Thread: Takata airbag problem deadly

Like Mick, I have only an academic interest in this subject since none of my vehicles is fitted with these devices.

However, numerous interviews I heard on the radio as I drove home yesterday suggest that there is a bit of misrepresentation going on with some of the reporting.

I have been led to believe that there are not enough "good" air bags in the world and not enough trained technicians to fix every faulty vehicle overnight, so the delays are beyond anyone's control.

The "bad" airbags will be quite safe for at least 2.5 years or more likely 5 or 6 years. Fitting them is no more of an issue than fitting new tyres that in 10 years time may have deteriorated, even without use, to the point where they might be dangerous.

During that 2.5 or 5 or 6 years, there will be time to manufacture enough "good" airbags to do a permanent fix.

Owners of affected vehicles will be better off with a new "bad" airbag to tide them over until more good ones become available than leaving them with the old one.

While the danger is real, if several experts interviewed on the radio yesterday are correct, then there is a lot of scaremongering going on.

I wonder if you are waiting for new air bags to be fitted & want to sell your car the fact that it has faulty air bags should make it un-roadworthy???

The Navigator only realised recently that the Defender does not have airbags.
"None at all - really?" she asked.
"Not one," I replied.
"Hmmm," she said, and went silent for a while.