US Regulators Pause Massive Air Bag Recall for Further Investigation

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reevaluates recall of 50 million ARC air bag inflators after automakers raise technical concerns.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has halted plans for a recall of nearly 50 million air bag inflators made by ARC Automotive Inc., pending further investigation.
NHTSA initially deemed the inflators defective, citing risks of explosion that could send shrapnel into vehicle occupants, linked to at least seven injuries and two deaths since 2009.
Automakers have argued that technical and manufacturing differences across vehicles and production plants may mean not all inflators are defective, prompting the agency to reconsider the recall's scope.
In January, NHTSA reported that seven inflators ruptured in real-world scenarios and 23 failed during testing, with issues tied to welding and pressure inconsistencies.
The agency plans to collect additional data from ARC, automakers, and air bag module manufacturers to determine the appropriate course of action.