Page 20 - AAA Now! – AAA Central Penn – November/December 2019

AAA
TM
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
What Our Members are Saying
AAA NOW!
Testimonials
On AAA Travel:
Every step was guided by SuAnn. She is a very experienced and knowledgeable agent.
— Maronetta, from Mechanicsburg
On AAA Mature Operator Classes:
The instructor made the course interesting and very informative in ways in which we could relate to.
— John, from Lancaster
On AAA Roadside:
Another outstanding experience. Dead battery. Truck was there quickly, driver was very professional and friendly. Back on the road in 45 minutes. 5 Stars!
— Mark via Facebook
On AAA Driving School:
The instructor I had was amazing. I learned a lot about driving I didn’t know before and I’m very appreciative.
— Peyton, from Lancaster
On AAA Discoveries Group Travel:
Becky from the AAA Centerville office always does a great job with setting up our cruises. A pleasant agent!
— Mildred, from Lancaster
AAA SAFETY REMINDER:
Check Today to See if Your Vehicle is Part of the Takata Air Bag Recall
More Than 16 Million Defective Air Bags Still Need to be Repaired Four Years Later
Anationwide recall of Takata air bags was issued
in May 2015, but far too many of the potentially dangerous units remain on the road. It’s time to see if your car has one of them.
About 15.4 million vehicles have not yet had their defective air bag inflators repaired, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Because some vehicles have more than one air bag, the total number of bags covered by the recall is closer to 16.6 million.
Until they’re repaired, those air bags pose a threat to drivers and passengers. When they deploy in a crash, they can send bits of shrapnel hurtling toward vehicle occupants. Sixteen people have been killed by defective Takata air bags and more than 250 have been injured since 2009.
“The repair work itself can usually be completed within a few hours,” said Insert AAA Club Official Name, Title. “That’s not necessarily convenient, but it’s a small sacrifice to protect you and your passengers. And it won’t cost you anything.”
As the nation’s leading traffic safety advocate, AAA is asking everyone to check the status of their vehicle. Determining if your vehicle is included in the recall
is simple. Just visit nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN is a 17-character ID unique to your car or truck. You can find it on the driver’s side dashboard near the bottom of the windshield. It’s also on the vehicle registration and insurance card.
When you enter your VIN on the NHTSA recall site, you can learn instantly if the air bags in your vehicle need to be repaired. If it is covered by the nationwide recall, you should contact a dealer and schedule the
repair. There is no charge for the repair, but it must be done by an authorized dealer.
The Takata air bags affected by the recall contain a faulty inflator that can degrade and, during a crash, cause a rupture in the air bag itself. The risk is greater in areas that experience high heat and humidity. In the warmest parts of the country, chemical propellants in the inflator may break down within six to nine years. In cooler, drier regions, it may take 15 to 20 years.
The recall involves 19 different automakers and includes more than 150 model and year combinations. Air bags in all of the vehicles are potentially dangerous, but NHTSA says the air bags in the vehicles listed below “show a far higher risk” of rupture. These models shouldn’t be driven, according to NHTSA, unless you are taking them in for repairs:
• 2001-2002 Honda Civic
• 2001-2002 Honda Accord
• 2002-2003 Acura TL
• 2002 Honda CR-V
• 2002 Honda Odyssey
• 2003 Acura CL
• 2003 Honda Pilot
• Certain 2006 Ford Ranger (Ford advises do not drive)
• Certain 2006 Mazda B-Series (Mazda advises do not drive)
If your vehicle is included in the recall, your dealer can tell you if parts are immediately available. Early on in the recall, parts were scarce, but NHTSA now says that shouldn’t be an issue. If your dealer says it can’t quickly get parts, NHTSA recommends contacting the vehicle’s manufacturer and alerting them to the problem.
Visit nhtsa.gov/recalls to check your vehicle now.
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