All vehicle identification numbers affected by the Takata airbag recall are now available at SaferCar.gov.

Used cars and bad credit

One of the keys to successfully reestablishing credit with a subprime car loan is picking the right kind of vehicle to finance. Since affordability is a major factor when you consider the interest rates most of these lenders charge, this means borrowers typically find themselves choosing an affordable used car.

Unfortunately, one of the largest and most wide-ranging recalls in history affects vehicles between the 2000 and 2011 model year – many of which could be currently financed with a high-risk car loan.

Takata recall

In May of 2015, automotive supplier Takata announced a national recall involving certain types of driver and passenger side air bag inflators. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

These inflators were made with a propellant that can degrade over time and has led to ruptures that have been blamed for seven deaths and more than 100 injuries worldwide. This recall involves 11 different vehicle makes and roughly 34 million vehicles. That's millions of people who urgently need to know what steps they should take in order to protect themselves and their loved ones.takata airbag recall, bad credit, used cars

According to the NHTSA, as of June 22, 2015, the vehicle identification numbers of all affected vehicles are now loaded onto their VIN Lookup Tool on their website at SaferCar.gov.

The tool is available at no cost, is simple to use and will not only inform owners if their vehicle is or is not part of the Takata recall, but also it is subject to any other open recalls.

The Bottom Line

According to NHTSA, "the Takata air bag recall is one of the largest and most complex product recalls in history." Therefore, we strongly urge borrowers with both good and bad credit and regardless of the year, make and model of their vehicles, to visit SaferCar.gov and use the VIN Lookup Tool to be sure it's not subject to any kind of open recall.

One more tip if your credit is less than perfect: Auto Credit Express specializes in matching applicants with credit issues to dealers that can offer them their best opportunities for car loan approvals.

So, if you're ready to reestablish your car credit, you can start now by filling out our online auto loan application.