The story of Takata airbags

[mdm]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/featur...air-bag-crisis

I believe twins weren't affected, but the story is still worth reading - to realize how decisions about safety critical components are made by some in the car industry.

[mav1178]

at least seat belts are safe....

RIP Takata.

[mdm]

By the way:
"One would think that carmakers would keep well away from anything resembling a defective airbag inflator. However, that is just not the case. Until 2019, automakers can use defective airbag inflators in their new-car products. And, four automakers have opted to do so, Toyota, Volkswagen, Fiat Chrysler and Mitsubishi."


"Of the four automakers still using bad airbag inflators, Toyota and Fiat Chrysler flatly refused to identify the vehicles in which they are installed. Volkswagen said installed the defective safety devices in its 2016 Volkswagen CC, 2016 Audi TT and the 2017 Audi R8. Mitsubishi used the bad bags on its 2016 and 2017 i-MiEV electric cars. Interestingly, though Mitsu is relying on the airbags in its i-MiEV, there have been so few models of the electric sold that its impact isn’t high.

Meantime, Toyota informed the Senate panel that it expected to install the defective airbags in 175,000 cars destined for the U.S. market. And, Fiat Chrysler said at least one of its current models contained bad bags in its passenger-side devices. No other automakers responded to requests for information. Subaru referred all questions to Takata."



source: http://www.examiner.com/article/four...-senate-report

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by mav1178

at least seat belts are safe....

RIP Takata.

So are the vast majority of the airbags made.

That article has some facts, some exaggerations and some outright sensationalism.
One of the very first references set the tone for the whole article:
"Air bags aren’t filled with air. They’re filled with gas created by a burning propellant. Propellants are used in jet aircraft to produce thrust; in the interiors of gun chambers; and in mining and demolition."
Although technical correct in that it is an expanding gas the comparison to jet fuel, gun powder and mining explosives is way over the top and pure fear mongering.
What Takata did was criminal and extreme but to create a fear of airbags is just as bad. Everybody needs to understand that what happened there is not the industry norm or standard.
Now, I confess that I did not read every word and may have missed where they said the same as me but how many other people will do the same and walk away believing that they are getting jet fuel in the face if the air bag goes off?

Guy the airbags will save your life and Takata did not make ours so all is good.

[mdm]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

They’re filled with gas created by a burning propellant. Propellants are used in jet aircraft to produce thrust; in the interiors of gun chambers; and in mining and demolition."
Although technical correct in that it is an expanding gas the comparison to jet fuel, gun powder and mining explosives is way over the top and pure fear mongering.

Yes, it is over the top, but I think there is a point to it: to help people who don't know how an airbag works understand that there is something like a controlled explosion going on there, and that highest care should be applied to design and production of such part. Many people are not interested how things work, they don't read their car manual (we know very well that even car enthusiasts often don't do that). I wouldn't be surprised if at least 50% of the population thought that an airbag is filled with compressed air and is not much different or dangerous than a party balloon.

I did not have a feeling that it would make people fear airbags, at least minimally sensible people (some fear HFCS or dihydrogen monoxide in their food).

Anyway, I am really surprised that major manufacturers keep using this type of inflator.

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by mav1178

at least seat belts are safe....

RIP Takata.

Remember there was a time when Takata seatbelts were all recalled, also a world record back then. This airbag recall should do them in for good.

[daiheadjai]

I'd be curious to know if the "For Sale" forums suddenly showed an uptick in Takata racing harnesses and seatbelts for sale over the past few months...

[PandaSPUR]

Soo... wtf do car owners with defective airbags do in the meantime?

I just showed this article to my gf since her mom drives an older Honda SUV.

[themadscientist]

Popcorn people they don't like.