Over 7,000 Vehicles In Territory Affected By Takata Airbag Recall; Residents Urged To Turn Vehicles In, Drive Carefully

ST. CROIX — The widespread Takata airbag recall currently affecting the U.S., Japan and other countries, has hit the U.S. Virgin Islands particularly hard, with over 7,000 vehicles being affected by the recall, and the territory being designated as one of the U.S. jurisdictions with the highest priority recalls because of its tropical climate.

This has caused two of the territory’s agencies created to protect residents to leap into action. The Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Claude Walker, has filed suit against Takata and automaker Honda, while D.L.C.A. this afternoon issued an alert urging residents to turn in affected vehicles to the nearest dealer — including, but not limited to, American, Japanese, German and Swedish-made cars and trucks. D.L.C.A. also joined itself to D.O.J.’s suit.

Takata had to recall its airbag inflators, which use chemicals to rapidly expand airbags in an accident. But the chemical may cause a rupture and explode due to airbag inflator propellant degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high humidity and high temperatures. This results in the air bag deploying and releasing gas and shrapnel into occupants of the vehicle. The high temperature humid climate of the Virgin Islands presents the type of conditions where the airbags may erupt.

According to Mr. Walker, a resident almost lost her life while driving after the Takata airbag of the vehicle exploded. The victim received a cash settlement from the parties involved, according to D.O.J., but residents in the territory, unbeknownst to them, are operating vehicles that could blow up and cause injury at any time.

Both Mr. Walker and Mr. Carrington urged residents to drive with caution and turn in affected vehicles posthaste. “A citizen on St. Croix almost lost her life while driving her children, when the Takata airbag in her car violently exploded although there was no impact to the vehicle,” Mr. Carrington complained.

There have been 13 deaths in the U.S. and 100 injuries caused by the faulty airbags. The recall has now extended to more than 12 million cars, and some 50 million vehicles have already been recalled worldwide. Locals can learn whether their vehicles are affected here. (Detailed list is below).

D.O.J. on Wednesday requested that the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands here issue a preliminary injunction against Honda and TK Holdings, the parent company of Takata. It alleges that defendants Takata and Honda “made, marketed, and used airbags that they knew were prone to rupture explosively and posed a grave risk to the automobile’s occupants and, further, they misled consumers about the nature and scope of the problem.”

The D.O.J. case against Takata and Toyota, filed on behalf of all affected in the territory, calls on the parties to offer immediate relief by paying into court fund monies sufficient to provide restitution to consumers for their purchase of automobiles equipped with defective Takata airbags, pursuant to Virgin Islands Code.

Mr. Carrington is advising owners of vehicles subject to the recall to visit their nearest dealer as soon as possible. He said regardless of whether the car was purchased from a local dealer, off island, or from an individual; the dealer should be able to provide advice on arrangements to have the airbag replaced. The replacement is free and arrangements for a loaner vehicle or the cost of a rental vehicle may be arranged depending on the dealer. The public is also advised to never attempt to disable an airbag without a professional, as doing so poses serious risk of bodily harm.

D.O.J. will have its day in court against Takato and Honda in just under two weeks.

Here’s the full list of new additions:

⇒ Fiat Chrysler: 2004-2008 Ram 1500, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2009 Ram 2500, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2009 Ram 3500, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2010 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2010 Ram 4500/5500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger

⇒ Ferrari: 2009-2011 California, 2010-2011 458 Italia

⇒ Honda: 2002-2004 Honda Odyssey, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2003-2008 Honda Pilot, 2003-2011 Element, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2006-2011 Honda Civic/Civic Hybrid/Civic GX/Honda Ridgeline, 2007-2008 Honda Fit, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2009-2011 Acura TSX/TSX Wagon/Honda Fit/Honda Pilot, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX/Honda Accord Crosstour/Honda FCX Clarity/Honda Insight

⇒ Mazda: 2004-2011 RX-8, 2004-2006 MPV, 2007-2011 CX-7/CX-9, 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6, 2009-2011 Mazda6

⇒ Mitsubishi: 2006-2007 Lancer/Lancer Evolution

⇒ Nissan: 2003-2004 Infiniti I30/I35, 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35/FX45, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35/M45, 2007-2011 Nissan Versa

⇒ Subaru: 2003-2004 and 2009-2011 Legacy/Outback, 2003-2006 Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza/Tribeca, 2006 Saab 9-2x, 2009-2011 Forester

⇒ Toyota: 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris/Lexus IS250/IS350, 2007-2011 Lexus ES 350, 2008-2011 Scion xB/Lexus IS F, 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla/Matrix, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner/Lexus IS250C/IS350C/Lexus GX460, 2011 Toyota Sienna