In the late 1990s, an engineer at Takata Corp. spoke out against the chemical compound used to inflate its air bags. Mark Lillie left the company in 1999, believing something terrible would happen and wishing to be disassociated from the auto part supplier.
Fifteen years later, what Lillie feared came true.
Almost 8 million cars in the United States have been recalled for an airbag defect that can launch shrapnel into the vehicle upon deployment. At this time, six deaths and more than 100 injuries occurred at the hands of Takata’s faulty air bags.
Ten different automakers in the United States announced Takata air bag recalls primarily focused in more humid states like Florida and Hawaii. Lawmakers urge the automakers to extend the recalls to all states, and some are beginning to listen.
What went wrong?
Takata air bags use an ammonium nitrate propellant to ignite the air bag during a collision. It was introduced in the early 2000s after the most common substance, sodium azide, caused health defects and a new tetrazole solution was too expensive.
Not only is ammonium nitrate inexpensive, it’s small and lightweight, making it ideal for a car part and giving Takata an edge against the competition. Other auto part suppliers refuse to use the compound given its volatile nature.
Ammonium nitrate cycles through five solid states, making it incredibly challenging to stabilize. Although its most common use is fertilizer, ammonium nitrate is also a main component of the explosive ANFO, or ammonium nitrate fuel oil. Strict regulations exist because of its hygroscopic nature, meaning it collects water from its environment.
Within an air bag, the propellant is stored in a small tablet, waiting for the igniter to heat it during an accident. In the blink of an eye, the air bag inflates at more than 200 mph.
Why high-humidity areas?
In high-humidity areas, the ammonium nitrate tablet collects water and becomes more and more unstable. The propellant breaks down, and when ignited, can create a more violent combustion, spraying hot plastic and metal through the air bag and into the vehicle. When this happens, occupants are at a high risk of maiming or death.
Reports from around the United States include horrifying details of loss of vision or an eye, puncture wounds in the face and neck, bleeding to death and even a case where the detectives believed the victim was stabbed.
The most recent accident occurred in Texas at the end of January. Carlos Solis was entering a parking lot in Houston when his 2002 Honda Accord collided with another vehicle. When his air bag deployed, a piece of metal hurled through the air and struck Solis in the neck, causing his death. While the vehicles experienced minimal damage, blood stained the inside of the Accord.
Despite knowing the risks of ammonium nitrate, Takata continues to use the propellant in its air bag production. Experts agree while the cost and size are advantages, it should never be used in air bags because of its potential to severely injure or kill.
If you or someone you love was injured or killed in an accident due to a faulty Takata air bag or currently drive one of the recalled vehicles, contact us immediately.
For a full list of recalled vehicles, click here.