Over 33 million Americans are currently driving cars that may have a dangerous problem: the airbag inflators have the potential to explode during an accident, causing dangerous debris to scatter.

A resolution will likely be reached soon in the disagreement between a manufacturer of airbag components and federal regulators responsible for safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ordered the company ARC Automotive to recall 67 million inflators due to the risk of explosion.

ARC Remains Firm

(Photo : by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
Airbag functionality is demonstrated in a Mercedes car during a press preview at the International Motor Show (IAA), on September 6, 2021 in Munich, southern Germany. - Germany's revamped IAA auto show, one of the world's largest, officially opens in Munich on September 7, for a celebration of all things car-related, but climate concerns and pandemic woes threaten to spoil the party.

However, ARC refuses to comply with the order, which could result in a legal battle between the company and the agency. The inflators have the potential to cause serious harm by forcefully blowing apart a metal container and releasing shrapnel, as reported by AP News.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) believes that recalling ARC's inflators is necessary as they have caused the deaths of two individuals in the United States and Canada, with at least seven others being injured. These explosions have happened since 2009, with recent incidents this year.

After an eight-year investigation, the NHTSA has tentatively determined that the inflators are faulty. The agency's records reveal that the inflators are from the 2002 model year until January 2018, when ARC installed equipment to identify potential safety hazards.

ARC argues that there is no safety issue with its products and that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) request for a recall is based on a theory rather than scientific evidence. They also believe that it is the responsibility of the car manufacturers, not the parts manufacturer, to carry out recalls. ARC stated in a letter to NHTSA that no car manufacturer had found a problem with all 67 million inflators, and there is no known cause for the inflator ruptures.

According to a statement from NHTSA, both the ARC and car manufacturers are accountable for recalls. Furthermore, NHTSA can demand a recall from a supplier that provides parts to numerous car manufacturers.

The NHTSA needs to decide whether the inflators are faulty and then conduct a public hearing. They may take legal action against ARC to demand a recall if necessary. The NHTSA has not announced when or if any of these steps will occur.

Read Also: NHTSA Probes Ford's Discontinued Fleet of Big Sedans For Steering Issues

How Does This Affect Other Car Brands?

Currently, many car owners who have vehicles made by around twelve automakers, including Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, and others, are still determining whether their cars have inflators made by ARC for the driver or front passenger side or even both.

ARC provides inflators used in airbags made by other car manufacturers, making it difficult for car owners to identify if ARC makes their inflators. There is no comprehensive list of affected car models released by NHTSA, ARC, or the car manufacturers.

The situation with ARC has caused difficulties for car manufacturers as they try to determine how many of their vehicles contain faulty inflators. They are also seeking guidance from NHTSA on whether they need to initiate recalls. While they have identified many affected models, they are still collecting data on newer models to determine which ones have the problematic inflators.

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