CARS.COM — Despite more than 28 million Takata airbag inflators being recalled in the U.S., some automakers are still using them in new cars even though they’re known to degrade over time, which can lead to the airbags rupturing at excessive force, often turning the inflator casing into flying shrapnel. So far, 10 people in the U.S. have died as a result of these ruptured airbags and more than 100 people have been injured.
Here’s the problem: The chemical mixture (ammonium nitrate) that Takata used to inflate the airbags grew more unstable over time as moisture crept in, especially in regions with high heat and humidity. To combat that, Takata added what’s known as a desiccant, or a moisture absorber. Now, the federal government has told Takata it must stop making all inflators with ammonium nitrate as a propellant by the end of 2018. While the jury is still out on whether Takata’s newer, desiccated inflators will eventually need to be recalled and replaced, some automakers are using these airbag inflators in new cars.
