Airbag fix delays cause some to consider drastic action

Exploded airbag

Metro Vancouver drivers who received recall notices about faulty Takata airbags months ago are looking for answers, and some are considering taking matters into their own hands.

The massive safety recall affects at least 41 million vehicles worldwide and Consumer Reports says at least 10 different auto manufacturers are affected.

The problem? Recall notices warn that the airbags could send exploding fragments into the driver or front passenger, causing injury or death. Eight fatalities have been linked to the faulty airbags.

But there is a shortage of parts to fix the problem and that’s causing delays and fear among drivers.

East Vancouver residents Paul and Villoo Boissonnault own a 2005 Toyota Matrix. They received a notice back in July about the front passenger side airbag. Now Villoo is forced to ride in the back seat of the car because she fears she could be killed.

“I hate it. I can’t see anything. Just the sides,” said Villoo.

“I want to get this thing replaced, like now,” her worried husband told CTV News.

Richmond resident Mike Kelly also received a recall notice on his 2005 Ford Mustang in July. His problem is the driver’s side airbag and he’s concerned.

Mike read us the notice he received: “The inflator rupture could result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants.”

And he’s considering drastic measures, “If there isn’t a fix then unhook the airbag, ” Mike told CTV News. However, Consumer Reports doesn’t recommend that, nor do manufacturers, and dealers won’t do it unless you get a waiver. Transport Canada says those who want to shut off their airbag must have a legitimate medical reason and everything must be documented and logged on the vehicles record.

Meanwhile, the supply of replacement parts is moving along slowly. Toyota told us Takata has increased production of the needed parts and says owners will be notified as soon as possible. Ford told us that American regulators and Takata have decided to focus efforts in high risk areas first, particularly in the U.S. along the southern gulf coast where heat and humidity are high, which increases the risk of airbag failure. However, there have been airbag associated deaths reported in drier states like California too, which doesn’t give much comfort to Canadian drivers who are affected.

Transport Canada said in a statement to CTV News, “It has not received any complaints from Canadians or manufacturers alleging abnormal deployment of Takata airbags and is not aware of any incidents in Canada. Transport Canada believes the risk to Canadians is low.”

The Consumer Association of Canada thinks the Canadian government could do more.

“I don’t think that our people in Canada, the transport people, do a very good job of getting us at least the same deal as Americans get,” President Bruce Cran said.

For now, drivers are forced to wait and take preventative measures. One auto maker, Honda, is offering to provide alternate transportation or reimbursement for temporary transportation, on a case by case basis, until a fix is ready.

The Insurance Corporation of B.C. told CTV News that if drivers ignore the warnings in their recall notices about sitting in the back seat and taking precautions, it will not jeopardize their liability coverage.