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| Honda no more uses these Takata airbags. |
FULL marks to Mazda for biting the Takata bullet.
The group is recalling certain models equipped with Takata airbags
from 2003 to 2007, with an estimated 8 000 of these models in South Africa.
The models include Mazda6 and Mazda RX-8 produced between 2003 and
2007, with VIN numbers starting with JM6GG or JMZSE.
These vehicles are equipped with the “PSDI-4” driver-side air bag
inflator, the “SDI-160” driver side airbag inflator, or the “SPI” passenger-side
airbag inflator, which may not have enough propellant in the passenger-side
airbag.
This might cause the propellant to ignite abnormally at the time of
airbag deployment and potentially result in extremely high inner pressure of the
inflator causing a rupture of the inflator case.
Mazda Southern Africa said in a statement its dealer workshops will
conduct a repair procedure to replace the driver-side airbag and passenger-side
airbag inflator with an improved unit on the possibly affected vehicles.
Although the number of affected vehicles will be subject to further
review and may change, Mazda South Africa urges all owners with possibly
affected Mazda6 and Mazda RX-8 vehicles to contact Mazda SA.
Meanwhile, Associated Press reported another problem has developed
with automotive airbags, this one resulting in recalls of five-million
vehicles.
Continental Automotive Systems, says in documents filed with the
U.S. government that moisture can get inside its airbag control computers,
causing the power supplies to corrode and fail.
If that happens, airbags may not inflate in a crash or they could
deploy without a crash. Documents say Continental will notify automakers, who
will recall cars dating to 2006. Already Honda, Fiat Chrysler and Mercedes have
issued recalls.
The Continental announcement comes in the middle of a recall crisis
involving Japan’s Takata airbag inflators. — WR-AP.
