(Dallas, TX, Wednesday, May 1, 2019) – May is Airbag Recall Repair Month in Texas. There are approximately 1.9 million unrepaired, recalled airbags still on the roads in Texas, over 400,000 of those in the Dallas area.  These airbags put drivers and passengers at risk. In a crash, defective airbags can transform from life-saving to life-threatening devices, spraying sharp metal fragments that can cause injury or death.

Hosted by the National Safety Council’s Check To Protect program, the Airbag Recall Repair Month campaign urges all drivers to make safety a priority by checking their vehicles for open recalls, and getting their defective airbags repaired immediately.

Chris Freeman, FCA US: Airbag recall campaign manager, explains the urgency of these airbag recalls.

SOUNDBITE #1:

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY ONE POINT NINE MILLION UNREPAIRED VEHICLES STILL ON THE ROADS IN TEXAS. IT’S URGENT THAT VEHICLE OWNERS OF ALL MAKES AND MODELS VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE IF THEIR VEHICLE HAS A DANGEROUS DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT AND HUMIDITY, AIRBAGS ARE AT AN INCREASED RISK OF RUPTURING AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES BEFORE WE HEAD INTO THE SUMMER HEAT, BY CHECKING TO SEE IF YOUR VEHICLE’S AIRBAG HAS BEEN RECALLED DURING AIRBAG RECALL REPAIR MONTH.

SOUNDBITE #2:

THE EASIEST WAY TO CHECK FOR RECALLED AIRBAGS IS WITH A VEHICLE’S SEVENTEEN-CHARACTER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE DRIVER’S SIDE DASHBOARD BY THE WINDSHIELD AND ON MOST VEHICLE REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS. ENTER YOUR VIN INTO OUR WEBSITE CHECK FOR OPEN RECALLS. IF YOU DO HAVE AN AIRBAG RECALL, CALL YOUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE YOUR FREE REPAIR. MANY DEALERSHIPS ARE OPEN EXTENDED HOURS AND ALSO PROVIDE COMPLIMENTARY TRANSPORTATION. REPAIRS ARE FREE AND THEY ONLY TAKE ABOUT AN HOUR TO COMPLETE.

To see if your vehicle has an open airbag recall, visit CheckToProtect.org.