Takata filed for bankruptcy amid “the largest and most complex safety recall in US history,” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Not only did the recall cost the Japanese auto parts company billions of dollars, but the length of this recall added to its complexity.

The recall didn’t take weeks or months to end. In fact, the recall is still ongoing, with millions of vehicles still on the road containing the deadly airbags.

GROCER WEIGH FOR MISTREL ENGINE HEAD AS REMINDER OF CONSUMER MODE IN STORES

Read more about Takata’s recall and affected cars below.

1. What happened to Takata?
2. Which cars are affected by Takata airbags?
3. How many cars are affected by the Takata airbag recall?

Takata has faced billions in lawsuits, fines and recall costs over the company’s dangerous airbags. (Christopher Jue/Getty Images/Getty Images)

1. What happened to Takata?

Japanese auto parts company Takata filed for bankruptcy in June 2017, according to Reuters, after years of multibillion-dollar recalls.

Takata has agreed to be acquired, in large part, for $1.6 billion by Key Safety Systems, according to Reuters.

VEHICLE OWNERS STOP TAKING RECALL ALERT FOR POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEMS

The billions of dollars lost by the company came from recalls and lawsuits regarding deadly airbags.

2. Which cars are affected by Takata airbags?

According to Consumer Reports, 34 car brands made by 19 different automakers were affected by the recall.

Dangerous airbags were mostly installed in cars from 2002 to 2015, according to the source.

Car owners can check if their vehicle registers on the NHTSA website by vehicle identification number. If the car has an unaddressed recall that requires repair, that information will be presented.

Millions of cars have been recalled due to dangerous airbags manufactured by Takata. (iStock/iStock)

If it does, NHTSA says owners should call dealers immediately to have the problem fixed.

There are several cars listed at a “do not drive” warning. For these cars, NHTSA and the manufacturers strongly recommend that the cars not be driven until they are repaired.

DANGEROUS REASONS A PRODUCT MAY REMAIN; STEPS TO TAKE AS A CONSUMER

Certain Dodge, Ford, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Poniac, Toyota, Acura, BMW and Chrysler cars appear on the list. The full list can be found at NHTSA.gov.

Takata-made airbags are prone to exploding when deployed after long-term exposure to high heat and humidity, according to NHTSA.

NHTSA determined that the main cause of this problem was “air bags that use an ammonium nitrate-based propellant without a chemical desiccant.”

Certain Honda vehicles are on the “do not drive” list due to the recall. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Explosive deployment of Takata airbags can send metal fragments flying toward drivers and passengers, causing serious injury and, in some cases, death.

So far, there have been 28 deaths in the US. due to Takata airbags since 2009, according to NHTSA, including a recent one in September 2024.

GET FOX BUSINESS FROM THE MARKET BY DOING HERE

3. How many cars are affected by the Takata airbag recall?

About 67 million cars with Takata airbags have been recalled, according to NHTSA.

As of April 2024, NHTSA reported that about 88 percent of airbags have been repaired or replaced.

Even though many airbags have been repaired or replaced, they still exist millions more on the way which still contain the dangerous product.