GM is recalling about 6 million full-size pickup trucks and SUVs worldwide
GM is recalling full-size pickup trucks and SUVs from 2007 through 2014 model years equipped with the Takata airbags. The recalled SUVs include the Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL along with the Chevy Suburban and Tahoe. Full-size GM trucks that are part of the recall include the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, and 3500.
Stating that they feel their airbags are safe, GM has petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) four times since 2016 to avoid recalls. The recall is estimated to cost GM $1.2 billion dollars. In the past, GM has stated that the airbag inflator canisters have been safe, but they will not contest the ruling.
“Based on this information and information provided to the petition’s public docket, NHTSA concluded that the GM inflators in question are at risk of the same type of explosion after long-term exposure to high heat and humidity as other recalled Takata inflators,” the agency said.
Worldwide, 100-million airbags have been recalled. So far, 27 people have been killed worldwide, including 18 in the U.S. It is estimated that over 11-million vehicles equipped with Takata airbags have not yet been recalled. The issue comes from the actual design of the airbag system and its use of ammonium nitrate. If it’s exposed to too much humidity and heat, it can explode with far too much pressure. This can blow apart the metal canister sending shrapnel flying into the driver. GM does have a replacement airbag system that uses different “safer” reactive chemicals.
Several people have reported serious injurious, worldwide.
Base on these (and many other) failings Takata went out of business a few years back. This puts liability squarely on the automaker’s lap. GM owners should check to see if their vehicles have been recalled by going to https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls. Once there, they must add their 17-digit vehicle identification number.
