Another Takata Airbag Recall, This Time With Volkswagen Beetles
The Takata airbag recall is the largest automotive recall in history, and more vehicles are still out there with faulty igniters that could send shrapnel through the cab in a crash. But new ones are still getting added to the list. NBC reports.
Out of an abundance of caution. Volkswagen is recalling over 105,00 Beetles to replace the faulty igniters. Models from 2012-2014 are under the recall. The trouble with Takata igniters is that the chemical used to inflate the airbag can degrade in humidity and heat. This makes it burn too quickly and causes the canister containing the bag to explode.
Volkswagen told the government that their version of the inflators also contains a chemical that absorbs moisture to put the risk of explosion at a safe level. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which handles vehicle recalls, expressed a concern that the second chemical might lose its ability to remove moisture over time. Because of this concern, Volkswagen is submitting to the recall request.
Around 100 million of these inflators have been recalled all over the world, most of them in the United States. The government says that more than 11.1 million inflators have not been repaired yet. If you plan on buying a used car in the future, check to see if the airbag inflator has been replaced by searching the vehicle’s VIN on the NHTSA website.
