The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have announced that they will be expanding and accelerating the recall of Takata air bag inflators. The decision comes after the NHTSA and an independent expert reviewed the findings of three independent investigations into the ruptures and concluded that a combination of time, environmental moisture and fluctuating high temperatures contributed to the degradation of the ammonium nitrate propellant in the inflators. The degradation caused the propellant to burn too quickly, rupturing the inflator module and sending shrapnel through the air bag and into the vehicle occupants. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Takata Airbags
Rupturing Takata Airbag Claims Another Victim
A 17-year-old driver of a 2002 Honda Civic was killed last month after her Takata air bag ruptured during a rear-end crash. This is the 10th known U.S. death in addition to over 100 people that have been injured when their Takata airbags exploded with too much force. Continue reading
Saab And Saturn Added To Takata Airbag Recall
Due to recent developments affecting certain Takata PSDI-5 inflators, GM will be asking the owners of certain 2003-2011 Saab 9-3, 2010-2011 Saab 9-5, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles to return to their dealership for repairs. This Takata equipment recall relates to all Takata PSDI-5 driver airbag inflators produced from the start of production through the end of model year 2014. Continue reading
Takata Airbag Recall Affects Another 5 Million U.S. Vehicles
The NHTSA announced last week that an additional five million vehicles will be added to the Takata airbag recall, bringing the total number of vehicles affected in the United States to almost 19 million. The new list will affect automakers not previously included in the recall, including Volkswagen, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. The NHTSA have prioritized the replacement of the defective air bag inflators to ensure they are replaced quickly and addressing the highest risks first. Continue reading
2015 VW Tiguan And 2015 Audi Q5 Airbag Defect
The owners of certain 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan and 2015 Audi Q5 vehicles will be contacted by the manufacturer about a problem affecting the driver and right front passenger seat mounted side airbags. According to the defect report, a manufacturing error could result in airbag components being propelled into the passenger compartment when they are deployed, potentially injuring occupants. Continue reading
Newer Model Vehicles Affected by Defective Takata Airbags
It’s been over a decade since the first known rupture of a Takata airbag, but safety regulators and automakers are still struggling to understand the extent of the problem. The company announced that 5.1 million U.S. vehicles have already been affected and recently reported an 11th death that may be linked to the defect. While most of the vehicles in previous recalls included older models, investigations are including newer models which could be subject to recall at a later date. Continue reading
NHTSA Accelerates Takata Airbag Repairs
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation into exploding Takata airbags has found that the manufacturer violated the Motor Vehicle Safety Act as well as the Federal regulations implementing the Act. The NHTSA have imposed one of the largest civil penalties in NHTSA history and have ordered all 12 vehicle manufacturers to accelerate repairs, prioritizing recalls so the vehicles experiencing the greatest safety risk will be fixed first. Continue reading
GM Seat Mounted Side Impact Airbags Could Rupture
General Motors will be asking a small number of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC owners to return to their dealership for a safety problem affecting the front seat mounted side impact airbags. During an accident necessitating the deployment of the side impact air bags, the inflator may not properly inflate and could rupture and throw metal fragments that could injure occupants. Continue reading
