Tag Archives: improper airbag deployment

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.

2017 Jeep Cherokee Airbag Safety Defect

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Chrysler will be contacting the owners of certain 2017 Jeep Cherokee vehicles regarding a problem that could compromise the airbag safety system. According to the defect report, the affected vehicles were manufactured with driver’s knee airbags that may have improper welds. The problem could result in inadequate airbag inflation or possible additional injuries to the driver under certain types of crashes.

Dealers will correct the problem by replacing the driver’s knee air bag module. For more information about the recall, owners are asked to contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is S84 and the NHTSA campaign number is 16V-799.

Chrysler Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) Problem

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Chrysler will be contacting the owners of approximately 1.5 million Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep owners, about a problem affecting the Occupant Restraint Control (ORC). According to the defect report, a short could develop in the ORC module and prevent the frontal airbags, side airbags, and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.

The vehicles affected by this problem include:

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Another NHTSA Investigation Into Airbag Safety

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have upgraded an investigation into exploding airbag inflators made by ARC Automotive Incorporated after a Canadian woman was killed during a low speed accident. According to a spokesman for Transport Canada, the woman may have survived the accident had she not suffered shrapnel injuries. The NHTSA began looking at ARC airbags last year after reports that an Ohio woman was seriously injured by a rupturing airbag when her 2002 Chrysler Town and Country minivan crashed. Investigators say another injury involving a 2004 Kia Optima also had an ARC inflator installed from the same factory.

The NHTSA are focusing on airbags made between 2000 and September 2004, but do not believe that humidity is the cause of the problem. The probe into the ARC inflators is similar to the Takata issue which resulted in 69 million Takata airbags recalled in the U.S.

View the full details of the NHTSA ARC Airbag Investigation HERE.

Chevy Impala – Airbag Electrical Problem

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General Motors have decided that a defect relating to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2009-2010 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. The front passenger seat frame could rub against and damage the passenger presence sensor (PPS) module wiring, causing the system to improperly suppress the front passenger airbag. Drivers should be alerted of a problem in three different ways.

  • The service airbag message will be displayed in the DIC.
  • The airbag telltale light may be illuminated.
  • The indicator will show that the passenger airbag is off even if a passenger is in the front passenger seat.

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