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Mitsubishi Recalls 2010 Endeavor For Faulty Airbags

Sep 22, 2009 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP

Mitsubishi just announced a recall of 531 of its 2010 Endeavor vehicles over concerns that the vehicles’ front seat-mounted airbags might not correctly deploy in the event of a side impact crash, reported Edmunds, citing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

"The retainer bracket used for the seat-mounted side airbag frames on both the driver and front passenger seats may not have been properly welded," said NHTSA in its recalls summary of the problem, quoted Edmunds. "If this condition exists, the front seat-mounted airbags may not deploy correctly in a side impact crash, possibly resulting in injury to the seat occupant," the NHTSA added.

Mitsubishi stated in documents cited by Edmunds and filed with the federal government that, "As a precaution [it] placed the 2010 Endeavors on 'stop sale' as of 9-3-2009 until all potentially affected vehicles could be inspected." The inspections will involve Mitsubishi dealers examining the retainer bracket’s weld condition; the weld is faulty, the seatback assembly will be replaced at no cost to the consumer, said Edmunds. Mitsubishi can be reached, toll-free at 1-888-648-7820.

Meanwhile, in another airbag-related recall, we wrote in August that the Honda Motor Company expanded a recall from late last year and added nearly a half-million—about 440,000—cars that could contain a dangerous and deadly airbag defect, CNN Money reported. In that case, the potential airbag defect resulted in six injuries and one death, according to a Honda spokesperson, and involved driver-side airbags.

In the Honda recall, the automobiles require repair or replacement of the automobile’s driver’s side steering-wheel-mounted airbag inflator. CNN previously reported that, in some of the cars, the air bag inflators are over-pressurized, which can result in rupture when the airbag is activated. “Metal fragments could pass through the cloth airbag cushion material, possibly causing an injury or fatality to vehicle occupants,” according to Honda, quoted CNN Money.

The Honda recall was followed by a drop in shares for Japanese auto parts maker, the Takata Corporation. Takata provided airbags for the 2001 Honda Civics and Honda Accords, said Bloomberg.com and is the largest auto safety manufacturer worldwide.

The expanded Honda recall also prompted another Honda recall of 1,532 of its Inspire and Saber passenger cars in Japan. According to Japan’s transport ministry, it was the metal fragments that deployed from the ruptured air bag and allegedly struck a driver’s neck in the fatal U.S. accident, said the Associated Press (AP), last month. Reuters reported that the automaker is also looking into what other models may need to be included in the recall and noted that the airbags are supplied to a variety of markets, citing a spokeswoman.

The Inspire and Saber autos utilize the same type of defective airbag that was installed in the recalled Civics and Accords, said the AP, which is why Honda is also recalling its Inspire and Sabers in Japan. According to Reuters, about 21,00 cars are also being recalled in Canada. The BBC noted that Honda issued a similar recall this past November.