The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has suggested that independent repair shops should get involved in the massive recall of cars that need to have their Takata airbags replaced. This is because they think that the manufacturers are too slow in getting the replacement equipment fitted. Many global manufacturers are affected by the recall - mostly Japanese … [Read more...]
Airbag Recall Update #5
Following on from my last update, I read the other day that Takata, who are at the centre of the airbag recall, would be changing the propellant in their inflators. This was not quite true, they will still be using ammonium nitrate but will change the design of the inflator to make it safer when used. They have redesigned the drivers airbag, presumably because it is closer to … [Read more...]
Takata Airbag Recall – Update #4
The ongoing recall of airbags made by Takata has now reached over 53,000,000 cars worldwide. It is now the largest ever recall for the auto industry. Interesting, the faulty airbags were claimed to have been made in only one factory (in Mexico) yet when you think about a car having between 1 and 10 airbags each, that would mean that one factory would have to have produced … [Read more...]
Takata Airbag Failure – February Update
The relationship between Takata, the Japanese manufacturer of airbags that have failed during accidents, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) took a turn downwards recently. The NHTSA issued a statement saying that the company was to be fined $14,000 a day for not "fully co-operating" with the investigation into why their airbags have failed - … [Read more...]
Airbag Recall – Update on Progress for Resolution
Progress is slow! Takata are still trying to find the origination of the defect that causes the airbag assembly to spew out shards of metal that can injure or kill drivers or their passengers. Interestingly, BMW was quoted as saying that they had switched their airbag orders to a Takata facility in Germany where they are also made. The offending factory is in Mexico. One simple … [Read more...]