According to media reports, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on December 18 that it will not immediately mandate the recall of approximately 50 million vehicles from 13 automakers. Instead, it will conduct further investigations into defective airbag inflators used in these vehicles.
In July, NHTSA stated that these vehicles posed a severe safety risk and considered requiring automakers to initiate recalls. After an eight-year government investigation, the issue has been linked to eight fatalities in the U.S.
On December 18, NHTSA explained: "The agency seeks to gather more information about the technical and engineering differences among the airbag inflators installed in vehicles from various manufacturers, as well as the process differences between related factories and production lines."
At an October 2023 hearing, NHTSA argued for the recall of inflators made by two airbag manufacturers, citing their potential to rupture and release debris that could injure vehicle occupants. However, following objections from automakers in December 2023, the agency has delayed making a final decision.
In July, NHTSA emphasized: "Common sense dictates that metal fragments flying out pose an unreasonable risk to safety, leading to injuries and fatalities."
Major automakers, including General Motors, Toyota, and Volkswagen, as well as the two airbag manufacturers, opposed NHTSA's recall proposal in December 2023.
Reports in October 2023 revealed that at least 20 million GM vehicles may be affected by the issue. Additionally, Stellantis used defective airbag inflators in 4.9 million vehicles, one of which ruptured in a 2009 incident.
Automakers and airbag manufacturers argued that the risk posed by the defect is minimal and questioned NHTSA's analysis and rationale for the recall.
Between 2000 and early 2018, numerous automakers, including Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, and Porsche, used the implicated inflators in their vehicles, totaling 13 manufacturers.
