Submitted via IRC for Bytram
Takata Airbag Recalls Widen To Potentially Affect Other Types Of Airbag
The Takata airbag case has become the largest product recall in history, caused over 20 deaths, and cost many billions of dollars. Replacement efforts are still ongoing, and sadly, the body count continues to rise. Against this backdrop, further recalls have been announced affecting another type of Takata airbag.
The recall affects BMW 3 Series vehicles, produced between 1997 and 2000. Notably, it appears these cars may have been built before Takata’s fateful decision to produce airbag inflators using ammonium nitrate propellants, known for their instability. Instead, these vehicles likely used Takata’s proprietary tetrazole propellant, or Non-Azide Driver Inflators (NADI). These were developed in the 1990s, and considered a great engineering feat at the time. They were eventually phased out around 2001 for cost reasons, leading to the scandal that rolls on to this day.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 08 2019, @06:52PM (2 children)
If only there were a way to recall all the airbags in D.C.!!!
(Score: 2) by drussell on Friday November 08 2019, @06:57PM (1 child)
I believe there is an a pre-scheduled opportunity on November 3, 2020....
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 09 2019, @12:34AM
Unfortunately, just as in vehicles, they will only be replaced by other airbags on that date - and probably equally defective ones.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by drussell on Friday November 08 2019, @06:55PM (1 child)
This summer a recall notice arrived for my mom's 2004 Honda CR-V...
...to replace the inflator module section in the airbag module (modules? I don't recall if it supposedly affects only one side) that was already replaced about 5 years ago in one of the original, highly publicized recalls.
Yes, the replacement unit has yet another another defect severe enough to require a recall and re-replacement.
Of course, at least it is "at your convenience" and at no charge. Yes, yes, how convenient....
:facepalm:
(Score: 2) by driverless on Saturday November 09 2019, @12:13PM
Whoever made the decision to use a notoriously problem-prone propellant like ammonium nitrate should be taken outside and shot. We have nearly a hundred years of experience in bad things happening with ammonium nitrate stored in non-carefully-controlled conditions [amazonaws.com], including an equally big one in the US [hdnux.com].