More than 269,900 vehicles in Michigan – across all makes and models – have unrepaired, recalled airbags. When exposed over time to heat and humidity, these recalled airbags can transform from life-saving devices to life-threatening ones – in a crash, they could rupture and cause injury or death.
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To help keep drivers safe heading into the summer heat, Governor Whitmer has joined Check To Protect in designating June as Airbag Recall Repair Month in Michigan. This statewide campaign aims to encourage Michigan drivers of all vehicles to make safety a priority by taking immediate action to prevent serious injury and death in the Great Lakes State. It’s critical that every Michigan driver check their vehicle as hot summer weather can increase the risk associated with defective recalled airbags.
In Michigan, regions with the highest number if open airbag recalls are also ones that are experiencing higher poverty rates. Research shows these communities are less likely to take action to get severe recalls, like the Takata airbag, fixed. This inaction could be due to the communities’ low level of recall awareness, lack of an existing relationship with dealers or limited availability for recall repairs due to work or family obligations. Moreover, drivers of older or used vehicles are harder to reach by conventional recall outreach measures and are less likely to know the recall status of their vehicles.
Throughout the state, Check To Protect, dealers and automakers are getting the word out to vehicle owners through mailers, advertising, vehicle and door-to-door canvassing and other outreach. These messages are notifying drivers of open airbag recalls (or encouraging them to check at www.CheckToProtect.org) and urging them to protect themselves and their loved ones by getting these dangerous airbags replaced immediately.
Airbag Recall Repair Month is an effort by Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram as part of the Check To Protect program. Check To Protect was founded by the National Safety Council and Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram in 2017. Today, program partners include vehicle safety advocates as well as Ford, General Motors, Toyota, and Volvo. Check To Protect welcomes any automaker or consumer and vehicle safety organization to join the effort to raise awareness for vehicle safety recalls.