Australian drivers face significant delays for deadly airbag fix

[Express]

Australian drivers face significant delays for deadly airbag fix


Hundreds of thousands of drivers to wait up to three years before Takata components can be rectified.


David McCowen
17 May, 2016



The Takata airbag recall is set to top 100 million vehicles. Photo: Romilly Lockyer


Australian motorists could be forced to drive cars with potentially deadly airbags for the next three years as the Takata scandal deepens.

Car companies are racing to replace potentially deadly airbags in more than 1.2 million cars in Australia before local drivers add to a growing list of people hurt by faulty parts in many popular models.

The largest safety recall in Australian history expanded today as Nissan added more than 40,000 cars to the rapidly growing Takata airbag scandal.

But car companies such as Honda, Mazda and Toyota are struggling to source replacements for the potentially deadly components, leaving hundreds of thousands of drivers waiting up to three years for new airbag parts.

While no one has been hurt in Australia, hundreds of drivers have been injured around the world and more than 10 people have died as recently as March 31 due to faulty airbag inflators produced by the Japanese company.

Flawed Takata-built inflators built with ammonium nitrate propellant have the potential to rupture during a crash, exploding in an uncontrolled fashion that can send shrapnel flying throughout a car's cabin.

Data obtained by Drive reveals how hard car companies are working to address the issue.

Toyota says it repaired 16,162 cars in March alone – more than 500 per day – as it races to address the issue.

While the brand won't say how many it has fixed, Toyota has recalled 260,000 cars in Australia since 2013 to replace potentially faulty components.

But no car company has been hit as hard as Honda, which has recalled 421,351 models across the country since 2013. The Japanese giant says it is fixing cars at a rate of 5000 vehicles per week, and that it still has around 275,000 cars waiting for a fix.

Honda Australia director Stephen Collins says there have been no instances of the components injuring drivers or passengers on local soil.

"We're monitoring that in on ongoing basis," he says. "We've worked very hard with our dealers and also the parts supply to prioritise this as one of our major issues and objectives. We believe over the next 12 months we'll have the majority of cars fixed."

Nissan added 41,154 examples of its Tiida hatch to the sweeping recalls today, taking its total number of recalled models beyond 250,000 cars. A spokesman for the brand says it has addressed the issue in around 40 per cent of cars and that it is working to sort the remaining 150,000 or so models as parts become available.

A lack of replacement parts is core to the Takata problem. The embattled company is struggling to supply manufacturers with components necessary to sort out millions of cars around the world.

Mazda in Australia has found the issue particularly difficult, having sorted just 4585 of 124,632 models in need of attention. A spokeswoman for the brand says Mazda is "still waiting parts for around 66 per cent of the affected models".

Subaru has rectified 3590 of 33,556 vehicles. The brand says the issue will take approximately three years to be sorted.

Fiat Chrysler has replaced a 2966 of 5508 cars so far, while Mercedes-Benz has fixed all 51 models affected by the issue.

BMW is a little busier than its main luxury rival, having replaced inflators in 2076 of its first 3481-strong recall, and 14,904 of 40,253 cars affected by its second campaign.

The scandal is likely to grow significantly in coming months as US safety authorities announced in May they will order a further recall of 35 to 40 million cars equipped with Takata airbags, up from 28.8 million cars already recalled in the US and around 35 million cars worldwide.

Honda flagged earlier this week that a further 21 million vehicles may be recalled worldwide, and that Australian vehicles may be included in the expanded campaign.

Mark Rosekind, an administrator of the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said at the time that examinations of Takata components revealed its chemical inflators are unstable.

"The science clearly shows that these inflators become unsafe over time, faster when exposed to humidity and variations of temperature," he said.

Many cars are being repaired with chemicals known to deteriorate over time, which means they may need to be sorted out again in the future.

For more information on the Takata airbag recalls, visit : http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/in.../itemId/952401


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http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/a...17-gowx73.html

[Yellow_Festiva]

How long before the drivers airbag assembly becomes an item that appears on the routine service schedule I wonder?

Materials deteriorate and break down over time, compressed canisters can slowly start to leak, propellants lose their potency, sensors and electronics fail etc etc etc.

Is it assumed that a 30 year old airbag will have the same life saving abilities as it did when new?

What would be the cost price of an airbag assembly? $40? If that? Put the usual markup on them and make them a 10 yearly item alongside timing belts and tranny flushes. What are we talking? $3-400??

We don't balk at the cost of brakes and rotors when they need changing!

Nothing lasts forever..

I know the above really has nothing to do with the article - just thinking aloud.

[XR6Runner]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

How long before the drivers airbag assembly becomes an item that appears on the routine service schedule I wonder?

Materials deteriorate and break down over time, compressed canisters can slowly start to leak, propellants lose their potency, sensors and electronics fail etc etc etc.

Is it assumed that a 30 year old airbag will have the same life saving abilities as it did when new?

What would be the cost price of an airbag assembly? $40? If that? Put the usual markup on them and make them a 10 yearly item alongside timing belts and tranny flushes. What are we talking? $3-400??

We don't balk at the cost of brakes and rotors when they need changing!

Nothing lasts forever..

I know the above really has nothing to do with the article - just thinking aloud.

Airbag assembly's are actually quite expensive. A new VW Golf airbag goes for almost $2000.

We also had an AUDI TT in the other day with a service reminder for his airbags.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by XR6Runner

Airbag assembly's are actually quite expensive. A new VW Golf airbag goes for almost $2000.

We also had an AUDI TT in the other day with a service reminder for his airbags.

Yes, if they are hardly changed of course the RRP would be that high.

Even so, say that was $2000 every 10 years. That's $200 a year.

What's the RRP on brakes and rotors for a Golf? These are important safety items and would probably need to be changed at least twice over 10 years.

Make them something that is always supplied and continually manufactured and watch the price drop.

The steering wheel alone (not the centre or any plastic components - just the bit you physically grab) had an RRP of near $1000 for my Focus.

What do you think they cost to make?

Interesting comment on the TT. Was the service reminder to replace the assembly? Was the reminder there due to time or due to a fault detected?

[GSP07R]

HANS device and helmet would be cheaper.

[mik]

what brand air bags do our fords use ?

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by mik

what brand air bags do our fords use ?

Aussie fords dont use takata brand airbags. Ranger everest dont either. Seems the american fords do use takata.

Buts mainly japanese manufactures that this effects.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Yes, if they are hardly changed of course the RRP would be that high.

Even so, say that was $2000 every 10 years. That's $200 a year.

What's the RRP on brakes and rotors for a Golf? These are important safety items and would probably need to be changed at least twice over 10 years.

Make them something that is always supplied and continually manufactured and watch the price drop.

The steering wheel alone (not the centre or any plastic components - just the bit you physically grab) had an RRP of near $1000 for my Focus.

What do you think they cost to make?

Interesting comment on the TT. Was the service reminder to replace the assembly? Was the reminder there due to time or due to a fault detected?

Most cars have 6 to 7 airbags - and most require the dismantling of the interior to replace.
It will never be a servicable part.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Most cars have 6 to 7 airbags - and most require the dismantling of the interior to replace.
It will never be a servicable part.

Hence driver only.

The vast majority of the time in most cases there is only one person in the car.

[happy1]

Hi,
Looks like the Takata recall is growing in size, and there seems to be one confirmed death in Australia from airbag shrapnel, and further one person in hospital with injuries.

The recall list in Australia now contains older Mazda BT50, and it would be surprising if the similar Ranger isn't affected also? The US list contains Ranger prior to 2011, and Mustang prior to 2014.

In US the list contains most BMWs from year 2008 to 2013.
So probably not the end of this campaign yet.

[ebv8]

todays paper says they seem to be replacing them with the same faulty part.

my old mans pajero was affected and he put up a stink asking them to disable the airbags and they wouldn't of course due to safety but 1 week later they called him up and said come in for a new airbag....

i'm struggling to find out what is the actual issue, some say the unit explodes and breaks apart and some say there is shrapnel put into the airbag...hard to believe the latter though

[Burnout]

Ammonium Nitrate is very brissent (fast explosive) and cheap to manufacture and use. Lasts for years and years in a sealed environment.
The major part of the issue seems to be the cylinder containing the explosion, which is shattering under the force of the explosion.

[mike_nofx]

You won't have this issue if you buy a used car from a Lebo as they usually remove the airbags and sell them separately.

[xtremerus]

Originally Posted by Burnout

Ammonium Nitrate is very brissent (fast explosive) and cheap to manufacture and use. Lasts for years and years in a sealed environment.
The major part of the issue seems to be the cylinder containing the explosion, which is shattering under the force of the explosion.

Ammonia Nitrate is a fertiliser, not an explosive.
But is a component in some explosives.

[Burnout]

Originally Posted by xtremerus

Ammonia Nitrate is a fertiliser, not an explosive.
But is a component in some explosives.

Up until Howard Govt banned it, Ammonium Nitrate was the major component of the most commonly used explosives in Aust. Any Farmer who had some often made Niropril and used it often.

[GASWAGON]

News this morning said something about the Ammoniam Nitrate getting moisture in it from being exposed to different weather temps over the years.

For some reason the A.N apparently reacts and explodes the air bag cylinder sending shrapnel everywhere.

The air bag assembly becomes faulty after about 6 years.

And also as a quick fix Takata are replacing the new units with the same style old units that will only last another 6 years......WTF???

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by Burnout

Up until Howard Govt banned it, Ammonium Nitrate was the major component of the most commonly used explosives in Aust. Any Farmer who had some often made Niropril and used it often.

Nitropil is used with explosives in mining when they explode huge sections of rock.

They drill very deep holes then pack Nitropil (smells like diesel in very small pellets actually......my old man used to do this for his big excavations to break up hard rock) into the holes with TNT and fuses then walk along way away and press the ignitor and away she all goes!!!

[Danny]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Aussie fords dont use takata brand airbags. Ranger everest dont either. Seems the american fords do use takata.

Buts mainly japanese manufactures that this effects.

Ferrari and BMW affected also.

Autoliv manufactured Falcon airbags I think.

[happy1]

Video clip of lab testing of a faulty Takata airbag:

https://www.wired.com/2015/10/how-re...oding-airbags/

[Tassie f100]

Maybe if owners suspect the vehicle has a suspect airbag it would be better to have it removed.After all we have been driving cars for years without airbags without coming to grief.The more safety features fitted to cars the stupider some drivers seem to get

[snap0964]

Originally Posted by Burnout

Up until Howard Govt banned it, Ammonium Nitrate was the major component of the most commonly used explosives in Aust. Any Farmer who had some often made Niropril and used it often.

IIRC all you had to do is mix it with some diesel ?

[Interceptor]

Ammonium nitrate isnt *banned*, its just a LOT more heavily restricted.....

Using AN to make things go bang takes a bit more than just combining it with a liquid fuel

[Danny]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Maybe if owners suspect the vehicle has a suspect airbag it would be better to have it removed.After all we have been driving cars for years without airbags without coming to grief.The more safety features fitted to cars the stupider some drivers seem to get

No and no. Check your facts.

[Tassie f100]

Which "facts"have I got wrong.certainly not the years we haven't had airbags or is it that I said drivers are getting more stupid?

[BradZ]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

Ammonium nitrate isnt *banned*, its just a LOT more heavily restricted.....

Using AN to make things go bang takes a bit more than just combining it with a liquid fuel

Thankyou!
I'm looking at 5000l of ammonium nitrate right now so i can tell you it's definitely not banned.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[happy1]

The airbag gas generators typically contains a pyrotechnic reaction that releases nitrogen gas. The chemical reaction contains a burn rate modifier, which seems to be the problem for Takata made airbags. Other manufacturers have been using a more expensive, non-nitrate based compound.
I found this on Wikipedia, in an article about airbags: (Description of the Takata problem towards the bottom)
"An igniter starts a rapid chemical reaction generating primarily nitrogen gas (N2) to fill the airbag making it deploy through the module cover. Some airbag technologies use compressed nitrogen or argon gas with a pyrotechnic operated valve ("hybrid gas generator"), while other technologies use various energetic propellants. Although propellants containing the highly toxic sodium azide (NaN3) were common in early inflator designs, little to no toxic sodium azide has been found on used airbags.

The azide-containing pyrotechnic gas generators contain a substantial amount of the propellant. The driver-side airbag would contain a canister containing about 50 grams of sodium azide. The passenger side container holds about 200 grams of sodium azide.[93][better source needed]

The alternative propellants may incorporate, for example, a combination of nitroguanidine, phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) or other nonmetallic oxidizer, and a nitrogen-rich fuel different from azide (e.g. tetrazoles, triazoles, and their salts). The burn rate modifiers in the mixture may be an alkaline metal nitrate (NO3-) or nitrite (NO2-), dicyanamide or its salts, sodium borohydride (NaBH4), etc. The coolants and slag formers may be e.g. clay, silica, alumina, glass, etc.[94][non-primary source needed][original research?] Other alternatives are e.g. nitrocellulose based propellants (which have high gas yield but bad storage stability, and their oxygen balance requires secondary oxidation of the reaction products to avoid buildup of carbon monoxide), or high-oxygen nitrogen-free organic compounds with inorganic oxidizers (e.g., di or tricarboxylic acids with chlorates (ClO3-) or perchlorates (ClO4-) and eventually metallic oxides; the nitrogen-free formulation avoids formation of toxic nitrogen oxides).

From the onset of the crash, the entire deployment and inflation process is about 0.04 seconds. Because vehicles change speed so quickly in a crash, airbags must inflate rapidly to reduce the risk of the occupant hitting the vehicle's interior."

"One model of airbags made by the Takata Corporation used ammonium nitrate-based gas generating compositions in airbag inflators instead of the more stable, but more expensive compound Tetrazole. The ammonium nitrate-based inflators have a flaw where old inflators with long-term exposure to hot and humid climate conditions could rupture during deployment, projecting metal shards though the airbag and into the driver.[108] The defect caused seven deaths and over 100 injuries in the U.S., and one death in Malaysia.[109] The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalled over 33 million vehicles in May 2015,[110] and fined Takata $70 million in November 2015.[111] Toyota, Mazda and Honda have said that they will not use ammonium nitrate inflators.[112][113]"