Is Takata Still In Business? No, Takata is not still in business. Takata Corporation was a company in Japan that made car parts. They had factories in different parts of the world, and their main office in Europe was in Germany.
In 2013, there were problems with the airbags they made in Mexico. Some people got hurt or died because of those airbags. So, Takata had to call back 3.6 million cars with those airbags.
After that, even more cars had to be called back because the airbags were causing more problems. The government in the United States said that over 42 million cars needed to be called back, which is the biggest car recall ever in the U.S.
Takata had to close down in June 2017 because of all these problems. Another company called Key Safety Systems took over Takata. This part of the business is called Joyson Safety Systems and keeps working in Michigan as Key Safety Systems. So, Takata isn’t around anymore, and its things are part of a different company.
What’s The Main Problem With Takata Airbags?
Many cars made by 19 companies (34 brands) had to be recalled because of airbag problems. These airbags, made by a big parts company called Takata, were put in cars mostly from 2002 to 2015. Some of these airbags could explode and hurt or even kill people in the car.
They recalled 67 million airbags; by the end of 2022, 11 million still needed to be changed.
The main issue is the airbag’s inflator, a metal part with propellant wafers. In some cases, exploded with a lot of force. If this part breaks in a crash, pieces from the airbag can fly everywhere in the car, which is very dangerous.
The government found that the root cause of the problem was airbags, as they were using a certain kind of fuel without a drying agent. This, combined with moisture, heat, and the age of the airbag, can make it inflate wrongly and even send pieces into the people in the car. In the U.S., there have been 26 deaths and more than 400 injuries because of this issue.
Some cars, like specific 2001 to 2003 Honda and Acura models, the 2006 Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series pickup trucks, and the 1999 BMW 323i and 328i, are at very high risk. The government said people should not drive these cars until they get them fixed.
For many cars in the recall, but not under a “stop-driving” order, the government was trying to get replacement parts to the places and cars where the risk is highest first. You can check if your car is part of the recall at safercar.gov.
Understanding The Takata Airbag Recall: A Timeline of Safety Concerns
Here are some things that happened:
- In January 2024, Toyota said about 50,000 cars, like the 2003-2004 Corolla, should not be driven. It is because of their airbags. They offered free fixes and help to the owners.
- In July 2023, Dodge told owners of 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 trucks not to drive them. It was because of a Takata airbag that caused a death. Many of these trucks are still not fixed.
- In May 2023, BMW warned about 90,000 cars with Takata airbags to avoid driving. It was because of the risk of serious injury or death. Even though they tried to fix them since 2016, many are still not repaired.
- In February 2023, Honda told owners of specific 2001-2003 models not to drive their cars. It was because of dangerous Takata airbags. Replacement parts are available for free.
- In December 2022, Volkswagen recalled 37,558 Beetle cars from 2015-2016. It was because of risky Takata airbags.
- The same month, FCA (Stellantis) reported a third death in their recalled cars. Including Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum, Challenger, and Charger from 2005-2010. Owners were told not to drive, and the company would arrange free towing and repair.
- In December 2022, it was reported that one person died in a crash in a 2002 Honda Accord because of a Takata airbag. This brought the total confirmed deaths to 23.
- In September 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) started looking into 30 million vehicles from many companies due to the Takata airbag issue.
- In May 2021, BMW recalled 4,511 cars from 1999-2001 because of faulty Takata airbags.
- In April 2021, another death was confirmed in a 2002 Honda Accord due to a Takata airbag.
- In February 2021, Ford recalled over 154,000 vehicles because they might have faulty Takata airbags.
- In January 2021, NHTSA denied a petition from Ford and Mazda to exempt some models from the recall.
- In January 2021, NHTSA reported that about 67 million inflators were under recall, with 50 million repaired.
The Takata airbag recall was a big problem affecting many cars. So, checking if your vehicle is part of the recall is important. The government is working to replace the dangerous airbags, but many still need fixing. If your car has a recalled Takata airbag, it’s crucial to get it repaired for your safety.
Why Were Takata Airbags A Risk In Cars Despite Recalls?
Even after many years of recalling dangerous Takata airbags, lots of those unsafe airbags were in cars in the United States by the end of 2022. The number of Takata airbag deaths was increasing, and it kept increasing as long as millions stayed in use despite a big and ongoing recall.
Recalled Takata Airbags The risky Takata airbags were put in cars, mainly from 2002 to 2015. Since 2008, millions of them have been recalled because it was found that some airbags could explode and hurt or even kill people inside the car.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) once said the Takata airbags recall was the biggest and most complicated safety recall in U.S. history. The recall included 67 million airbags from over 42 million cars nationwide.
How Did The Takata Airbag Case Settlement Get Distributed?
The court in New South Wales picked a company to handle the money from the Takata airbag case in June 2022. Epiq Systems Australia Pty Ltd started giving money to people who were part of the case in Australia and New Zealand. They began on October 5, 2023.
The company got 24,482 valid requests for money, and each person got $846.55 for each affected vehicle. If more than one person asked for money for the same car, they shared the payment equally. The court agreed to a $52 million settlement from BMW, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota on June 29, 2022.
They took some money out for legal costs, a commission for the company that took on the risk, payments to six lead plaintiffs, and the costs to handle and gave out the money to those who got it.
Getting A New Airbag For Your Car: What You Need To Know
If your car needs a new airbag because of the Takata issue, don’t worry. The replacement process should stay on track even though Takata filed for bankruptcy. They plan to keep making airbags until everyone gets a replacement.
Car companies are trying their best to get replacement parts quickly. They’re starting with hot and humid areas because the airbags are more likely to be a problem there. If you live in a colder or less humid place, it might take a bit longer for the replacement parts to be available.
If you’re not in one of the areas with a high priority, still check with your car dealership. Even if your car is now in a safe place, if it was owned by someone else before, it might have spent time in a high-priority zone. In that case, it might still need the replacement.
What Are The Alternatives To Takata?
If you’re curious about other companies that make car parts, here are some of the top ones that are the alternate options to Takata:
- Autoliv Inc.: A company from Sweden and America that makes car safety things like airbags, seat belts, and steering wheels. They started in 1997 and have their main office in Stockholm, Sweden.
- ZF Friedrichshafen AG: A German company that makes things for cars like driveline, chassis, and safety technology. They’ve been around since 1915 and are in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
- Continental AG: A big company from Germany that does a lot in the car world—tires, brake systems, safety stuff, and more. They’ve been doing this since 1871 and are in Hanover, Germany.
- Denso Corporation: A Japanese company that makes many car parts, including air conditioning systems, fuel systems, and safety systems. They started in 1949 and are based in Kariya, Japan.
- Robert Bosch GmbH: Another German company that does a bunch of things, including making car parts, power tools, and home appliances. They began in 1886 and are in Gerlingen, Germany.
- Valeo SA: A French company that works on car things like lights, wipers, and safety systems. They’ve been around since 1923 and are in Paris, France.
- Magna International Inc. is a Canadian company that makes many car parts like seats, powertrains, and safety systems. They started in 1957 and are in Aurora, Ontario, Canada.
The Bottom Line
So, to sum it up, Takata, the Japanese car parts company, is not in business anymore. It faced financial troubles and had to declare bankruptcy in June 2017. Another company, Key Safety Systems, bought what was left of Takata for about $1.6 billion. This part of the business is now called Joyson Safety Systems and operates in Michigan as Key Safety Systems. Takata’s story ended with the bankruptcy, and its legacy continues with a new name and under new ownership.