General Motors is expanding an existing safety recall due to potential defects in roof-mounted airbags found in certain older vehicles. This action comes after new tests revealed a hidden risk associated with the airbag inflators, raising fresh concerns about passenger safety.
The recall affects approximately 2,099 vehicles, specifically the 2014 Buick Verano and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze models equipped with roof-rail airbags manufactured by Autoliv. These airbags may rupture at a weld joint during deployment, sending sharp metal fragments into the vehicle cabin and posing a serious risk of injury to occupants.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), corrosion in these airbag inflators is the root cause. This corrosion, potentially stemming from contamination within the “inflator chamber,” weakens the weld joint over time. The weakened joint can then lead to cracking, ultimately causing the inflator to rupture during a crash. A ruptured inflator may not fully deploy the airbag, leaving passengers less protected, and in the worst case, fragments of the inflator could be propelled into the vehicle cabin.
This expanded recall builds on two previous recalls issued by GM involving nearly 30,000 vehicles equipped with similar roof-rail airbags. These initial recalls were prompted by metallurgical analysis conducted on three ruptured airbags recovered from incidents that occurred in real-world crashes.
Even though the initial recall population was established based on those field failures, continued testing by GM and Autoliv yielded concerning results. A single airbag sample not included in the original recall presented contamination levels suggesting a possible risk. As a precautionary measure, both companies decided to widen the recall scope to encompass all vehicles potentially affected.
GM plans to notify owners of these recalled vehicles shortly before Christmas. Dealership technicians will then replace the entire roof-rail airbag modules free of charge, addressing the underlying issue and mitigating the safety risks.
