US seeking recall of 52 million cars due to air bag problem ⋆ cowboy Ron News Information

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US seeking recall of 52 million cars due to air bag problem

Robert Besser
10 Oct 2023, 12:24 GMT+10

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the government should recall 52 million auto air bag inflators sold by auto suppliers ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive.
Officials said they remain concerned that the inflators could rupture and send metal fragments flying throughout the inside of autos.
Delphi Automotive reportedly sold and manufactured some 11 million of the inflators through 2004 for ARC, which manufactured another 41 million inflators.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Officials from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said, during a public hearing this week, that the government should demand the recall of 52 million auto air bag inflators sold by auto suppliers ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive.

Officials said they remain concerned that the inflators could rupture and send metal fragments flying throughout the inside of autos.

If recalled, it would be one of the largest in US history.

Delphi Automotive reportedly sold and manufactured some 11 million of the inflators through 2004 for ARC, which manufactured another 41 million inflators.

During a hearing this week, NHTSA official Cem Hatipoglu said that while the odds of a rupture occurring may not be high, the consequences are “severe and potentially deadly.”

The air bag failure is now linked to one U.S fatality and seven injuries, the agency said.

“The evidence shows without a recall more people will be injured or killed,” Hatipoglu said.

In May, the NHTSA sought a voluntary recall, which was rejected by ARC.

In September, the NHTSA began the process to force a recall of the inflators.

The airbag inflators were installed in US autos, from 2000 through early 2018, for 12 automakers, including General Motors, Ford, Stellantis, Tesla, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen.

Meanwhile, this week GM said it “believes the evidence and data presented by NHTSA at this time does not provide a basis” for any new recall.

Also, ARC vice president Stephen Gold said this company remains opposed to a recall, telling the hearing the data and extensive testing suggested the seven incidents linked to the inflators were “isolated” and “not indicative of a systemic defect.”

Gold added that setting such a low threshold for a recall demand – seven incidents out of 52 million vehicles – “is unprecedented in the history of NHTSA… and will have deep consequences for the auto industry.”