The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has asked General Motors (GM) to recall 5.9 million vehicles with Takata airbags. This will include GM’s pickups and SUVs from 2007-2014 model years because of concern over defective airbag inflators. GM had petitioned the NHTSA to avoid the recall insisting that the Takata-made airbag inflators in these vehicles were not likely to deteriorate to the same extent as those involved in the massive worldwide recall of other vehicles. But the petition was denied and now GM has been given 30 days to notify vehicle owners and make plans for replacing the inflators.
Cars on the recall list for airbags include the Chevrolet 1500, 2500, and 3500; Cadillac Escalade; GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, and 3500; Chevy Suburban and Tahoe; and the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL.
Despite GM arguing that these vehicles are at low or no risk because of unique design differences, the NHTSA concluded the GM inflators, like other Takata inflators, used in the airbags are at the same risk of explosion after prolonged exposure to high humidity and heat. Over the past decade, there have been many reports of injuries and deaths caused by the exploding airbags.
The problem with the Takata airbags was they contained an ammonium nitrate-based propellant that is known to deteriorate with aging or when exposed to high humidity and/or temperature. If the airbag is deployed in a deteriorated condition, it can explode and eject metal fragments inside the vehicle causing injury and death. At least 18 deaths have been linked to Takata airbags but none have been reported in GM vehicles.
During the securities filing, GM has stated that this recall will cost the company $1.2 billion. The Takata airbag recall has been one of the biggest mishaps in the auto industry; it affected 19 different manufacturers and involved nearly 63 million airbags in the US alone. Globally tens of millions of vehicles have been affected by this incident.
More information on the Takata airbags can be obtained from the NHTSA website or ask the dealership at Palm Beach Auto Sales Outlet.
