General Motors (GM) has issued a recall of nearly one million crossovers vehicles due to a potential airbag defect that could cause serious injury or death. The recall covers certain Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles produced between 2014 and 2017.
The recall affects 994,763 GM vehicles and comes after multiple previous recalls related to airbag defects that have affected millions of vehicles globally. The company has been under increasing scrutiny over its handling of recalls after facing criticism for its delayed response to a faulty ignition switch linked to at least 124 deaths and 275 injuries.
According to a filing from GM to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the driver’s airbag inflator may explode during deployment, sending sharp metal fragments into the cabin of the vehicle.
The manufacturer learned of a report of a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse involved in a crash in March, where the front-driver airbag inflator ruptured during deployment. A subsequent inspection confirmed the airbag inflator ruptured in the vehicle.
GM has said that it will notify affected customers and dealerships, and the inflators will be replaced free of charge. However, due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage affecting the auto industry, it may take some time to obtain the necessary replacement parts.
The company has urged affected owners to take immediate action to ensure their safety, as the potential risks associated with this defect are severe. GM also said it has not received any reports of accidents or injuries related to the issue, but the recall is being conducted out of caution to prevent any potential incidents.
This latest recall comes on the heels of another large recall by GM earlier this year. In February, the automaker recalled more than 7 million vehicles worldwide, citing issues with potentially dangerous Takata airbag inflators.
The Takata airbag inflators have been linked to at least 27 deaths worldwide and hundreds of injuries. The defect can cause the inflator to rupture, sending shrapnel flying into the passenger compartment.
GM is among a number of automakers that have had to recall vehicles in recent years due to faulty airbags manufactured by Takata. The recall has affected millions of vehicles globally and has been linked to the largest auto safety recall in history.
The latest recall by GM underscores the ongoing challenge automakers face in ensuring the safety of their vehicles, particularly with regard to airbags. It also highlights the need for regulators to maintain a close watch on the industry to ensure that defective vehicles are quickly identified and repaired to prevent accidents and injuries.