Mazda is recalling close to 270,000 vehicles with Takata airbags that have the potential to explode.
If the airbag explodes, it could throw shrapnel from inside, potentially injuring or killing anyone in the vehicle.
According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, faulty Takata airbags have been linked to at least 23 deaths and more than 200 injuries.
The potentially deadly defect can be found in passenger-side airbags on certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazda Speed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide.
It also involves 2005-2006 MPV models in certain states which climates that could degrade the airbag propellants: That includes Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.
Florida is one of the states that have the most unfixed recalls on the road right now.
Automotive recalls hit a record high of more than 53 million vehicles in 2016.
And narrowing it down to some of the biggest recalls over the past couple of years -- ignition switches, problems with cruise control and Takata airbags. But a majority of those car owners haven't gotten their cars fixed, turning the streets more into a game of dominos. If a car with a recall has a safety issue and they are involved in an accident, cars nearby aren't safe either.
“There are almost 900,000 cars here in the Bay Area. That equates to almost one in four cars. And SUVs and minivans have maybe the most recalls,” says Chris Basso with Carfax.
How to find out if your car has a safety recall
You can either head over to NHTSA.gov/recalls and type in your VIN number or download the Carfax app for free. All they need is your license number and you can tell if your car has a recall.
It will also alert you down the road if one was to ever be issued for your vehicle.
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