A dozen auto-makers, including Volkwagen (VW), are under pressure to recall millions of defective ARC airbag inflators that can explode and eject metal shrapnel.
Need a Texas Volkswagen (VW) Airbag Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you were injured or a loved one died when a VW airbag exploded or failed to deploy, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
What is the Problem?
Volkswagen (VW) and ARC Automotive Inc. are facing lawsuits involving potentially defective airbag inflators that can explode and eject sharp pieces of metal, causing severe injuries or death to the driver and passengers inside the vehicle.
What Are ARC Airbag Inflators?
Volkswagen (VW) and 11 other auto-makers installed airbag inflators that were manufactured by ARC Automotive and its licensee, Delphi Automotive Systems LLC. About 52 million airbag inflators made by these companies could be defective, according to U.S. safety officials.
When Were The Airbag Inflators Manufactured?
ARC and Delphi manufactured about 52 million defective airbag inflators between 2000 and January 2018. These inflators are dangerous because they can rupture when the airbag deploys, spraying deadly pieces of metal fragments into the vehicle.
Does My VW Have an ARC Airbag Inflator?
Volkswagen and other auto-makers have not yet provided a complete list of vehicle makes and models that were equipped with ARC airbag inflators. Only limited recalls have been announced so far.
A complete list of affected vehicles may be provided in the future by VW and other auto-makers if U.S. auto-safety regulators succeed in forcing ARC and Delphi to recall all 52 million airbag inflators.
Volkswagen Recalls 1,200 VW and Audi Vehicles for ARC Airbags
In July 2022, Volkswagen recalled about 1,200 vehicles due to the risk of passenger ARC airbags exploding and causing severe injury or death.
According to the ARC Airbag Recall:
“During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. An improper air bag deployment may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.”
The recall was announced in response to an email from a dealership employee regarding a claim that an airbag inflator ruptured in a 2016 A3 e-Tron during a crash.
The VW airbag recall involves the following vehicles (recall #69DY):
- 2016 VW Golf Sportwagen
- 2016 VW Golf R
- 2016 VW Golf GTI
- 2016 VW Golf A7
- 2016 VW E Golf
VW also recalled the following Audi vehicles (recall #61C1):
- 2016 Audi TT Roadster
- 2016 Audi TT Coupe
- 2016 Audi S3 Sedan
- 2016 Audi R8 Coupe
- 2016 Audi A3 Sedan
- 2016 Audi A3 Etron
- 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet
ARC Airbag Explosion Reported in Turkey
U.S. safety officials reported 1 incident of a passenger-side ARC airbag inflator that exploded in October 2017 in a 2015 Volkswagen Golf in Turkey. No injuries were reported.
What is the Risk?
After an 8-year safety investigation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that about 52 million airbag inflators were defective because they could rupture and explode.
The problem is that ARC Automotive used a manufacturing process called “friction welding” to seal together a metal canister for the airbag inflator. This canister contains explosive chemicals that are supposed to produce gases that rapidly inflate the airbag. Instead, welding debris can sometimes plug up an exit hole and trap gases inside the metal canister, causing it to blow apart and eject metal fragments.
Deaths & Injuries Linked to ARC Airbag Ruptures
Between 2009 and March 2023, at least 2 deaths and 7 serious injuries were linked to ARC airbag inflators that ruptured and exploded, according to the NHTSA Investigation Report.
ARC Updates Manufacturing Process in January 2018
No injuries or deaths have been linked to airbag inflators that were manufactured after January 2018, which is when ARC Automotive updated their manufacturing process to fix a problem with welding debris being left behind inside the airbag inflator.
Types of Serious Injuries Linked to ARC Airbags
- Bleeding to death
- Lacerations
- Metal shrapnel injuries
- Hit by metal in the face, neck, head, chest or body
- Blindness
- Scarring
- Injuries linked to airbag failing to inflate
- Head injuries
- Death
Need a Volkswagen (VW) Airbag Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
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