US investigates Nissan Rogue SUVs after air bag deployments
A Nissan logo is seen next to a vehicle during the New York International Auto Show
The US safety officials are currently investigating approximately 75,000 of Nissan Rogue Select SUVs manufactured in 2015. The study is premised on allegations that side energy airbags deploy when car doors are shut. This can either endanger the occupants or leave them with no airbag protection in the event of an accident as evidenced by this failure.
Nissan has fully cooperated in the investigation. The company, in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), urged owners of cars with un-recalled Takata airbags particularly of the older model not to drive again until the vehicles undergo a fix.
The other different but equally big issue is the Takata airbag. These could burst with excessive pressure thereby expelling metal pieces into the drivers and passengers of the car. The NHTSA has appealed to owners of Nissan Sentra from 2002 to 2006, Pathfinder of the same years, and Infiniti QX4 of 2002 to 2003 equipped with Takata airbags not to drive the vehicles if they have not been recalled for repair.
The recall is symptomatic of a problem in the automotive sector as more than 100 million Takata airbag inflators have been recalled in the last decade across the globe and 7 million in the United States alone making it the largest auto safety recall ever. Unfortunately, the airbags have caused over 30 deaths and more than 400 injuries in more than 30 countries with 27 of them in the United States since 2009. These occurrences have been attributed to the degradation of propellant within the airbag inflators due to high temperature and humidity.
Echoing these concerns, Toyota issued a similar plea in January, urging owners of 50,000 older vehicles – including the 2003-2004 Corolla, 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix, and 2004-2005 RAV4 models – to prioritise recall repairs due to the risk posed by defective Takata airbag inflators.
As automotive manufacturers and safety regulators continue to grapple with the repercussions of the Takata airbag crisis, the imperative remains clear: prioritising the safety of motorists by promptly addressing and rectifying potential hazards is paramount.
