How to find out if your car/truck is affected by airbag recall

Eight million cars of all makes and models have been recalled after malfunctioning airbags, and now the government wants to expand this recall nationwide.

So how do you know if your car has been recalled? ABC 17 News talked to a Columbia dealership about how to find out if your car’s airbag is part of the recall.

“Any of the makes and models, you can go through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” said Mike Mountjoy with Bob McCosh in Columbia. “They just have to type their 17 digit vehicle identification number, and they can find that VIN on their driver’s door or through the windshield.”

Mountjoy said once you find the VIN, all you have to do it enter it on the NHTSA website and it will display any recalls that your car or truck may have.

If you do find your car re-called, Mountjoy said it’s time to take action.

“Next step is, the best thing they can do, for the owner of the car to contact their manufacturer’s nearest dealer and contact the dealer to see if parts are available, what the process is going to be for you to bring it in and get those recalls done,” he said.

Mountjoy said they have replaced about 10 airbags in the affected GM model, but most of the recalls are other makes.

He also wants to remind drivers not to wait to call their dealer if their car is recalled for this issue.

“The main thing is just not panic,” Mountjoy said. “Not panic, but it is something we want to address right away.”

The latest incident reported was in North Carolina. A 2007 Ford Mustang was involved in a crash and the airbag exploded with high force and sent a metal fragment into the driver’s leg.