Takata recalls in Canada

The driver or passenger front airbag inflators of certain vehicles could produce too much pressure when the airbag opens. This may break the inflator and increase the risk of injury. Poorly inflated airbags don't provide maximum protection, and broken inflators may propel sharp fragments towards the driver or passengers.

This defect is more likely to occur if your vehicle has been exposed to sustained high humidity and temperatures for long periods of time. Since these conditions typically do not exist in Canada, Transport Canada considers the risk to Canadians to be low.

Transport Canada has not received any complaints from Canadians or manufacturers alleging abnormal deployment of Takata airbags and is not aware of any incidents in Canada.

If you believe a safety-related defect may be affecting your vehicle, call us at 1-800-333-0510 or use our online public complaint form.

Visit Transport Canada's motor vehicle safety recalls database: www.tc.gc.ca/recalls. You can also find a list of all affected vehicles at: https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/defects-recalls-vehicles-tires-child-car-seats/look-defect-investigations-vehicles-tires-child-car-seats.

Visit your auto manufacturer's website to see if you can check the recall status of your vehicle using its 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN).

You can also contact your vehicle manufacturer or dealer for more information.

Yes, dealers will replace airbag and/or airbag inflator free of charge. If a recall affects you, please bring your vehicle to your dealer for service.

Yes. Vehicle owners are responsible not only for their own safety, but for the safety of anyone who drives or rides in their vehicle, including future owners.

If a recall affects your vehicle, have it repaired as soon as possible.

Due to the large number of vehicles affected worldwide and the fact that each inflator is specific to each model and manufacturer, it could take some time before replacement parts are received.

Your dealer will send you a letter as soon as replacement parts are available.

We believe the risk to Canadians is low since the defect is linked to long exposure to high humidity and temperatures.

Some dealers are offering loaner vehicles until they can replace inflators. Please contact your dealer for more information.

To date, over 6.7 million Takata airbag inflators have been subject to a recall in Canada. Several driver and passenger frontal airbags are affected.

As some vehicles may require the replacement of both the driver and passenger airbag, the figure mentioned above is not the number of vehicles involved, but the number of airbags recalled.

Generally, a special service campaign is a voluntary action taken by a vehicle manufacturer to address issues that are not likely to affect safety. A recall is used for issues that are likely to affect safety.

In late 2014, several manufacturers announced recalls for Takata airbags in vehicles originally sold or registered in southern U.S. states. Following these targeted recalls, several manufacturers announced special service campaigns for areas outside the target area (including Canada) because they did not believe the airbags in non-recalled vehicles were likely to affect safety. However, further study shows that a risk may exist for vehicles outside of the target area, so manufacturers issued formal recalls.

Under these new recalls, dealers will replace Takata airbags and/or inflators free of charge.

Transport Canada is working closely with vehicle manufacturers to monitor Takata recalls in Canada, and has been analyzing ongoing testing and research relating to these recalls. Transport Canada is also in regular contact with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and vehicle manufacturers to ensure Canadians have the latest information on vehicles affected by Takata recalls.

Under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, companies must issue a notice of safety defect (recall) when they becomes aware of a defect in the design, construction or functioning of a vehicle that affects or is likely to affect safety.

Manufacturers are responsible for identifying how to fix the defect. Transport Canada assesses the proposed solution, which can involve evaluating, analyzing, or testing it.

The manufacturer must provide the notice of safety defect to the Minister of Transport, to everyone who purchased the vehicle or equipment, and to the current owner of the vehicle or equipment. It must describe the defect, the safety risk, and how to fix it. The manufacturer must provide a follow-up report to the Minister within 60 days and then every four months for up to two years.

Transport Canada notifies provincial authorities of recalls, gathers all information necessary to inform Canadians, and publishes the recall information in its database.

To learn about defect investigations and recalls, visit: https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/defects-recalls-vehicles-tires-child-car-seats/look-defect-investigations-vehicles-tires-child-car-seats.

Owners of the following vehicles should have them repaired immediately. Takata airbags on these vehicles may be at higher risk of failure than other recalled Takata airbags:

• 2001-2002 Honda Civic
• 2001-2002 Honda Accord
• 2001-2002 Acura EL
• 2002-2003 Acura TL
• 2002 Honda CR-V
• 2002 Honda Odyssey
• 2003 Acura CL
• 2003 Honda Pilot
• 2006 Ford Ranger (Ford advises “Do Not Drive”)
• 2006 Mazda B-Series (Mazda advises “Do Not Drive”)

If you own one of these vehicles, search the manufacturer's lookup tool using your vehicle identification number (VIN) to confirm that the vehicle has an unaddressed recall and needs a repair. If it does, immediately call your dealer to schedule a free repair. Replacement parts for these vehicles are available. See recalls 2008414 and 2010042 (Honda/Acura) and 2018024 (Ford) and 2018086 (Mazda) for more information.