By Ben Glickman
Volkswagen Group of America will recall over 114,000 vehicles over the risk of an air bag exploding, according to the top U.S. auto safety regulator.
The driver's side front airbag inflator, made by now-bankrupt supplier Takata, in the affected vehicles may explode due to propellant degradation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents on its website. The incidents may occur after long-term exposure to high humidity and temperatures, NHTSA said, releasing sharp metal fragments that can seriously injure or kill occupants.
The recall expands on a 2020 agreement between VW and NHTSA, which led to the recall of model years 2012 to 2016 Volkswagen Beetles containing the same part. A more recent investigation by Volkswagen resulted in the additional recall of 2017 to 2019 model years of the Beetle, as well as multiple Volkswagen Passat models, according to documents.
The recall marks the latest in a long string of moves by safety regulators aimed at addressing Takata-produced airbags. The Japanese company filed for bankruptcy in 2017 after a recall campaign affecting 42 million vehicles in the U.S. led to billions in liabilities.
A repair for the vehicles in the latest VW recall is not yet available, according to NHTSA. Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module free of charge.
Other automakers, including BMW, have also initiated recalls in the last year related to Takata airbags.
Write to Ben Glickman at ben.glickman@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 07, 2024 12:50 ET (17:50 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Comments