ARC Airbag Inflator Recalls and Incidents

Recalls

Subject: Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture
NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V189000
Dated received: March 17, 2017

BMW of North America, Inc. (BMW) is recalling certain 2017 X5 sDrive35i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 xDrive35d, and X5 xDrive40e vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag modules using certain air bag inflators that may not vent properly in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag.

Subject: Driver’s Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode
NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V019000
Dated received: January 16, 2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being overpressurized.

Subject: Driver’s Air Bag Inflator May Explode
NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V782000
Dated received: October 7, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver’s air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Subject: Driver’s Air Bag Inflator May Explode
NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V246000
Dated received: April 14, 2022

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver’s air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Subject: Air Bag Inflator May Explode or Deploy Improperly
NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V543000
Dated received: July 27, 2022

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly.

Subject: Driver’s Air Bag Inflator May Explode
NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000
Dated received: May 10, 2023

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver’s air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Incidents

Per NHTSA’s April 27, 2023 recall request letter

On January 29, 2009, a driver side air bag inflator ruptured in a (MY) 2002 Chrysler Town and Country minivan in Ohio. The air bag module was produced by Key Safety Systems and used a dual stage ARC inflator. The inflator was manufactured in Knoxville. The driver was severely injured during the incident. On April 8, 2014, a driver side air bag inflator ruptured in a MY 2004 Kia Optima in New Mexico. The air bag module was manufactured by Delphi and had a single stage ARC inflator. The inflator was manufactured in Knoxville. The driver sustained injuries to her face and legs. On September 22, 2017, a driver side air bag inflator ruptured in a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu in Pennsylvania. The air bag module was produced by ZF-TRW and used a dual stage ARC inflator. The inflator was manufactured in Xian, China. The driver sustained facial and head injuries. On August 15, 2021, a driver side air bag inflator in a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse ruptured in Michigan. The air bag module was produced by Toyoda Gosei and used a dual stage ARC inflator. The inflator was manufactured in Reynosa, Mexico. The air bag module was a replacement module. The vehicle had been in a prior frontal collision and the original air bag module deployed with no issue. The original air bag module was, also, produced by Toyoda Gosei and used a dual stage ARC inflator. The driver sustained fatal injuries. 5 On October 20, 2021, a driver side air bag inflator in a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse ruptured in Kentucky. The air bag module was produced by Toyoda Gosei and used a dual stage ARC inflator. The inflator was manufactured in Reynosa, Mexico. The driver sustained facial injuries. On December 18, 2021, a passenger side air bag inflator ruptured in a 2016 Audi A3 eTron in California. The air bag module was produced by Joyson Safety Systems and used a dual stage ARC inflator. The inflator was manufactured in Reynosa, Mexico. The driver and passenger were injured. On March 22, 2023, a driver side air bag inflator in a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse ruptured in Michigan. The air bag module was produced by Toyoda Gosei and used a dual stage ARC inflator. The inflator was manufactured in Reynosa, Mexico. The driver sustained facial injuries. Based on certain of these field incidents, vehicle manufacturers conducted the recalls listed above. In addition, NHTSA is aware of at least two field incidents outside the United States: On July 11, 2016, a driver side air bag inflator ruptured in a MY 2009 Hyundai Elantra in Canada. The air bag module was produced by Mobis and used single-stage ARC air bag inflator. The inflator was manufactured in Xian, China. The driver sustained fatal injuries. On October 16, 2017, a passenger side air bag inflator ruptured in a MY 2015 Volkswagen Golf in Turkey. The air bag module was produced by Key Safety Systems (now known as Joyson Safety Systems) and used a single stage ARC inflator. The inflator was manufactured in Knoxville. The driver sustained no injuries. There was no passenger in the vehicle.