Hard to argue with increased passenger survival since the advent of passive restraint systems.

Actually it's not hard to argue that there are better ways of protecting people than aiming explosives at their faces. Five point harnesses do the same job better and cheaper.

5 point harness . . . why not a full nomex suit and helmet while we're at it? :D

It's always been my impression that an electric charge(in addition to impact) was needed to activate the bag. Some FSMs warn that a period of xx secs. is required after disconnecting the battery to purge residual current in the capacitor, a procedure used to safely remove a bag.

If the circuit were legitimately disabled, wouldn't that bleed the capacitor?

Perhaps self-initiation is possible w/o a complete electrical circuit?

Just checked the VIN on my Element and it's not part of that recall but did discover an open one for the ignition interlock lever. Don't remember a recall letter but I tend to be rather militant about junk mail so.... gotta send the wife to Prescott now.

Give a few months and it grows to just shy of 34 million cars.

Air bag recall expected to be largest in U.S. history

Japanese air bag manufacturer Takata Corp. will announce Tuesday it is declaring an estimated 33.8 million vehicles defective, a move that is expected to lead to the largest U.S. recall of any consumer product, surpassing the callback of 31 million bottles of Tylenol in 1982 following a

But what about side airbags? Five-point harnesses won't help there...
That is absolutely insane. 34 million cars. Since it's Takata doing the recall, and they don't have their own service centers, will they somehow compensate dealers to do the installs for them or what?

I guess this means that the one in the Corolla won't be replaced anytime soon...

Welp, I should have taken the rx8 in when I had a chance, now it'll be mobbed. I am also interested in seeing how the money and service works out.


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Were they actually replacing them or just calling you in for an inspection? I know that the Corolla was called in for an inspection to see if we have an affected airbag. After the inspection, they told us that we do indeed have a defective model, but that the parts aren't in yet and that they would let us know when they come in. Since then, we've only had one letter morealess telling us hang tight and that parts haven't come out yet...

I believe it was actual replacement of the drivers and passengers side airbag. They likely had a good vin range on them. I still haven't done it but I'd like to sell the car very soon anyways. So anyways, anyone interested in a rotary powered deathbomb?


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Larry's banned again? :P

I'll take it and swap the engine into the Corolla. I hate to say it, but lately I've really felt like the 1ZZ's 6.5k redline just isn't doing it for me anymore.

Oh, and do you think I could swap the good looks from the Mazda onto the Corolla when I do the engine swap? What would that involve?

So happy I am, that my 240D had none of this crap :)

- Peter.

Actually they do. A five point (or six point like they use in F1) does a considerably better job keeping you positioned in your seat than a three point. You stay where you're supposed to be, and as long as there isn't gross intrusion of something hard into the passenger compartment, you're good.

Well as its an automatic the redline is only 7000rpm because they didn't make a torque converter that worked above that. And the body has plenty of dings. But it's still something right?


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