Air bag recall affects availability of rental cars

The Takata airbag recall is so expansive that it could take years to resolve and the volume is putting a strain on the number of loaner cars available.

Toyota recalled 1.6 million vehicles while Ford recalled more than 1.5 million cars for defective air bags supplied by Japanese manufacturer Takata Corp. Takata inflators can explode with too much force, sending shrapnel flying through the car. Eight people were killed and hundreds were injured worldwide as a result of the airbags.

Following the recall, several people are having to do without a replacement car and some have even been told not to use their front seat until the repair is made.

Safety consultant Sean Kane said there is one way consumers can make sure they get a loaner car.

“The people who are squeaky wheels are getting loaner cars. Get in there and complain to the manufacturer that you can’t use the car for its intended purposes,” said Kane.

Federal law requires car makers to either buy-back their defective cars or replace a vehicle they can’t fix. However, they’re not required to offer a temporary replacement car in the case of a recall.