Airbag Inflator: A Guide To The Life-Saving Innovation That Can Trigger Death As Well!

BMW has issued a serious “do not drive” warning for over 90,000 vehicles between 2000 and 2006. The campaign cars were subject to a Takata driver-side airbag inflator recall but have yet to be repaired. 

What is the cause of the problem in BMW with the Takata driver-side airbag inflator?

The E46-generation 3 Series manufactured between 2002 and 2006, the E39-generation 5 Series built between 2000 and 2003, and the E53-generation X5 built between 2000 and 2004 are among the vehicles that have been advised to be stored until they have been fixed. These older vehicles have a Takata driver-side airbag inflator that, if bumped, can send shrapnel shooting into the cabin in the direction of front-seat passengers. BMW claims to have told owners of the defect multiple times since 2016 and that the problem is becoming more severe with time. According to the firm, the danger of extreme damage or death is increasing.

Owners of impacted BMWs who have not had their vehicles examined and fixed should not drive them, according to the manufacturer. BMW has stated that it will contact anybody who owns a car that has to be set in the coming weeks. It is going to great lengths to ensure that any vehicles still equipped with a Takata driver-side airbag inflator are repaired as soon as possible, and it will contact them through email. 

While car owners may take their vehicle to an authorised dealership to have the recall rectified, the firm is also sending experts to the vehicle’s location to fix it there, or it is willing to pick up automobiles and transport them after the remedy is completed. These Takata driver-side airbag inflators are already two decades old, and they have a 50% probability of rupturing in even a minor collision, according to NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson in a statement. “Don’t put yourself in danger or the life of someone you care about; book your free repair immediately before it’s too late”, the company mentioned.

About BMW.

Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG manufactures and sells vehicles and motorbikes. It is divided into four business segments: automotive, motorcycles, financial services, and other entities. The Automotive business designs, produces, assembles, and distributes automobiles and off-road vehicles under the BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce brands, as well as spare parts and accessories. The Motorcycles section concentrates on the high-end market. Retail clients can get credit financing, leasing, and other services from the Financial Services division. Holding and group finance operations are included in the Other Entities section. The firm was established on March 6, 1916, and is based in Munich, Germany.

Deaths caused by Airbag inflator bursts.

Since 2009, at least 33 individuals have died as a consequence of Airbag inflator explosions worldwide, with 24 of them dying in the United States. The maximum number of fatalities and 400 or so injuries happened in the United States. They also occurred in Australia and Malaysia.

As a result of the potentially dangerous problem, at least 67 million Takata Airbag inflators were recalled, resulting in the most extensive series of vehicle recalls in US history. According to the American government, many have not been repaired. Over 100 million inflators have been recognised worldwide. Takata Corporation of Japan declared bankruptcy as a result of the exploding airbags.

About Takata.

Takata is a global leader in automotive safety systems, supplying nearly all of the world’s major automakers with a product line that includes seat belts, airbag systems, steering wheels, interior trim, fabrics, electronic devices such as satellite sensors and electronic control units, and child restraint systems.

Significant Customers of Takata.

• Audi
• BMW
• Fiat/Chrysler
• Daimler
• Ford
• Fuji Heavy Industries
• Fisker
• GM
• Honda
• Hyundai
• Mazda
• Mitsubishi Motors
• Nissan
• Toyota
• VW

What chemicals did Takata use?

The potentially lethal fault in the Takata Airbag inflator was discovered by regulators to be in the airbag’s propellant. Takata utilised an ammonium nitrate compound without a drying agent to inflate the airbags. This propellant, however, can burn too quickly and cause the inflator to explode. The likelihood of the propellant to detonate is influenced by two elements. The volatility of ammonium nitrate is one example.

Ammonium nitrate is an inexpensive, volatile substance that causes a tiny explosion in the inflator, instantly filling the airbag in the case of a collision. High humidity and heat temperatures, as well as other possible conditions, might cause the chemical to degrade and burn too quickly, breaking the metal inflator.

When an Airbag inflator opens during a collision, the exploding metal inflator may shoot shrapnel out of the airbag and into the vehicle’s interior. The shrapnel might hit the driver or a passenger, injuring or killing them.

The age of the propellant is the second component that influences it. Inflators can become dangerous over time, and the process can be accelerated when exposed to high humidity and hot temperatures. Temperature variations may potentially cause the ammonium nitrate propellant to deteriorate.

What injuries can an airbag inflator cause?

• Lacerations, abrasions & impact burns
• Chemical burns & asthma attacks
• Pulmonary & cardiac complications
• Ruptured right atrium or rib fractures
• Fractures to the sternum, skull, nose or eye socket, elbow, wrist or in fingers
• Eye injuries, including retinal tear and detachment
• Organ failure
• Internal bleeding
• Traumatic brain injury
• Loss of hearing
• Facial contusions
• Strains or trauma to the neck or back
• Damage to internal organs
• Injuries to the fetus if the victim is a woman and is pregnant

How can one avoid being injured by a deploying airbag?

Wear the lap and shoulder belts at all times. In a crash, airbags are meant to augment, not replace, seat belts. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, if an individual is not wearing a seat belt and an airbag deploys, they are nearly ten times more likely to die.

Sit far away from the steering wheel and the passenger side dashboard as possible. According to the NHTSA, the most critical risk factor in airbag safety is distance from the airbag. Allow 10 to 12 inches between the chest and the airbag box, according to the NHTSA.

Keep an adjustable steering wheel slanted down in a level or parallel position at all times.

Hold the steering wheel between 9 and 3 o’clock or 8 and 4 o’clock. When an airbag deploys, this prevents the wrists or arms from being shattered or smacking themselves in the face.

Place the thumbs on the top or outside rim of the steering wheel, not the inside.

Never drive a car with a passenger-side airbag with a child under the age of 1.

Children aged 12 and under should be seated in the rear seat and securely belted or restrained in a child restraint device. At least 68 children who were travelling in the front seat of a car when the passenger side airbag deployed perished as a result of the deployment, according to the Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

If there is no other option but to have a youngster travel in a car with a passenger-side airbag, move the passenger-side front seat back as far as feasible. Check that the youngster is correctly belted up.

Make sure that minors under the age of 18 are strapped up and restrained in an appropriate child passenger restraint device. These are the driver’s legal obligations.

Conclusion.

It is always said that every invention has pros and cons, and so is the case of the Airbag Inflator. The device, which was invented to save lives during fatal accidents, has proved to be fatal in its operation. However, rectifications have been made to modify the proper functioning of Airbag Inflators; it is always advised to take manual precautions while driving.

Proofread & Published By, Naveenika Chauhan