52 Million Airbag Inflators Just Recalled (Again)

We’ve been here before. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration just recalled 52 million airbags for having faulty inflators. This has happened before and, apparently, there are still many – many – questions about whether or not there is a fix.

What Models are Affected?

The defective airbags were manufactured by ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive Systems and installed by twelve car manufacturers in dozens of models produced between 2010 and 2018.

The manufacturers:

Some of the affected models:

• Acura: 2013-2016 ILX; 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid; 2007-2016 RDX.
• BMW: 2008-2013 1 and 3 Series; 2013-2015 X1; 2007-2013 X5; 2008-2014 X6.
• Chevrolet: 2007-2013 Avalanche; 2007-2014 Silverado HD & LD; 2007-2014 Suburban & Tahoe.
• Chrysler: 2005-2015 300.
• Ferrari: 2010-2015 458 Italia; 2014-2015 458 Speciale; 2015 458 Speciale A; 2012-2015 458 Spider; 2016-2017 488 GTB; 2016-2017 488 Spider; 2015-2017 California T; 2013-2017 F12; 2016-2017 F12 tdf; 2016 F60; 2012-2016 Ferrari FF; 2017 GTC4Lusso.
• Ford: 2006-2012 Fusion; 2005-2014 Mustang.
• Honda: 2010-2015 Crosstour; 2011-2015 CR-Z; 2010-2014 FCX Clarity; 2013-2014 Fit EV; 2010-2014 Insight; 2003-2015 Pilot; 2006-2014 Ridgeline
• Jaguar: 2009-2015 XF.
• Lexus: 2010-2017 GX460; 2010-2015 IS250C/350C; 2008-2014 IS F.
• Mercedes-Benz: 2005-2015 C-Class; 2011-2017 E-Class Cabrio; 2010-2017 E-Class Coupe; 2010-2015 GLK-Class; 2011-2015 SLS-Class.
• Subaru: 2003-2014 Legacy; 2003-2014 Outback; 2006-2014 Tribeca; 2012-2014 WRX/STI. Tesla: 2012-2016 Model S
• Toyota: 2010-2016 4Runner; 2011-2014 Sienna;
• Volkswagen: 2009-2017 CC; 2010-2014 Eos; 2010-2014 Golf & Golf R; 2012-2014 Passat; 2017-2018 Tiguan. Jeep: 2007-2016 Wrangler.

The Problem with the Airbags

Airbags are designed, of course, to quickly explode on impact. There is, however, a fine line between the precise amount of force needed to protect passengers and too much force that results in great bodily harm to passengers even in what would otherwise be a minor collision.

The recalled airbags were all designed by ARC (Delphi produces airbags using the ARC design) and may explode far more violently than intended when a vehicle’s airbags are deployed.

Airbags are inflated by an explosive substance that is compacted into tablets stored in a metal cylinder. When a crash is severe enough, the tablets are supposed to create a controlled explosion that rapidly fills the airbags with gas.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it found that ARC’s manufacturing process could leave bits of welding material, known as weld slag, inside the cylinder. When the airbags deploy, the weld slag could clog the exit opening and cause an explosion violent enough to blast shards of metal and plastic into the vehicle’s interior.

So far, at least seven people have been injured and one killed in seven incidents in the United States as a direct result of the defective airbags.

“An airbag inflator that fails by rupture not only does not perform its job as a safety device, but instead actively threatens injury or death, even in a crash where the vehicle occupants would otherwise have been unharmed,” the agency said in its announcement.

Recalls . . . and a Problem

G.M. has recalled nearly one million vehicles made from 2014 to 2017, saying they were doing so “out of an abundance of caution.”

ARC, however, has declined to issue a recall, saying it did not believe a defect existed and that in its view NHTSA’s finding was not based on “any objective technical or engineering conclusion.”

They added – and this should be of great concern to owners of the affected vehicles - that they had completely ruled out weld slag as the cause of several of the incidents noted by the agency, and that they could not definitively prove it to be the cause of the other five.

Obviously, if they cannot definitively say what is causing the issue they can not fix it.

Gayle Law Group, Your California Lemon Law Firm

We care about every one of our clients and work hard to get impressive results for them. We are as dependent on our vehicles as any Californian – we know how it feels to have a vehicle that won’t operate the way it should.

We pride ourselves on keeping our clients advised every step of the way. You will never be in the dark wondering what’s happening in your case. You’ll know every step of the way.

Our goal is to get you out of your lemon vehicle so you can get a safe and reliable one as quickly as possible. We know how important it is to you, how you are hamstrung without a reliable vehicle.

Contact

Based in Los Angeles and serving all of California, The Gayle Law Group has successfully represented numerous clients throughout the state over the years. Our experience spans across various vehicle-related cases, including those involving cars, electric and hybrid vehicles, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, RVs, and more. No matter where you reside in California, we are here to provide the necessary legal support.