ARC airbag inflators in certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles pose a deadly risk of exploding and shooting out metal shrapnel.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Mercedes-Benz airbag induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured or died when a Mercedes-Benz airbag exploded or failed to deploy, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
What is the Problem?
Mercedes-Benz and 11 other auto-manufacturers installed 52 million airbag inflators that safety officials are calling “defective” because they can rupture and explode, shooting out deadly pieces of jagged metal.
The agency scheduled a public meeting on October 5, 2023, to discuss their conclusion. This is a mandatory step before the U.S. government forces a company to issue a recall.
How Many Deaths & Injuries Have Been Reported?
Two deaths and 7 serious injuries have been linked to ARC airbags that ruptured and ejected metal shrapnel after car accidents in the U.S. and Canada. Some incidents were minor low-speed collisions.
ARC Updates Manufacturing Process in 2018
The defective airbag inflators manufactured between 2000 and 2018 in Tennessee. No injuries or deaths have been linked to inflators that were made after January 2018, which is when ARC fixed their manufacturing process to reduce the risk of welding debris being left behind inside the metal inflator canister.
NHTSA Demands Recall for 52 Million Airbag Inflators
After an 8-year investigation between 2015 and 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that 52 million ARC airbag inflators were defective and must be recalled.
According to the NHTSA Investigation Report:
“A rupture of the air bag inflator will forcefully propel metal fragments into the passenger compartment, likely causing significant injury or death to the vehicle occupant(s).”
Manufacturing Problem Linked to ARC Airbag Explosions & Deaths
These ruptures are linked to a manufacturing problem. The airbag inflates with gases that are produced by a chemical reaction inside the inflator, which is a metal canister that contains ammonium nitrate.
When the metal canister is being welded together, the friction welding process sometimes leaves behind extra metal debris called “weld slag” or “weld flash.”
According to safety investigators, this welding debris is dangerous because it can plug up an exit hole in the inflator’s metal canister that is supposed to allow gases to escape and fill up the airbag.
Instead, the trapped gases pressurize the canister and blow it apart, ejecting jagged pieces of metal shrapnel into the vehicle.
ARC Refuses to Recall Airbag Inflators
The manufacturers, ARC Automotive Inc. and Delphi Automotive Systems, refused to recall the airbag inflators. Instead, ARC claimed that no defect exists, and blamed any problems on “isolated” manufacturing issues that are inevitable in high-volume production.
Does My Mercedes-Benz Have an ARC Airbag?
Mercedes-Benz has not yet recalled any vehicles that are equipped with ARC airbag inflators.
Furthermore, neither ARC Automotive or auto-manufacturers have released a full list of vehicle makes and models with the type of air bag inflators that have exploded.
In the future, the exact number of inflators and vehicles (including the specific vehicle makes, models, and model-years) subject to any recall will be determined by the manufacturers.
Canada Investigates Mercedes-Benz Vehicles With ARC Airbags
Transport Canada is investigating Mercedes-Benz Smart Fortwo (2008-2016) vehicles with a driver frontal airbag inflator that was produced by ARC Automotive.
Risk of Serious Injuries & Deaths
Airbag inflators that rupture and shoot out metal fragments can potentially cause severe, life-threatening injuries, such as:
- Bleeding
- Metal shrapnel injuries
- Lacerations to the face, neck, or body
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Blindness
- Injuries resembling gunshots or stab-wounds
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Chest wounds
- Injuries linked to airbag failing to inflate
- Death
Do I have a Mercedes-Benz Airbag Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Mercedes-Benz airbag induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured or died when a Mercedes-Benz airbag exploded or failed to deploy, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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