Automakers Affected by NHTSA's Focus on Defective Airbag Inflators

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【Summary】The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has decided that certain airbag inflators made by ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive between 2000 and January 2018 must be recalled due to the risk of rupture and metal debris ejection. This affects a total of 52 million inflators used by 12 vehicle manufacturers, including Tesla, GM, and Ford. ARC declined the initial recall request, while Delphi no longer exists and its liability is unclear.

FutureCar Staff Sep 06, 2023 6:19 AM PT

Automakers Affected by NHTSA's Focus on Defective Airbag Inflators

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced an initial decision to recall certain air bag inflators manufactured by ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive. These inflators, produced between 2000 and January 2018, have the potential to rupture and release metal debris into the passenger compartment when deployed, according to the NHTSA.

In the United States alone, these rupturing airbag inflators have caused injuries to at least seven people and resulted in one fatality. The NHTSA is also aware of two cases of rupture occurring outside of the U.S.

The initial decision affects a significant number of inflators, with 41 million manufactured by ARC and an additional 11 million produced by Delphi under an agreement with ARC. This brings the total number of affected inflators to 52 million.

These inflators have been integrated into air bag modules of vehicles manufactured by 12 different companies, including BMW AG, Ford Motor Co, General Motors Co, Hyundai Motor Co, Kia Corp, Stellantis NV, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Tesla Inc, Toyota Motor Corp, and Volkswagen AG, according to the NHTSA.

The NHTSA had previously requested ARC to initiate a recall for the inflators in April of this year. However, ARC declined, claiming that the agency did not have sufficient evidence of a safety defect. The NHTSA described the seven confirmed ruptures as "occasional or isolated failures that are an inevitable part of any volume manufacturing process."

Delphi Automotive, which was acquired by Autoliv, no longer exists as a separate entity. As a result, Autoliv may not have legal liability for the inflators manufactured by Delphi.

The NHTSA will hold a public meeting at the Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington, D.C., on October 5 to discuss the initial decision and the proposed recall.

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