Nelson to chair Senate Commerce Committee to investigate airbag failures

News of an Orlando resident recent death when her car airbag exploded, sending metal shards into her neck along with the injuries suffered last year by a young woman in an accident near Destin when her airbag also exploded.

Both of which and other similar incidence has made necessary a nationwide recall of almost eight million vehicles where the airbags were made by the same manufacturer based out of Japan. However, due to a shortage of parts, consumers around the country have been left scrambling to get their cars repaired and are facing delays, which has prompted U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-FL to take action.

"That’s why I’ve written to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as to automakers with the largest share of recalled cars, asking them to provide loaners or rental-car reimbursement to all affected drivers", wrote Nelson in a message distributed via email yesterday.

However, recent press reports suggest officials may have known about the danger of the airbags exploding much earlier than the warning notices to the public, which also prompted Nelson to schedule a Senate Commerce Committee hearing for Nov. 20 in Washington to investigate the lapse in consumer product safety.

You can check to see whether your vehicle has been recalled by entering your car's VIN number HERE.