investigations by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the nation's traffic safety watchdog, are ongoing, but so far, vehicles from all major Japanese and U.S. automakers -- and BMW -- have been found to contain Japanese-made airbags that could explode in collisions, spraying shrapnel into the faces of drivers and front-seat passengers.

In recent weeks, Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., which makes Subaru (TYO:7270), joined a growing list of manufacturers that recalled millions of cars containing airbags made by Tokyo-based car-safety part manufacturer Takata Corp. (TYO:7312).

Toyota Motor Corp. (TYO:7203) announced last month that it was recalling 3.6 million vehicles worldwide due to the dangerous safety component, which led the NHTSA to widen its investigation as Takata is a major supplier for a large number of car manufacturers. The NHTSA took the unusual step of requesting the recall notices before the investigation was complete.

So far, here are the affected manufacturers, cars and model years.

Toyota: 2003-2005 Corolla, Matrix, Sequoia and Tundra.
Lexus: SC430.
Honda: 2002-2006 CR-V, 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2002-2007 Pilot, 2003-2011 Element and 2006 Ridgeline.
Acura: 2002-2003 CL and TL, 2005 RL, 2003-2006 MDX.
Mazda: 2003-2007 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6, 2004-2008 RX-8 and 2004 MPV.
Subaru: 2003-2004 Baja, Legacy and Outback, 2004 Impreza.
Nissan: 2001-2003 vehicles, possibly including Infiniti. Complete list is unknown.
General Motors: 2013-2014 Chevy Cruze and 2003-2005 Pontiac Vibe.
Ford: 2004 Ranger, 2005–2006 GT, 2005-2007 Mustang.
Chrysler: 2006 Dodge Charger.
BMW: 2001–2005 3-Series (sedan and wagon) and 2001-2006 3-Series (coupe and convertible).

Takata has been enmeshed in a separate controversy surrounding a yearslong investigation by the U.S. Justice Department over auto-parts price fixing by Japanese parts suppliers. In November three high-level company executives pleaded guilty to conspiring to fix prices on seat belts in cars manufactured in the United States.