Illustrating what could happen to consumers who do not bring their cars in for repairs, NHTSA’s testing have revealed the failure of hundreds of Takata airbag inflators.
According to the feds, cited by Bloomberg, out of the 245,000 airbag inflators pulled from cars and tested, 660 ruptured. That’s nearly 1 in 371 and it’s showing the potential risk posing for drivers and occupants, as these parts tend to degrade over time and explode with excessive force in the event of a crash, spreading shrapnel throughout the cabin.
Takata Motor Corp. have shown their concern for the public’s safety, in an e-mailed statement: “We extend our sincerest apologies to those who have been affected by the inflator failures. As outlined in the report delivered to NHTSA, Takata has focused extensive resources on researching and testing of airbag inflators, including working with independent, world-class technical experts to identify the causes of the inflator failures as they arose and taking action based on the best available understanding.“
The automakers whose cars have been equipped with the defective Takata airbags are now recalling the vehicles in waves, starting with the oldest first, but it’s already too late for 15 people who lost their lives globally, including 10 in the United States, and more than 100 who have been injured by the plastic and metal shrapnel.
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