Many cars still made with Takata airbags

Despite more than 28 million Takata airbag inflators being recalled in the U. S., some automakers are still using them in new cars.

These are bags with propellant known to degrade over time, which can lead to the airbags rupturing at excessive force in a crash and spewing the car’s occupants with shrapnel. So far, 10 people in the U. S. have died as a result of these ruptured airbags and more than 100 people have been injured.

The ammonium nitrate- based propellant that inflates the airbags can grow more unstable over time as moisture creeps in, especially in regions with high heat and humidity.

To combat that, Takata added what’s known as a desiccant, or a moisture absorber. Now, the federal government has told Takata it must stop making all inflators with ammonium nitrate as a propellant by the end of 2018.

It is unknown whether Takata’s newer, desiccated inflators will eventually need to be recalled and replaced.

But some automakers are still using bags considered more volatile:

Daimler: Takata non- desiccated inflators are used in its 2016 Mercedes- Benz Sprinter van and 2016 and 2017 Mercedes- Benz E- Class coupe and convertible ( but not the E- Class sedan), according to a U. S. Senate report from June.

Ferrari: The Senate report said Takata’s non- desiccated inflators are being used in the 2016 Ferrari FF, 2016- 17 California T, 2016- 17 488 GTB and 488 Spider, 2016- 17 F12 and F12tdf, and 2017 GTC4 Lusso. Fiat Chrysler Automo

biles: The 2016 Jeep Wrangler is “the last of the bunch” to use Takata’s non- desiccated inflators, Fiat Chrysler said.

Mitsubishi: The 2016 and 2017 Mitsubishi i- MiEV electric hatchbacks have non- desiccated inflators.

Toyota: The 2016 Toyota 4Runner and 2016 Lexus GX 460 still use non- desiccated Takata inflators.

Volkswagen Group: The 2016 CC sedan, 2017 Audi R8, 2017 R8 Spyder and 2016 Audi TT have non- desiccated inflators.