The Takata airbag scandal continues to roll through the entire auto industry. So far, Honda, Toyota, and Nissan have all made the decision to not include Takata Corp. airbag inflators in vehicles that are currently under development, and now one of the largest auto makers in the U.S. has joined them.
Ford Drops Takata Airbags
The U.S. automotive giant—Ford—has stripped Takata airbag inflators from all of its future models. Defective airbag parts from the Japanese manufacturer forced Ford to recall more than 1.5 million vehicles worldwide, and so the company is removing Takata parts from future vehicles. For now Ford claims that it has recalled all vehicles with the potentially defective inflators installed, but the government is still examining Takata’s other products for potentially deadly flaws.
Why Did Takata Airbag Inflators Fail?
Takata’s airbag inflators use ammonium nitrate to cause a small explosion that instantly inflates the vehicle’s airbag in the case of an emergency, but the chemical has proven too volatile in moisture-rich environments. This causes the containment canister to burst if the airbag is set off, spraying drivers and passengers with shrapnel that can cause injury and death.
How Big Is The Takata Recall?
It is estimated that 19.2 million vehicles have Takata inflators installed, which affects 12 different automotive manufacturers. The massive size of this recall is causing delays worldwide, and other parts suppliers—Autoliv Inc., Daicel Corp. and ZF TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.—are trying to cash in on the delay by manufacturing their own Takata repair modules. They are also trying to steal the remaining eight auto manufacturers away from Takata Corp.
Will these companies succeed in taking the rest of Takata’s customer base? Will the company survive this recall? Tell us what you think on Facebook and Twitter, and learn more about the Takata recall by following our blog.