Airbag recall rant

"Pearson Hurst" (phurst)
05/10/2016 at 10:24 • Filed to: Toyota, Takata, recall

I’ll apologize in advance here, as I know I’m far from the only one in this boat, but the response to the stupid Takata airbag recall is just absurd. I knew from almost the beginning that my car would be impacted by the recall (‘07 Toyota Matrix). That was LAST May. Just this week, I got a notice from Toyota that the parts were ready, and that I should contact my local dealer to have the work done. I called the local dealership (3 of them, in fact) about having the airbag replaced and was, in each case, told I would be put on the waiting list, and would be notified when it was my turn. The wait time? 6 to 9 months! This is going to be a damn near TWO YEAR process to have the freaking BOMB in my dashboard replaced. Add to that the fact that Toyota (and other manufacturers) recommend that no one ride in the passenger seat until the airbag has been replaced. I have a wife and two kids. It’s unavoidable that someone ride in the passenger seat. So, am I supposed to choose who to put in danger each day? Hmm, which one of my family members pissed me off the most this week? I understand that the recall is of unprecedented size and scope, and that it takes time to source parts and have labor performed, and it’s not the manufacturers fault the inflator was faulty in the first place, but it is still absolutely INFURIATING that Toyota, or anyone else for that matter would reasonably expect anyone to be OK with two years of essentially not being able to use my car as it was intended to be used. I don’t expect any ones sympathy, like I said, there are millions of people in the same boat, I just needed to rant.

DISCUSSION (11)

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Pearson Hurst
05/10/2016 at 10:32

Yeah. This whole thing is a huge shitshow. My car has been recalled by Transport Canada, but BMW still says there’s no recall yet.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Pearson Hurst
05/10/2016 at 10:32

I would just take the fuse out until you can get them replaced. That was my plan if my outback was recalled but it looks like Subaru didn’t switch to the bad airbags until about 2003 (I have a 2001). It’s not as safe as having airbags but you don’t have to worry about getting filled with shrapnel in an incident.

E90M3 > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
05/10/2016 at 10:37

Weird, cause both my BMWs (11 M3 and 12 128i) got the recall notice from BMW NA.

d15b > Pearson Hurst
05/10/2016 at 10:39

Paging Dr. Zoidberg..

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > E90M3
05/10/2016 at 10:42

Well I’m the third owner, so I’m not expecting to get a notice. But I find it odd that there’s still no recall at all.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
05/10/2016 at 10:46

Wouldn’t that set off the air bag light though? And generally they blink ceaselessly or even make noises at you until fixed. Sure the blinking lights could be fixed with a piece of electrical tape I guess, but I could see that getting annoying. Probably still worth avoiding death by shrapnel though!

E90M3 > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
05/10/2016 at 10:48

I believe I’m the third owner of my M3, but I’d have to check, and they still sent me the notice, they might also know I own the car. When the oil in my car needed to get changed, I got an email from the dealer where the car was originally sold telling me that my M3 told them it needed service, and I thought that was strange.

If you want to check on the recall yourself, here’s the link for BMW, it might only work for US cars.

http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte…

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
05/10/2016 at 10:49

I haven’t seen one that makes noise at you but you may get a light. Wouldn’t be any worse than TPMS.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > E90M3
05/10/2016 at 10:52

Yeah, I tried that already. It gives me a link to the Canadian site. My car is 13 years old though, so I doubt they’re still keeping track of it.

Takuro Spirit > Pearson Hurst
05/10/2016 at 11:03

Not sure if Toyota is like other manufacturers, as most WILL pay for a rental car if you feel unsafe driving your car. I’d check with Toyota first, so you have some ammunition the next time you call the dealer. Tell them you fell unsafe, and want to be put into a rental IF Toyota will pay for it.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Pearson Hurst
05/10/2016 at 13:26

Yeah it has been a major mess.

Also from the dealer point of view too.