Recall Alert for Over 7 GM Million Trucks and SUVs With Exploding Airbags
Your General Motors truck could be at risk! GM is issuing a recall for over 7 million pickup trucks, including the Chevy Colorado, GMC Sierra, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and more due to Takata airbag inflators.
General Motors issues massive recall for Takata airbag inflators
According to AP News, over 27 people have been killed worldwide by dangerous Takata airbag inflators. 18 of those deaths occurred in the U.S. As a result, the U.S. government told GM to issue a recall for 6 million vehicles in the U.S. that have the dangerous Takata airbag inflators. This recall was then expanded to 7 million trucks and SUVs worldwide.
GM mentioned that they will not fight a recall even if it believes the vehicles are safe. The recall also could cost them about $1.2 billion, which is over a third of its net income so far for the year.
But the automaker petitioned the agency four times, beginning in 2016, to avoid a recall. GM contended that the airbag inflator canisters have been safe on the road and during testing.
But recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) denied the petitions due to saying the inflators still carry the risk of exploding. Drivers who listed this dangerous issue on NHTSA claimed that the company was putting profits before safety.
Why are Takata airbags dangerous?
Takata airbag inflators have caused the largest amount of automobile recalls in United States history. They have been responsible for at least 63 million inflator recalls. Now, over 11.1 million Takata inflators haven’t been fixed in the U.S. Also, over 100 million inflators have been recalled worldwide.
The inflators are dangerous because Takata used volatile aluminum nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate the airbags during an accident. But the chemical can deteriorate when exposed to heat and humidity.
As a result, they may explode with too much force, causing the metal canister to explode and spew shrapnel in random directions. The sharp metal fragments can injure drivers and passengers.
Which General Motors vehicles are at risk?
The recall for GM vehicles with Takata airbag inflators include all full-size pickup trucks and SUVs from 2007 to 2014, including the Chevy Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickups.
While the Chevy Silverado is GM’s top-selling vehicle, other popular vehicles at risk include the Chevy Tahoe, Suburban, and Avalanche. The Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon, and GMC Sierra are also at risk.
GM has 30 days to give the NHTSA a proposed timeline for notifying vehicle owners and for starting the recall. General Motors says that based on the scientific evidence, there is no danger but will comply with the NHTSA.
However, in 2015, Takata declared that the GM front passenger inflators were defective. Recalls drove the Japanese compact into bankruptcy and caused the company to face criminal charges. Eventually, it was purchased by a Chinese-owned auto parts supplier.
If you don’t want to wait to see if your General Motors truck or SUV is at risk, you can enter your 17-digit vehicle identification here. If your vehicle is at risk, GM should fix the problem for free after scheduling a maintenance appointment.
