Faulty airbags contribute to record car recalls
Issues with safety system were behind a climb in automotive recalls
Faulty airbags were found to be the biggest factor behind a rise in automotive recalls during the first quarter of this year.
The number of recalls associated to airbags faults increased to 122 globally in the first quarter of 2017 – the highest since records began. The information came from the Recall and Notification Index, published by Stericycle Expert Solutions.
Germany was found to be the top notifying country with 64 recalls, while the next highest country – France – had 29. The UK came in third with 14.
Injuries were the top hazard, and were the cause of 112 recalls – a 31 per cent rise on the fourth quarter of last year.
It shows that a customer complaint was behind each initial investigation and the subsequent recall.
Farzad Henareh, European vice president at Stericycle Expert Solutions, said: “Looking at an average of auto recalls over the past year it is clear to see just how sharp the rise has been. It is no secret that motor manufacturers have had challenges to deal with which are clearly reflected in the number of recalls and notifications.
“As the number of connected and autonomous vehicles entering the market increases, these advancements will only add to the complexity.”
Airbag issues came out on top ahead of steering and fuel related passenger recall causes.
