General Motors is calling back more cars including the 2015 Equinox, Camaro and Malibu models owing to reported issues with the Takata side air bags.
An additional 400 cars to be recalled due to Takata air bag problems is reflective of an escalating issue with no short-term solution in sight.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims that the front-seat mounted side impact air bags have the potential to rupture when inflated. Moreover, the failure of the air bags to inflate could enhance the risk of injury to the passengers.
The reported problem with the air bags is that the inflators could rupture throwing shrapnel into passengers and drivers. This recall expansion is indicative of the fact that this air bag problem is growing, newer models are also being affected and side air bags are also being affected. General Motors is expected to start calling its customers for the recall soon.
The defect in the air bag was brought to the fore during testing at a Takata factory in Mexico. This compelled GM to call back some 2015 Cadillac XTS, Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Camaro, GMC Terrain and Chevrolet Malibu, as per records issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Some experts opine that the air bags alone cannot be blamed. Other factors that could cause this explosive defect include proper sealing of passenger sections against humidity. Hence, the recall presently is targeted on customers/car owners from those geographies which get high absolute humidity and persistent heat.
These regions include Puerto Rico, Florida, Hawaii, US Virgin Islands, and the Outlying US territories, Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama. Over 19 million cars across the territories of the US have been called backed because of defective Takata air bags.
Takata also issued a statement that it has enhanced the manufacture of replacement air bag kits to 1 million a month.