It’s believed that nearly 4 million Kia vehicles fitted with air inflators could explode in the event of a crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), after the agency reported that at least two people died because of this. piece, for which a pull request was issued.
Highlights
- Kia vehicles — manufactured between 2000 and 2016 — are fitted with pneumatic inflators made by ARC Automotive, a Tennessee-based company that, according to federal documents cited by The Wall Street Journal, can explode when deployed, sending metal fragments into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. car.
- It wasn’t yet known how many Kia vehicles were equipped with this part, but the agency’s recall request to ARC Automotive earlier this month cites a 2014 accident involving a 2004 Kia Optima in which an airbag detonated and injured the driver. face and legs.
- The subpoena also cites two fatal accidents, including a 2016 crash in Canada involving a 2009 Hyundai Elantra and a 2021 crash involving a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse.
- The part, which is used by at least 15 auto brands, has led to vehicle recalls from BMW, Ford, General Motors and Volkswagen.
- ARC Motors responded to the recall request saying it “strongly disagrees” with the agency’s conclusion, indicating that it found no defects in the part after testing.
- Neither ARC Automotive nor Kia immediately responded to a request for comment from Forbes, though Kia did not issue a recall or warn drivers of a potential problem.
A large number
994,763 That’s the number of vehicles General Motors recalled earlier this month because of potentially explosive airbags, after a driver suffered facial injuries in a crash in March.
the shadow
It also called on NHTSA to recall 67 million airbags made by Takata, after an investigation found that they could explode when deployed. According to a 2021 report, these airbags have killed at least two people.
main context
NHTSA has launched an investigation into ARC Automotive’s airbag inflating after a fatal 2016 crash in Canada. The agency estimates that at least 67 million inflators were installed in vehicles as of January 2018. According to the agency, ARC Automotive created a design flaw in the air bellows that caused the airbags to overpressure and often caused debris to be dropped from the inflator to the outside. The agency cited nine incidents—including the two fatalities—that resulted in the airbag detonation between January 2009 and March 2023. ARC Automotive denied the agency’s reports, but said it was “deeply determined” to cooperate with further investigations.
Translated article from the American magazine Forbes – Author: T Roche
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