Tag Archives: improper airbag deployment

Chevy Traverse And Buick Enclave Driver Airbag Inflator May Explode

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A manufacturing defect affecting airbags will have a small number of 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse owners returning to their dealerships for repairs.

In July 2015 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE15-027) into ARC Automotive Inc. (ARC) air bag inflators after receiving reports about two injury incidents involving a driver air bag inflator rupture. One incident involved a 2002 Chrysler Town & Country that had a dual-stage air bag inflator and the other involved a 2004 Kia Optima with a single-stage inflator. Both air bag inflators were manufactured by ARC.

During the evaluation the ODI gathered information from ARC about which air bag module manufacturers used the subject ARC inflators and requested information from the identified air bag module manufacturers about which vehicle manufacturers used modules with the subject ARC inflators. That process identified additional affected vehicle manufacturers, including General Motors.

According to the defect report, GM will be recalling certain 2008–2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles for front driver airbag inflators which may have been installed either as original equipment or as part of a replacement driver airbag module during service. These airbags could contain a manufacturing defect that may result in an inflator rupture during deployment. If the inflator ruptures it could cause metal fragments to pass through the airbag and into the vehicle, potentially causing injury or death to vehicle occupants.

Dealers will inspect and replace the driver’s air bag module as necessary. GM’s number for this recall is N212349040 and the NHTSA campaign number is 21V-782.

2021 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021 Buick Enclave Front Air Bags May Not Deploy Properly

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General Motors will be contacting the owners of certain 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021 Buick Enclave SUVs, about a problem that could result in the front air bag not deploying properly. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out beginning of August 2021.

According to the defect report, during a weekly service programming system (SPS) audit, it was discovered that a small number of 2021 Chevy and Buick models may have been manufactured with the incorrect sensing diagnostic module (SDM) data calibration. The data files were corrected in the SPS system and the problem was reported to GM’s safety program. Their investigation found a small number of 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021 Buick Enclave vehicles may have received the same incorrect data and decided to conduct a safety recall.

General Motors will be contacting the owners of affected vehicles with instructions to update the calibration software in the SDM. GM’s number for this recall is N212340220 and the NHTSA campaign number is 21V-472

VW / Jeep – Illuminated Airbag Warning

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An illuminated airbag warning light in certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles could mean an airbag crash sensor needs replacement.

ZF North America, the manufacturer of Remote Accelerometer Sensors (RAS) installed in these vehicles, are recalling certain RAS built from a specific production period. According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, soldering connections inside the sensors may have been damaged due to exposure to higher than expected temperatures during manufacturing. As reported by FCA and VW, if present in a vehicle, an affected airbag crash sensor may not communicate correctly with the airbag control module. If this occurs, the airbag warning light will illuminate.

Warning: There is a risk of delayed airbag deployment during a frontal crash or a risk of a non-deployment in low speed collisions.

Those receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the air bag crash sensor replaced. Chrysler’s number for this recall is V63. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 69AL. The NHTSA campaign number is 20E-052.

Ford Explorer And Lincoln Aviator Airbag Deployment Problem

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Ford have identified a problem affecting the seat back side airbags in a small number of 2020 Ford Explorer and 2020 Lincoln Aviator vehicles.

According to the defect report, the front seat back sub-assemblies may have been placed in the wrong work in progress rack after a machine interruption. Some of the DC runner nuts may have not been torqued, leaving the air bag and seat back module not fully secured. The problem could delay the positioning of the air bag cushioning and the deployment of the airbag could be affected.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return their their Ford or Lincoln dealer so that they can verify that the fasteners have been properly tightened. Ford’s number for this recall is 20S48 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-497.

GM & Chevy Airbag Safety Problem

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General Motors has decided that a defect relating to vehicle safety exists in certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab trucks. There is a chance that the retainer ring inside the passenger airbag module was damaged during the assembly process and may allow gas to escape during an airbag inflation. This would reduce the amount of gas available to fill the airbag, increasing the risk of injury to passengers during certain crashes.

Dealers will correct the problem by replacing the passenger side air bag module. GM’s number for this recall is N182198820 and the NHTSA campaign number is 18V-868.

Porsche Boxster, Cayman & 911 Seat Mounted Airbag Failure

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Porsche will be contacting the owners of certain 2017 718 Boxster, 718 Cayman, and 911 vehicles regarding a defect affecting the seat mounted side air bag inflators. According to the defect report, Porsche may have been supplied with air bag initiators with deviations in the generant mix ratio. If the mix ratio does not meet specification, the initiators may not function properly, possibly leading to a non-deployment condition during a crash.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the affected air bag modules replaced. For more information about the problem, owners are asked to contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche’s number for this recall is AG10 and the NHTSA campaign number is 16V-946.

Volvo Airbag Safety Problem

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Volvo has received information from their airbag supplier regarding an issue affecting the front driver, front passenger and front seat side airbags. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, the generant mix ratio of the inflators may be out of specifications and could result in non-deployment of the airbag.

The vehicles affected by this problem include:

Owners will be asked to return to their dealership to have their vehicles airbags inspected and replaced as necessary. For more information about the problem, owners are asked to contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo’s number for this recall is R89712 and the NHTSA campaign number is 16V-918.

Toyota Avalon & Toyota Camry Air Bag May Be Incorrectly Installed

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A small number of 2016 Toyota Avalon and 2017 Toyota Camry owners will be contacted by the manufacturer concerning a problem affecting their vehicles front passenger knee airbag. According to the defect report, the airbag module may have been installed with the incorrect fasteners. The mounting holes could become damaged and the fasteners could loosen over time. If this happens, airbag performance will be decreased, increasing the risk of injury during an accident.

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fasteners, and replace the instrument panel brace and body bracket, if necessary. Owners wanting more information about the problem are asked to contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is G05 and the NHTSA campaign number is 16V-906.