ARC & Delphi Automotive’s airbags are allegedly defective and pose serious safety risks, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The airbags were manufactured in China, Mexico and Knoxville, Tennessee. A dozen major carmakers use these airbags; BMW, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Stellantis, Tesla, Toyota and Volkswagen.
Why are the airbags defective?
According to the NHTSA, the inflator devices in ARC & Delphi Automotive’s airbags can explode when deployed, causing “metal debris to be forcefully ejected into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.”
A rupturing airbag inflator poses a serious risk of severe injury or death to vehicle passengers. The NHTSA has reported seven people being injured and one death due to the airbag rupturing.
The NHTSA investigation revealed that the airbag rupturing may occur due to a “weld slag produced by the friction welding manufacturing process,” according to the administration’s report.
If the weld slag becomes dislodged in the inflator system, it can cause a blockage upon the airbag deploying. A blockage can cause over pressurization and lead to an airbag rupture, expelling fragments or shrapnel from the inflator onto the passengers.
NHTSA pushes to recall ARC & Delphi airbags
In April 2023, the NHTSA urged ARC and Delphi Automotive to recall the vehicles containing the defective airbags, citing an “unreasonable risk of death or injury” according to the letter. However, ARC has refused.
On Sept. 5, 2023, the NHTSA issued a decision to have a public meeting on recalling 41 million ARC Automotive airbags and 11 million Delphi airbags. The public meeting will be held at DOT headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 5, 2023.
The recall would include ARC’s frontal hybrid, toroidal driver and passenger inflator airbags manufactured from 2000 through January 2018, and driver hybrid, toroidal inflators manufactured by Delphi. Delphi airbags are manufactured by a licensing agreement with ARC.
Approximately 12 vehicle manufacturers have used the airbags, including the following:
- BMW of North America, LLC
- FCA US LLC
- Ford Motor Company
- General Motors, LLC
- Hyundai Motor America, Inc.
- Kia America, Inc.
- Maserati North America, Inc.
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
- Tesla Inc.
- Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
ARC has rejected the NHTSA’s initial findings that the airbags were defective.
Diligence in Airbag Safety after Takata
The NHTSA is exercising caution especially after the Takata airbag recall, which was the biggest automotive recall in history with 70 million vehicles included in the recall, sending the company into bankruptcy in 2017.
Takata’s airbags were found to explode violently and suddenly, even with no instance of a crash. Regulators determined that Takata’s airbags contained a propellant that could deteriorate over time due to humidity exposure. Over a dozen deaths in the U.S. occurred as a result to Takata’s defective airbag.
Questions About an ARC or Delphi Airbag Injury Lawsuit? Contact a Johnson//Becker Lawyer for a Free Case Review.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a recalled ARC or Delphi airbag, you may want to speak with the lawyers at Johnson//Becker. We are currently accepting new ARC and Delphi airbag recall lawsuits across the country, and you may be entitled to financial compensation.
We offer a Free Case Evaluation. Please contact us using the form below or by calling us at (800) 279-6386.
We would be honored to speak with you and respond promptly to every inquiry we receive.
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