Dealers Scramble For Air Bag Recall Answers, Service

(CBS) -- Chicago is a commuter city--with drivers spending hours on the road each and every week—and now the largest recall in U.S. history will be forcing many of them back to their dealers for repairs.

The question now is when and for how long?

Potentially defective airbag inflators, which have been linked to about a half-dozen fatalities, led to the recall of 34 million vehicles from about a dozen manufacturers.

So far, Honda, is the largest manufacturer affected by the airbags, which were manufactured Takata.

In an unscientific sampling, CBS 2 called some local dealerships and were told very different answers from each.

Some have parts in stock and say the fix could take as little as 45 minutes to an hour. Others say up to 4 hours, and they have no available appointments until next month.

A local Ford dealer says they aren't taking recall appointments until September—when they expect to have more information from the manufacturer.

McGrath City Honda in Elmwood Park received a new shipment of replacement parts on Wednesday. They have plenty of appointments available.

Still, a recall of this size is no easy task.

"It's going to take years to do it because 34 million new airbags have to be manufactured and then replaced in the vehicles," said Joan Claybrook, the former administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

And it could take days or weeks before dealerships figure out exactly who's affected.

Experts urge drivers check get their VIN with their dealership immediately or check out the website safercar.gov

Your vehicle identification number can be found on the driver's side windshield or the driver's side door.

Cars and models will be added for the next few weeks.