The Takata airbag recall, one of the largest in history, has expanded to include newer models and side door inflators.

If you thought the Takata airbag recall was bad news, brace yourself for the situation to get even worse. Investigators have discovered that more than just front vehicle airbags pose a danger to consumers.

The investigation has expanded to include side airbags that could potentially rupture and expel metal fragments. The pieces of metal strewn through the air could seriously injure passengers in both the front and back seats.

Broadening The Investigation

Florida resident Stephanie Erdman suffered severe injuries in September 2013 when a Takata airbag exploded in her Honda Civic, sending metal fragments flying at her face.
Image: Japan Times

Regulators have issued a recall of more than 19 million cars that have been sold by 12 automakers in the U.S. alone. The defective airbags have caused eight deaths and multiple injuries to drivers and passengers.

The recall originally focused on older vehicles with airbags that include metal casings to store propellant in the front seats. The expansion will include side airbag inflators in new vehicles manufactured in all model years.

The airbags are propelled by a chemical compound called ammonium nitrate. Any vehicles that contain this propellant are included in the investigation. The chemical changes as it gets older, causing it to burn differently.

“We believe that the reason these inflators are malfunctioning in this way has something to do with the type of propellant Takata is using and how Takata engineers it,” said Stephen A. Ridella, director of the safety agency’s office for vehicle crashworthiness research.

In the expanded recall, Volkswagen Tiguan 2015 models with side airbags manufactured by Takata are being called into question. General Motors had to recall almost 400 U.S. cars that also contained the defective side airbags. Chrysler said that an estimated 25,000 of their vehicles are affected.

Many other auto companies have yet to evaluate the extent of the damage. According to the agency, one in every ten ruptures causes a death. They cite more than 100 injuries believed to be linked to defective Takata airbag inflators.

Finding The Culprit

The company released a statement about the investigation, claiming that it only applied to older models with airbags that had aged over time.

“While we are still investigating the cause of this malfunction, we believe it is unrelated to the previous recalls, which the extensive data suggests were a result of aging and long-term exposure to heat and high humidity,” said Jared Levy, a Takata spokesman. “We are cooperating closely with N.H.T.S.A. and the vehicle manufacturers.”

However, Senators John Thune and Bill Nelson of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee had something else to say. In a letter to Takata, they questioned the legitimacy of the statement and requested further proof.

“Takata has repeatedly emphasized the critical role long-term exposure of vehicles to high heat and humidity may play in ruptures of its ammonium nitrate-based inflaters subject to previous recalls,” the senators wrote. “This incident, however, involved a vehicle that was less than one year old.”

Takata patents illustrate that engineers knew about the dangerous caused when ammonium nitrate interacted with moisture and temperature. The staff members claim that they attempted to remedy the problem for two decades. Going even further, former Takata engineers tried to issue a warning about the effects of ammonium nitrate in the 1990s.

Repairing Defective Inflators

Takata is attempting to provide the parts necessary to repair the airbags in recalled vehicles.
Image: Oregon Live

The Takata recall is “one of the largest and most complex auto recalls in the nation’s history,” according to the New York Times.

Mr. Levy, a Takata spokesman, said that the company is attempting to provide the necessary repair parts to remedy the issues outlined in the recall.

“Takata continues to support all efforts to ensure the effectiveness of the safety campaigns, including significantly ramping up the production of replacement kits,” he said.

The U.S. government is planning to fine Takata $70 million for its negligent handling of defective airbags.

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Polaris is recalling more than 50,000 ROVs with an impropetly routed fuel line that could leak fuel and cause the vehicle to catch fire.

Polaris is recalling about 53,000 RZR recreational off-highway vehicles (ROV) with leaking fuel.

The fuel vent line is a misrouted and becomes pinched and spills fuel. Free-flowing fuel is a dangerous fire hazard.

Recall Details

Polaris has recieved 25 complaints of fuel leaks for the RZR 1000s models.
Image: CPSC

This recall includes the 2015 Polaris RZR recreational off-highway vehicles models RZR 900, RZR S 900, RZR 900 XC, RZR 4 900, RZR XP 1000 and RZR XP4 1000.

RZR 900s came in black, camouflage, red and white. RZR 900s have a “900” decal on the right and left front fenders and a “RZR” decal on the right and left rear fenders.

RZR 1000s were sold in black, blue, green, orange, red and white. RZR 1000s have a “1000 HO” decal on the right and left front fenders and a “RZR” decal on the right and left rear fenders.

According to CSPC, the following models are being recalled:

The vehicles were sold from July 2014 through August 2015 nationwide. The RZR 900s models sold for about $12,800 to $18,300, while the RZR 1000s were priced at $20,300 to $23,500.

The company was notified of four RZR 900s vehicles with fuel leaks, in addition to two fires. Only one consumer was injured, reportedly receiving minor burns.

For the RZR 1000s models, 25 vehicles had fuel leaks. No injuries have been reported in relation to the RZR 1000s.

Recall Solution

“At Polaris, making great products is not just a job – it is a way of life,” according to the Polaris website.  
Image: Sleddar

Owners of the affected ROV models should immediately stop driving the vehicles and bring them in for repair. The vehicles should not be used until the problem has been fixed.

Polaris will contact customers directly and send recall letters to each registered owner. However, consumers are encouraged to contact dealers for a free repair.

Contact Polaris toll free via phone at 888-704-5290 or online at www.polaris.com and click on Product Safety Recalls for more information.

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Popular furniture retailer IKEA is recalling almost 500,000 Patrull nightlights because of their potential to break and create a shock of electricity.

A young child in Austria tried to unplug his vibrant IKEA nightlight. The plastic dome-like covering detached from the plug’s base. The child was shocked by electrical parts that were left dangerously exposed. The child was fine, but retained minor wounds on the hand.

IKEA is the world’s largest furniture retailer, offering everything from bed frames to artistic decor options to Swedish meatballs. The Scandinavian company, which has 338 stores in 40 countries, has recently issued a nightlight product recall to prevent electrical shock instances like this from happening again.

Recall Details

If the plastic covering detaches from the base, an individual could be shocked by the exposed wiring and electrical parts.
Via: WFLA

IKEA’s automatic Patrull Nightlight is being recalled. The recall includes all of the white, orange and pink models. In the United States, about 359,000 nightlights are being recalled in addition to the 83,000 that were sold in Canada. However, there were no incidents of shock or injury in the United States. 

The children’s nightlight has a colorful dome-shaped plastic covering that may detach from the white square base, exposing electrical parts and creating an electroshock hazard. The nightlight is 2 ¾ inches round by 3 ½ inches long.

Recall Soultion

Consumers should not use the recalled product. Contact IKEA for a full refund toll-free at 888-966-4532 or make a claim online at IKEA’s website. 

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday that consumers should stop using the Go Gaga Squeeze & Teethe CoCo the Monkey toys. The toy is made of soft orange rubber, is shaped like a monkey and squeaks.

Infantino has received seven reports of infants choking or gagging on the monkey’s tail. No injuries have been reported.

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