The Bad Kind of “Explosive Summer”: Hot Weather Makes Takata Airbags Even More Dangerous

Most people associate summer with sunshine, road trips, and family vacations, not exploding airbags.

But as the summer heats up, the risk of catastrophic airbag failures can rise, particularly in vehicles equipped with defective Takata airbags.

The Takata airbag scandal is one of the deadliest auto defects in history. Millions of cars are still on the road with these time bombs installed, and summer heat can turn them into lethal weapons.

Let’s explore how hot weather plays a dangerous role, what makes Takata airbags so volatile, and what you can do if you’re injured. Plus, we’ll throw in some “cool facts” to beat the heat of defective airbags.

What Are Takata Airbags, and Why Are They Dangerous?

Takata Corporation, once a major global airbag supplier, produced airbags using a chemical propellant called ammonium nitrate. When exposed to moisture and heat over time, this compound becomes unstable.

Instead of gently inflating, these airbags can explode like a grenade, sending metal shrapnel flying through the cabin. So far, these defective airbags have been linked to more than 400 injuries and at least 27 deaths in the U.S. alone.

If you suspect you have a Takata airbag in your vehicle, check the recall list for all affected models.

Hot Weather Makes It Worse

Takata airbags degrade faster in hot and humid climates. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called the risk “particularly acute” in states like Florida, Texas, Arizona, and southern California.

Here’s what happens:

• Heat + humidity = faster chemical breakdown
• Moisture gets trapped inside the inflator over years of use
• Ammonium nitrate destabilizes, increasing the chance of explosion
• A minor fender bender can cause deadly force from a faulty airbag

Cool Fact: Ammonium nitrate is the same chemical used in mining and demolition explosives. It's powerful but completely unsuitable for use in long-term airbag systems exposed to real-world weather.

The Science of the Explosion

Most airbags deploy in under 1/20th of a second. They’re supposed to protect you, not injure you.

But Takata’s use of unsealed ammonium nitrate inflators, combined with years of high heat, leads to a violent over-pressurization, a rupture of the metal canister, and lying shrapnel that can pierce eyes, necks, and chests.

In one case, a driver was killed after being struck in the neck by a piece of the airbag's metal housing. The force was so strong, authorities thought it was a stabbing.

Is Your Car Still Affected?

Even though the Takata recall is the largest in U.S. history, with over 67 million airbags recalled, millions of affected vehicles are still on the road today.

Some drivers don’t know. Others assume their car isn’t affected because it hasn’t been flagged, or they’ve never received a recall notice.

Check your car’s VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to be sure.

Cool Fact: Vehicles from 19 major automakers, including Honda, Ford, BMW, Toyota, Nissan, and GM, were impacted by the Takata recall.

Legal Action and Accountability

In 2015, Takata pled guilty to criminal misconduct and agreed to pay a $1 billion penalty—but that doesn't help individual victims.

Victims of Takata airbag explosions may be eligible for:

• Medical costs
• Pain and suffering
• Lost income
• Wrongful death claims for surviving family members

Several auto manufacturers have also faced lawsuits for delaying recalls or failing to warn drivers.

At Morgan & Morgan, we’ve helped victims pursue justice in dangerous defect cases, and we’re not afraid to take on global corporations. If a Takata airbag injured you or someone you love, you may be entitled to compensation.

What You Can Do Right Now

Don’t let a defective airbag combined with a hot day put you at risk.

• Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
• Act immediately if your car is listed (repairs are free)
• Avoid high heat exposure when possible until the airbag is replaced
• Spread the word—millions still don’t know about the risk
• Talk to a lawyer at Morgan & Morgan if you’ve been injured by a defective airbag

Cool Fact: Some automakers, like BMW, issued “do not drive” advisories for certain older models. In extreme cases, vehicles with Takata airbags have been deemed unsafe to operate at all.

Morgan & Morgan Is Here to Help

Takata may be bankrupt, but that doesn’t mean their airbags aren’t still out there on hot roads. The damage caused by defective airbags continues, and legal options are still available for victims. Our attorneys are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.

If you or a loved one was injured by a Takata airbag, don’t wait.

Contact us today for a free, no-risk case evaluation, because you shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s deadly mistake or when the heat is making things worse.