Lion's office will be closed at 3:30 PM ET on Friday, May 23 and all day on Monday, May 26. Online training support is available from 8:30 AM to 5 PM ET. Contact support@lion.com.
Search

Regulators May Recall 50 Million More Airbag Inflators

Posted on 9/7/2023 by Lion Technology Inc.

At a public meeting next month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will discuss a potential automotive recall affecting dozens of vehicle makes, models, and years. 

The potential recall would affect an estimated 52 million air bag inflators used by a dozen carmakers from 2000 to 2018, including Stellantis (i.e., Chrysler and Dodge), GM, Ford, Tesla, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen. NHTSA claims seven rupture incidents have caused seven injuries and one death in the US.

"Air bag inflators that rupture when commanded to deploy are plainly defective, as they both fail to protect vehicle occupants as they should, and, themselves, pose an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death[.]"

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

The manufacturer of the reportedly faulty safety devices installed quality control devices on their manufacturing lines to detect excess weld slag on products in early 2018. NHTSA is unaware of issues in the company’s inflators since the installation of those slag-detecting devices.

This potential recall is near in size to the Takata recall of about 65 million air bag inflators.

Why Are Car Airbags Regulated as a
Hazardous Materials in Transportation?

Since the 2015 US DOT PHMSA rulemaking to harmonize US regulations with international standards, safety devices must be described in transportation in one of two ways:

  • UN3268, Safety devices, electrically initiated, 9
  • UN0503, Safety devices, pyrotechnic, 1.4G

The first of these two is reserved for safety devices that pass specific testing criteria found in Special Provision 160 and have been certified by a PHMSA-approved explosives testing lab.

Class 9 hazardous materials are excepted from the more stringent labeling, marking, and shipping paper requirements that apply to safety devices shipped as explosive materials (1.4G). Also, if a safety device is not "used in vehicles, vessels or aircraft to enhance safety to persons,” it cannot qualify for Class 9 reliefs.

Training to Ship Hazmat Safety Devices

The Shipping Airbags and Other Automotive Safety Devices online course prepares shippers to ensure compliance with detailed US and international regulations for classifying, packaging, marking, labeling, and documenting shipments of safety devices like airbag inflators, airbag modules, and seatbelt pretensioners.

Access training from any internet connection, stop and start as needed to fit your schedule, and receive a trusted Certificate from Lion Technology when you complete the course.

 

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Very good. I have always appreciated the way Lion Tech develops, presents and provides training and materials.

John Troy

Environmental Specialist

The course is well thought out and organized in a way that leads to a clearer understanding of the total training.

David Baily

Hazmat Shipping Professional

I really enjoyed this training. Even after years on both sides of the comprehension coin, I find myself still learning! The quality of the delivery exceeded much of the training I have received in the past.

Neil Ozonur

Safety Officer

Much better than my previous class with another company. The Lion instructor made sense, kept me awake and made me laugh!

Marti Severs

Enterprise Safety Manager

Convenient; I can train when I want, where I want.

Barry Cook

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Lion's training was by far the best online RCRA training I've ever taken. It was challenging and the layout was great!

Paul Harbison

Hazardous Waste Professional

Energetic/enthusiastic! Made training enjoyable, understandable and fun!

Amanda Walsh

Hazardous Waste Professional

This is the best RCRA training I've experienced! I will be visiting Lion training again.

Cynthia L. Logsdon

Principal Environmental Engineer

This is a very informative training compared to others. It covers everything I expect to learn and even a lot of new things.

Quatama Jackson

Waste Management Professional

The online course was well thought out and organized, with good interaction between the student and the course.

Larry Ybarra

Material Release Agent

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Shipping papers are a crucial part of safely shipping hazardous materials. See the top 5 mistakes shippers make on shipping papers, and how to avoid them.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.