Takata air bags have prompted yet another recall, this time affecting the Chevrolet Cruze. GM is recalling some 33,000 vehicles due to a problem with the air bag's inflator module.
GM halted all sales of the 2013 and 2014 models of the Chevrolet Cruze on Wednesday while it identified exactly which vehicles had been affected. On Thursday the automaker identified each of the 33,000 cars. GM resumed sales, and is preparing to issue a recall on the vehicles. The issue involved the air bags manufactured by Takata, which GM says could malfunction and not inflate in an accident.
"The inflator module may have been assembled with an incorrect part," says GM's notice to dealers.
Takata air bags have already been responsible for 3 million recalled vehicles this year. Previous recalls were due to a problem in the chemical makeup of the explosive used to rapidly inflate the airbag. The inflator could undergo an uncontrolled detonation in high humidity conditions, sending out shrapnel in every direction. GM says its problem is unrelated to the other Takata recalls.
"Theirs is a chemistry issue, and ours is a mechanical issue," GM spokesman Jim Cain said.
This will mark 45 recalls for GM in 2014 alone. It's also the second recall affecting owners of the 2013-2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The earlier recall was issued in March, and affected turbocharged models of the vehicle. There was a problem with the half shaft which could cause it to fracture while driving. A total of 172,000 vehicles were recalled in that case.
In total, GM has recalled several million vehicles in 2014 in response to a variety of defects. In fact, some of the Chevrolet Cruze models being recalled may be in the hands of Cobalt owners whose vehicles are under another recall. A problem with the ignition switch could cause the car to turn off while driving, disabling the engine, air bags, and power steering. The problem was involved in at least 12 deaths, and prompted a recall of 1.6 million vehicles.
No injuries or death's related to the Chevrolet Cruze air bag problem have been discovered so far. GM says it will investigate any accidents or injuries that may have been caused by the defect, and that information will be released to the public when available. Takata said that it was unaware of the issue.
