4 ms·
Carmakers fight massive air bag recall that may cost $10B
- linusg789 3y agohttps://ghostarchive.org/archive/tyWjR https://ghostarchive.org/archive/tyWjR
- gumballindie 3y agoI am sorry who are the people that think putting drivers at risk is worth “fighting” for?
- bratbag 3y agoMost things in life involve risk and most safety regulation doesn't seek perfect safety, just safe enough that its realistic to produce something that most people can afford with tolerable risks. Discussion about that line is to be expected, if there is disagreement over it being crossed.
- more_corn 3y agoWhat? You can’t possibly be serious.
- vivekd 3y agoYou're just not following the point - for example we could make laws requiring all cars to have pedestrian safety monitoring and driver attention detection. That would be safer. We don't because of cost. With airbags we're just used to legislation for them but the same argument applies. It's not enough to say a recall is safer we have to measure the cost vs actual safety of the existing airbags It's a strange thing with people and existing safety laws vs actual safety. For example I've advocated barriers with automatic doors at Subway and train stations to prevent pushers, jumpers falls etc. this would increase safety but no one wants to because of the cost
- hulitu 3y ago> we have to measure the cost vs actual safety of the existing airbags The problem is not people who die. The problem is that some people survive and then sue you.
- niij 3y agoLower speed limits would be safer as well. We live in a society that balances health and safety against convenience, cost, etc. Without that balance we'd all be living like bubble boy.
- potatopatch 3y ago[flagged]
- supportengineer 3y agoThey need to take care of this before it blows up in their face.
- rkagerer 3y agoThe article doesn't really explain the safety issue. Here's a run-down: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a45474173/nhtsa-52-million-arc-airbag-inflators-call-for-recall/ https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a45474173/nhtsa-52-million... And here's the initial decision in full: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2023-09/ARC-Initial%20Decision-9-5-23-signed.pdf https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2023-09/ARC-Init... Apparently friction welds left "excess slag" on a seam in the inflator. During activation, bits can become dislodged and clog the exit orifice such that it explodes with excess pressure "shooting metal shrapnel into the occupant compartment". Affected inflators were manufactured before ARC started using borescope inspection in early 2018, and were installed by several major auto manufacturers. One driver was killed after a crash in a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse in which metal shards flew out. All other drivers, including one passenger, were injured primarily in the face. A second driver was killed in a 2009 Hyundai Elantra during a 2016 crash in Canada, while a passenger-side airbag inflator ruptured in Turkey a year later on a 2015 Volkswagen Golf that used an ARC inflator built in Tennessee. Manufacturers argue these are isolated incidents but NHTSA predicts future ruptures at a rate of 1 in 370,000.