U.S. auto safety regulators have taken a significant step to address a pressing safety concern by demanding the recall of a staggering 52 million air bag inflators, which were manufactured by auto suppliers ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive. The reason behind this massive recall is a potentially catastrophic flaw in these inflators, as they have been found to pose a grave risk of rupturing and sending dangerous metal fragments hurtling through the vehicle’s interior.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initially called for this recall back in May, but their request was met with resistance from ARC Automotive, who contested the necessity of such a move. In response, the NHTSA has now issued an official decision on the matter and scheduled a public meeting for October 5th, aiming to take concrete action on this issue.
These flawed inflators are a widespread concern as they have been utilized in vehicles spanning from the year 2000 to early 2018, produced by a dozen different automakers. This list includes automotive giants such as General Motors (GM), Ford Motor, Stellantis, Tesla, Toyota Motor, and Volkswagen, making the recall a far-reaching endeavor.
The NHTSA’s stance is clear and resolute: air bag inflators that rupture when triggered are inherently defective. Such defects compromise the primary safety function of airbags, which is to protect vehicle occupants, and simultaneously, they introduce an unreasonable and potentially fatal risk of injury or death. This stern declaration underscores the gravity of the situation and the necessity of the recall.
Notably, ARC Automotive had previously contested the NHTSA’s tentative conclusion that a defect existed within these inflators. However, their response to the recent development remains unknown, as they did not immediately provide a comment on Tuesday.
The urgency of this recall becomes even more evident when considering the reported cases of inflator ruptures in the United States. The NHTSA has confirmed a total of seven such incidents in the affected vehicles, resulting in seven injuries and, tragically, one death.
It’s worth noting that initially, the NHTSA had estimated that a staggering 67 million air bag inflators were unsafe. However, this number was subsequently revised downward on Tuesday to account for “over-inclusive responses” provided by certain manufacturers during the course of the investigation.
General Motors (GM) had already taken proactive steps in May by agreeing to recall nearly 1 million vehicles equipped with ARC air bag inflators after a rupture in March led to facial injuries for a driver. Delphi Automotive, on the other hand, had produced around 11 million of these inflators under a licensing agreement with ARC, while ARC was responsible for the production of the remaining 41 million units.
The NHTSA’s involvement in addressing air bag inflator ruptures spans over 15 years, highlighting the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of vehicle occupants and reduce the risk posed by defective airbag components. The demand for this massive recall underscores the critical importance of addressing potential safety hazards in the automotive industry and the commitment of regulators to prioritize public safety on the road.
Source: Reuters
