Tag Archives: air bag safety problem

2012 Subaru Impreza Passenger Airbag Could Deactivate

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An electrical problem affecting certain 2012 Subaru Impreza four door cars will have 32,400 owners returning to their dealership for repairs. The affected vehicles are equipped with a capacitance type Occupant Detection Systems (ODS) in the front passenger seat.

According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, if the passenger is using a device plugged into the accessory power outlet and/or touches a grounded metal part of the vehicle, while the ODS is on, the occupant control unit (OCU) may falsely register an abnormally high rise in the occupant’s capacitance. This could result in deactivation of the ODS. If this happens, a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) will be stored in the vehicle’s memory, (B1650, B1760 and/or B1761), the airbag warning light will illuminate, and the passenger air bag indicator will illuminate “OFF”. Continue reading →

The Complete Takata Airbag Recall

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On May 19, 2014 a U.S. Department of Transportation investigation determined that a defect exists in some Takata airbags and prompts the airbag supplier to issue a national recall. The defect affects frontal driver and passenger side airbag inflators used in vehicles manufactured by BMW, Chrysler, Daimler Trucks, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota. According to the recall report, these inflators were made with a propellant that can degrade over time and rupture, sending fragments that could injure vehicle occupants. The defect is blamed for six deaths worldwide. Continue reading →

Missing Airbag Bolts On 2015 Dodge Challenger

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Chrysler will be asking a small number of 2015 Dodge Challenger owners to return to their dealers to repair a problem affecting the airbag system. Due to a manufacturing error, the driver side air bag inflated curtain (SABIC) may have a loose or missing rear mounting bolt. The missing bolt could alter the deployment of the bag, increasing the risk of injury during a side impact or roll over crash. Continue reading →

Are You Still Waiting For Airbag Replacement Parts?

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With a record number of recalls released last year, people visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website to check the VIN number of their vehicle to see if it has been recalled, may experience problems accessing the information they are looking for. The service has been slow after automakers released another round of recalls for defective Takata airbags. About 33.8 million vehicles, manufactured by 11 different automakers, have already been recalled to replace frontal airbags on the driver’s side and/or passenger’s side, because they could deploy with too much force, injuring and in some instances killing occupants. Six fatalities and over 100 injuries have already been linked to the problem. Continue reading →

Volkswagen Routan Repeated Repair Attempts

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Certain 2009-2010 Volkswagen Routan owners will be contacted by the manufacturer about a problem with their vehicle ignition switch system. These vehicles may experience inadvertent ignition key displacement from the “run” to the “accessory” position while driving. If this happens, the engine will turn off, depowering various key safety systems including; airbags, power steering, and power braking. The loss of these systems may increase the chance of injury during an accident. Continue reading →

2014-2015 BMW X5 Airbag Problem

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A small number of 2014-2015 BMW X5 owners will be returning to their dealerships to repair a safety problem with the Head Protection System (HPS). According to reports filed with the NHTSA, the connection between the HPS air bag and the gas generator may have been manufactured out of specification. This can cause insufficient inflation and an increased risk of injury during an accident. Continue reading →

Chrysler TIPM Investigated For Safety Defect

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A petition from the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) has resulted in a defect investigation into failing Totally Integrated Power Module’s (TIPM) in certain Chrysler SUVs, trucks, and vans. The CAS alleges that TIPM failures have resulted in incidents of engine stall; airbag non-deployment; random horn, headlight, taillight, door lock, instrument panel and windshield wiper activity; failure of fuel pump shutoff resulting in unintended acceleration; and fires. The petition includes a list of 70 complaints received by CAS that are allegedly related to Chrysler TIPM failures. Continue reading →

Land Rover Range Rover OCS Misclassification

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A safety defect in certain 2013-2015 Land Rover Range Rover vehicles could result in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) not functioning correctly at all times. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, when the vehicle is driven on a very smooth surface for an extended period of time, a light weight adult passenger could be misclassified by the system. In the event of an accident, the passenger may not be protected by the Supplementary Restrain System (SRS). Vehicles experiencing this problem will alert drivers with an illuminated “Passenger Airbag OFF” lamp. Continue reading →