Airbag Replacements Are Still Using Suspect Material

It has taken about a decade, but Takata, the Japanese airbag supplier for many, if not most, vehicle brands on the market, has finally admitted to their products having defects. More than 34 million cars in Utah and all over the nation will be recalled in the near future due to these defects. This will be the largest automotive recall to ever take place in American history.

This is a great step that will help create better safety on the roads, but issues are still being found. Auto accidents in Utah and elsewhere have taken place because of these faulty airbags.

The replacement parts recently put out by Takata for the airbags contain a suspect material, ammonium nitrate, which was believed to be the cause for the initial issues.

The problem with this material is that humidity and moisture breaks it down much easier than other materials, causing the bags to explode unexpectedly. Multiple auto accidents have taken place already due to this chemical breakdown. There have been six deaths and more than 100 injuries, which have been linked to the defective airbags.

According to Nurenberg Paris, “Former Takata engineers told the New York Times last year that they raised concerns more than 10 years ago that the ammonium nitrate used to inflate the airbag can degrade over time if exposed to high humidity and temperature swings.  This can cause ‘aggressive combustion’ of the airbag.”

Another major issue that is happening during these airbag “misfires” is metal shrapnel (debris that are discharged once the chemicals have broken down). This is a definite cause for concern among motorists who have Takata’s airbag systems installed in their vehicles. Auto accidents in Utah and all over the U.S. have a greater chance of occurring because of these systems.

In 2013, Americans suffered more than 30,000 fatalities due to auto-related accidents. There are already enough auto accidents because of other causes, why add another? It seems that many people in the world have differing priorities, but human lives should be the world’s top priority.

Whether you have suffered a car accident from a defective airbag system or another cause, there are qualified people in Utah that can help you if you are seriously injured. 

No one should have to cut life short or significantly alter their lifestyle for an unexpected reason. However, if this does happen, there should be some recompense for the family and friends of the person involved.

Rhett Ahlander is a legal writer reporter for Fusion 360, a Content Marketing Agency. Information provided by Robert J Debry.