The Takata airbag recall has been the largest automotive recall in history. It has lasted over a decade and has resulted in the recall and repair of millions of airbags in millions of vehicles worldwide. The recall involves airbags that were produced by Takata and were installed in vehicles from dozens of automakers. The chemical used as the propellant to deploy the airbag can deteriorate over time, especially in geographical regions where there are high heat and humidity. The compound can then explode with too much force, sending metal shrapnel flying through a vehicle. This shrapnel has led to more than two dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries worldwide.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration posted by Bloomberg, it was determined that some 56 million more Takata airbags would not need to be recalled. The data shows that the airbags do not pose a danger.
Instead of issuing a recall, the agency will instead monitor the safety of those specific inflators.
The decision means that more than a dozen automakers who used components that were issued as replacements for the recalled Takata gear will not have to recall vehicles and replace the airbags.
In 2015, a consent order signed by Takata required it and other auto companies to provide the NHTSA evidence on the long-term safety of parts that contain a moisture-absorbing chemical. This report had to be produced by the end of 2019.
After reviewing the test data, the agency made the call that most of the vehicles do not pose an imminent threat to their drivers or passengers.
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