U.S. Government Demands Recall of 67 Million Airbag Inflators

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is demanding a recall of 67 million airbag inflators made by ARC Automotive, Inc. The agency says the inflators could rupture and injure drivers and passengers.

The NHTSA has been investigating ARC’s inflators for several years. In 2019, the agency issued a preliminary determination that the inflators were defective. The agency has since received reports of nine incidents in which ARC inflators ruptured, resulting in injuries and one death.

The NHTSA says the inflators are defective because they use a propellant that can degrade over time and cause the inflator to rupture. When the inflator ruptures, it can send metal fragments flying, which can injure or kill occupants.

ARC has disputed the NHTSA’s findings. The company says it has conducted extensive testing and found no evidence that its inflators are defective. ARC has also said that it has already recalled all of the inflators that it believes are defective.

However, the NHTSA is not convinced. The agency says that ARC’s testing is not sufficient and that the company has not provided enough information to show that its inflators are safe.

The NHTSA is now demanding that ARC recall all 67 million of its inflators. If ARC does not comply with the recall demand, the NHTSA could take legal action.

The recall of ARC’s inflators is the latest in a series of recalls involving airbag inflators. In recent years, millions of airbags have been recalled worldwide due to defects that can cause the airbags to rupture and injure or kill occupants. The most notorious case is the Takata airbag recall, which has involved more than 100 million airbags and has been linked to at least 20 deaths.

The ARC airbag recall is a reminder that even airbags, which are designed to protect us in the event of a crash, can be dangerous if they are defective. It is important to be aware of the potential risks of airbag defects and to take steps to protect yourself. If you have a vehicle that is equipped with an airbag that has been recalled, you should contact your automaker to have the airbag replaced.