Models S involved in Takata air bag recalling incident, Chinese market isn’t informed

NHTSA released a model list involving 19 auto companies using the problem airbags. New entrants include Tesla 2012-2016 Model S.

“Currently, Tesla China is not informed of the Takata air bag recalling notice.” One person in charge of Tesla China told NBD Auto.

Public data shows that Takata airbag incident, involving more than 100m units’ vehicles, is the largest auto recalling event till date. As the second largest auto safety parts manufacturer, Takata provides airbags to Japanese, German, American and Korean brands including Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, BMW, Benz, Audi, General Motors, Ford and Hyundai. Currently, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda and Ford have declared of breaking off with Takata.

The earliest auto recalling incident triggered by Takata air bag problems took place in 2013. Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Mazda released news on the same day in April, 2013 to recall more than 30,000 units’ vehicles, followed by Honda, Acura, Volkswagen, Audi, Mitsubishi, and Mazda in 2016.

NBD Auto learned that the propellant in the airbag inflators could degrade over time if it exposed to high humidity and changes in temperature, making it prone to over-aggressive combustion.