According to media reports, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on May 29 that nearly 84,000 older Nissan vehicles in the United States, equipped with previously recalled but unrepaired Takata airbags, should be immediately stopped from being driven due to safety concerns.
Nissan issued a warning on May 29, advising owners not to drive certain vehicles, including the 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra, 2002-2004 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4. These models were recalled in 2020 but have yet to be repaired.
In a statement, NHTSA said: "If you own one of these vehicles, do not drive it until the repair is completed and the defective airbag is replaced." The agency also noted that Nissan dealers would provide free towing and repair services to the owners, and in some locations, they would also offer loaner vehicles.
Over the past decade, more than 100 million Takata airbag inflators have been recalled worldwide, including 7 million in the United States, making it the largest automotive safety recall in history.
Since 2009, more than 30 people worldwide, including 27 in the United States, have died due to Takata airbag inflator explosions, which release metal fragments inside cars and trucks. Additionally, over 400 people have been injured. The issue with Takata airbags is that prolonged exposure of the inflator to high temperatures and humidity can cause it to degrade.
NHTSA stated that even a "minor crash can cause the Takata airbag to explode, resulting in death or serious injury."
Last year, Stellantis warned 29,000 owners of 2003 Dodge Ram pickups to immediately stop driving their vehicles and wait for repairs following the death of an owner due to an exploding Takata airbag inflator.
In January this year, Toyota urged owners of 50,000 older models in the U.S. to immediately get their recalled vehicles repaired, as the Takata airbag inflator could explode and potentially cause driver fatalities. The affected models include the 2003-2004 Corolla, 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix, and 2004-2005 RAV4.
