Volkswagen has issued a recall for a total of 114,478 vehicles manufactured before 2019 due to potential airbag explosion hazards in the United States.
Specifically, the affected models include the Passat (2006-2007), (2012-2014), Bettle and Bettle Convertible (2017-2019), and the 2017 Passat Wagon. All recalled vehicles are equipped with Takata airbags.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the airbags in these vehicles are at risk of exploding due to degradation, even without any collision taking place.
As the vehicles move, the increasing internal temperature also heightens the risk of an airbag explosion. The shrapnel from an exploding airbag can be deadly, similar to gunshot fragments.
Issues pertaining to Takata airbags are not new. However, it was only recently that the NHTSA reviewed and decided to recall vehicles equipped with these airbags in Volkswagen models. Prior to this, the brand’s tests showed satisfactory performance without any defects.
The Takata airbag defect is believed to be the primary cause of this recall. |
After consulting with the NHTSA, Volkswagen decided to recall all affected vehicles. Notably, many vehicle owners were even advised to stop driving immediately to ensure safety.
Since 2009, fatal accidents related to Takata airbags have surfaced, considered the biggest scandal in the global automotive industry.
From 2013 onwards, major automakers have had to continuously announce recall campaigns to replace Takata airbags. As of 2023, approximately 67 million Takata airbags have been recalled across the United States.
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