US Raises Concerns Over 51 Million Airbag Inflators Posing Safety Risks Despite Automaker Objections

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. regulatory body announced on Wednesday that it maintains concerns regarding the airbag inflators in 49 million vehicles across 13 automakers, stating that these inflators pose significant safety risks. The agency is contemplating the issuance of a recall.

This issue has been tied to one fatality in the U.S. and seven injuries following an extensive eight-year government investigation. If a recall is executed, it would rank as the second-largest in U.S. history.

During a hearing in October, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) contended that airbag inflators manufactured by ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive should be recalled due to the potential risk of rupture, which could lead to the projection of metal fragments. Following objections from automakers in December, the agency did not immediately reach a final decision.

On Wednesday, the NHTSA reiterated and updated its initial determination issued in September and has provided automakers an additional 30 days to respond before it may formally request recalls.

"Common sense demands acknowledgment that metal shrapnel projecting at high speeds and causing injury or death presents an unreasonable risk to safety," the NHTSA stated.

Major auto manufacturers, including General Motors, Toyota Motor, and Volkswagen, along with the two airbag producers, expressed their opposition to the NHTSA’s call for recalls in December.

GM stated on Wednesday that it believes the current evidence does not support an additional recall beyond the vehicles already included in existing recalls. Previous reports indicated that at least 20 million GM cars could be affected, while Stellantis has approximately 4.9 million vehicles with the inflators in question and has reported only one rupture since 2009.

Stellantis mentioned that it is currently reviewing the NHTSA’s decision.

Automakers and manufacturers have claimed that the risks associated with the issue are minimal, disputing the agency’s analysis and justification for pursuing a recall.

The inflators under scrutiny were utilized in vehicles produced from 2000 to early 2018 by a range of automakers, including Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, and Porsche.

NHTSA initially suggested a voluntary recall in May 2023, which was rejected by ARC.

In May 2023, GM recalled 1 million ARC inflators after a rupture resulted in facial injuries to a driver. The automaker indicated in December that a recall might impact "up to 15% of the over 300 million registered motor vehicles in the United States."

Delphi Automotive, now part of Autoliv, produced approximately 11 million of the inflators until 2004 under a licensing agreement with ARC, while ARC manufactured the remaining 40 million.