Takata airbag recall extends to more Mazdas and BMW

The list of vehicles affected by the on-going Takata airbag recall continues to grow, with three high-selling models from Mazda and two BMW SUVs being recalled due to defective airbag inflators that could potentially kill.

The Mazda vehicles affected were built between November 15 2006 and April 30 2013, and include 19,557 Mazda6 models, 14,080 CX-7s and 21,450 CX-9s. These vehicles are in addition to Mazda vehicles that have already been recalled – concerned owners can check whether their VIN is on the list by going here.

For BMW, it's the previous-generation E70 X5 and E71 X6 that join the recall, with 21,649 of the luxury SUVs affected in Australia. BMW – like Mazda – will be contacting affected owners, but specific VINs can be looked up here.

The X5 and X6 models subject to the recall notice were sold between January 1 2007 and 31 December 2012.

The recall concerns the inflator modules at the centre of the airbag units, with suspect units being recalled over concerns that degradation due to moisture absorption affects the rate at which propellant is generated to fill the airbag in a crash. Multiple cases have seen faulty inflators explode violently, sending metal fragments from their housings into the cabin – and causing injury or death.

The addition of more Mazda and BMW models to the Takata tally sees the total number of affected vehicles soar above the 2.3 million mark, and comes just weeks after a police report blamed a defective Takata airbag for the death of a man in Sydney who was driving a recalled – but unrepaired – vehicle.

Globally, more than 11 million vehicles are affected by the recall, and Takata, the Japanese component manufacturer at the centre of the controversy, which is now the largest vehicle recall in history, has filed for bankruptcy as a result.

WhichCar urges anyone unsure whether their car is affected to follow this link for the full listing of vehicle makes and models that are subject to the recall.