DETROIT (AP) – General Motors (GM) is recalling nearly 900 vehicles in the United States (US) and Canada with Takata air bag inflators that could explode and hurl shrapnel in a crash.
The recall covers certain Chevrolet Camaro, Sonic and Volt vehicles as well as the Buick Verano, all from the 2013 model year. Some 2013 Chevrolet Trax versions in Canada also are included.
The company said in documents posted yesterday by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the driver’s front air bag inflator can explode in a crash due to a manufacturing defect.
The inflators are among a group made by Takata that is under investigation by the agency but has not previously been recalled. Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash.
But the chemical can deteriorate over time and explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.
At least 26 people have been killed in the US by the inflators since May of 2009, and more than 30 have died world-wide including people in Malaysia and Australia. In addition, about 400 people have been injured.
Potential for the dangerous malfunction led to the largest series of auto recalls in US history, with at least 67 million Takata inflators involved. The US government said that millions have not been repaired.
About 100 million inflators have been recalled worldwide. The exploding air bags sent Takata Corp of Japan into bankruptcy.
The air bags in the GM recall have a moisture-absorbing chemical called a dessicant and were not part of previous recalls.
GM said in documents posted by the government that the problem is limited to a specific lot of inflators made by Takata, and that other vehicles are not affected.
But Takata air bags with a dessicant are under investigation by NHTSA because they have the potential to explode and expel shrapnel.
The investigation opened in 2021 covers more than 30 million inflators in over 200 models from 20 car and truck makers, including GM.
