Just one day after Takata and the Department of Transportation agreed to the largest recall in history, sources are shedding light on the ways the disgraced auto parts supplier tried to mitigate its airbag problems: Unnamed sources tell Bloomberg that Takata changed its airbag propellant in 2008 to reduce the risk of overly forceful deployment.
The report, attributed to “three people familiar with the matter,” says Takata changed its airbag propellant in the wake of Honda’s first recall for overly forceful airbag deployment in 2008. The changes were said to address the moisture-related degradation of the propellant, which has been linked to the overly forceful airbag deployment that can cause the devices to shoot metal shrapnel at a vehicle’s occupants in a collision. Six deaths and at least 139 injuries have been tied to the defect.
The previously unreported propellant change would explain Takata’s public assurances that its current products are safe, a stance the manufacturer had been reticent to expound upon. The parts supplier made further “improvements” to its propellant as recently as November, though at the time the company denied that the changes had anything to do with safety recalls.
Yesterday’s recall announcement covering 34 million vehicles marks the first time the parts supplier has agreed to expand its recall efforts nationwide. Previous campaigns focused on “high humidity” southern states, under the assumption that regional weather patterns were causing the propellant problems that led to shrapnel ejection. The recall is now the largest in the history of recalls, automotive or otherwise.
Takata’s 2008 action may be seen as further evidence that the company was aware of catastrophic safety issues long before any recall action was taken. Honda’s tiny initial 2008 recall is said to have prompted Takata’s propellant change, and was eventually expanded eight times.
For a complete list of vehicles affected by the Takata airbag recall, and ongoing coverage of the issue, refer to our master Takata article. To check your vehicles for any open recalls, enter your VIN into the NHTSA’s online recall lookup tool.
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