Airbag recalls in CanadaTakata, ARC and side-curtain inflators — the recall that never quite ends
Updated September 2026 · Sourced from Transport Canada
An airbag inflator that ruptures sends metal fragments into the cabin; one that fails to deploy leaves you unprotected. Both have happened, which is why airbag inflators became the largest recall in automotive history.
In Canada the Takata campaigns alone touched millions of vehicles from more than a dozen brands between 2013 and 2020, and many were never repaired — the vehicles changed hands and the letters stopped. Airbag campaigns continue: 4 airbag recalls covering about 25,000 vehicles so far in 2026.
The media and the government are inefficient in disseminating critical recall information to consumers. Often times it takes days or weeks before a major recall is announced by the media.
Consumers are asked to be proactive, but they are at the mercy of slow channels to receive important news. Some recalls aren't even mentioned anywhere except official channels.
Takata airbag recalls in Canada covered millions of vehicles — a large share were never repaired.
Recall Monitor emails or texts you when a recall matches what you watch. CA$3.99/mo, cancel anytime.
Takata: the largest recall in history
Ammonium-nitrate inflators degrade with heat and humidity over time and can rupture upon deployment, sending sharp metal fragments toward vehicle occupants. What began as a targeted defect grew for years as older model years and additional vehicle lines were added across the industry. For a full international timeline, see NHTSA's Takata recall spotlight, which documents dozens of deaths worldwide.
Major Canadian campaigns include the Honda and Acura Takata recall — Civic, Accord, CR-V, Odyssey, Pilot, Element and more (May 2015, about 705,000 vehicles), Honda's January 2017 expansion (about 429,000 vehicles), the Toyota Corolla, Matrix and Avalon inflator recall (January 2020, about 407,000 vehicles), and the Toyota Sequoia, Corolla, Matrix and Tundra recall (2016, about 400,000 vehicles).
Trucks and full-size: RAM, GM, Ford
Trucks and commercial platforms were affected heavily due to prolonged fleet service lives and extended production runs. Key Canadian notices include the RAM, Dodge and Chrysler Takata recall — 1500, 2500, 3500, Durango, Charger, 300 and more (May 2015, about 375,000 vehicles), the General Motors Takata recall (September 2016, about 362,000 vehicles), and the Ford Fusion, Edge, Ranger and Lincoln MKZ/MKX inflator recall (January 2021, about 275,000 vehicles).
Compacts: Mazda, Nissan, BMW, Mitsubishi
Passenger-side frontal inflators in popular daily commuters and compact sedans led to multiple high-volume recalls across Canada: the Mazda3 inflator recall (July 2021, about 134,000 vehicles), the Nissan Versa inflator recall (2017, about 111,000 vehicles), the BMW 1 Series, 3 Series, X1, X3, X5 and X6 recall (2016, about 104,000 vehicles), and the Mitsubishi Lancer recall (2016, about 66,000 vehicles).
2026: side-curtain inflators and new campaigns
In March 2026 General Motors began recalling vehicles in Canada for side-curtain (roof-rail) airbag inflators that can rupture, and expanded the campaign in June 2026 (Transport Canada recall 2026129).
Recent 2026 airbag campaigns in Canada also include the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado airbag recall (May 2026), the Cadillac SRX, CTS, ATS, XTS and Escalade airbag recall (May 2026), and the Land Rover Defender, Discovery and Range Rover airbag recall (June 2026, about 25,000 vehicles).
ARC Automotive and Delphi inflators were also recalled across North America between 2023 and 2024 following investigations into inflator ruptures.
How to check if your airbag has been recalled
- Find your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) — located on the lower driver-side dashboard visible through the windshield, on the driver's door jamb sticker, or on your vehicle registration and insurance papers.
- Check your VIN against Transport Canada's Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database or your manufacturer's Canadian VIN lookup portal.
- If a recall indicates "remedy not yet available", contact an authorized dealership to ask about interim measures and avoid seating passengers in front seats flagged for passenger-side inflator defects.
- Recall repairs are completely free under Canadian motor vehicle safety regulations — dealerships cannot charge for safety recall parts or labour.
Own a Hyundai or Kia? See Hyundai recalls in Canada and Kia recalls in Canada. Or browse all vehicle recalls in Canada.
Related recall guides
You should not have to come back and search this list. Get the next airbag recall for your vehicle by email or SMS. CA$3.99/mo.
Recall Monitor
Information presented from Recalls and Safety Alerts dataset, provided by the Government of Canada through the Open Government initiative and is subject to the Open Government License.
You can access this data free of charge via Recall Monitor, or through the Healthy Canadians website.
Get personalized SMS or Email notifications about recall alerts that matter by subscribing to Recall Monitor.
Recall Monitor is not endorsed by, or is an official product of the Government of Canada.
Made with in Vancouver, BC
© Mad Filaments Software Inc.