GM Disputes Need to Recall Its Takata Airbag Inflators

CARS.COM — On the heels of recalling 1.9 million Takata airbag inflators today, GM says its own analysis shows those parts in the recalled SUVs and pickup trucks don’t contain the defect that causes the inflators to spew shrapnel into the car’s cabin when the airbags inflate.

Related: Is Your Car Part of the Takata Airbag Recall?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration disagreed with GM’s assessment, and GM issued today’s recall for Takata airbag inflators on the passenger-side of the recalled vehicles. GM isn’t the only automaker to issue this recall; it joined four other automakers that issued recalls today. Ford, Toyota and 11 other automakers also recalled passenger-side Takata airbag inflators in recent days as part of NHTSA’s massive expansion of the Takata recall.

GM told the Associated Press that none of the Takata inflators in its trucks has ruptured in some 44,000 crashes, and none of the returned inflators has exhibited the problems that led to the recall. GM said the inflators were designed specifically for its trucks and SUVs, and have greater venting and machined-steel end caps.

“We don’t have any evidence at this point that these inflators aren’t working as designed,” GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson told AP.

NHTSA, however, disagrees. “The science clearly shows that these inflators become unsafe over time,” NHTSA spokesman Bryan Thomas said.

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