Airbags in cars have been responsible for saving many a life, but recent news might be tarnishing that reputation. More than 100 million cars worldwide are subject to the most complex automotive recall ever thanks to defective airbags from supplier Takata.
The problem rests with whether or not the airbag uses a chemical drying agent to prevent the ammonium-nitrate propellant charge from taking on moisture. Takata airbags without the drying agent may not work properly in an accident, filling the cabin with shards of metal shrapnel as well as the airbag. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (which ordered the recall here in the US) says that 10 people have been killed and more than 100 injured as a result.
If you drive one of the affected models, you may have to wait some time before getting it replaced. Takata has until 2019 to replace all the defective airbags and may well need the time; in the process of trying to have one of our cars fixed in June under the recall notice, we were told the supply chain was empty and that 2017 was more likely. But Takata isn't the only company having problems with prematurely exploding airbags.
On Wednesday, Toyota announced it was recalling 1.43 million cars—including 432,000 Toyota Priuses and Lexus CT200h models in the US—because the side airbags (made by Autoliv) could partially deploy because of a faulty weld. The company also recalled another 2.87 million cars for problems with their emissions control units, although no US vehicles are among the affected.
As with the Takata recall, owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by their car's manufacturer, although you can also check online.
reader comments
37