On the Dash:
- GM and federal regulators are investigating an air bag rupture in a recalled 2010 GMC Sierra that injured a passenger.
- The vehicle had an open Takata air bag recall, which has been linked to serious injuries and deaths nationwide.
- About half of GM’s recalled Takata air bags remain unrepaired, underscoring ongoing safety risks.
U.S. safety regulators and General Motors are investigating a crash involving a recalled 2010 GMC Sierra pickup after a passenger was injured by a ruptured air bag, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The vehicle had an open recall related to defective air bags, NHTSA said.
The incident involves a GMC Sierra originally equipped with Takata-manufactured air bags, which have been linked to dangerous ruptures during deployment. Investigators are examining whether the air bag involved was a recalled Takata unit or a replacement from another supplier that was later installed. The date and location of the crash have not been disclosed, and the vehicle has not yet been inspected.
GM issued a recall for affected GMC Sierra pickups in 2021. Federal regulators said they are collecting information to determine the cause of the air bag rupture and whether the recall remedy has been completed. NHTSA warned that unrepaired Takata air bags pose an immediate safety risk, as ruptures can cause serious injuries or death even in survivable crashes.
Takata air bags have been at the center of one of the largest safety recalls in automotive history. The inflators used a chemical propellant that can degrade over time, particularly when exposed to heat and humidity. As the propellant deteriorates, it can cause the inflator to explode with excessive force, sending metal fragments into the cabin.
The recall campaign has stretched more than a decade and covers over 70 million air bags installed in approximately 42 million vehicles across multiple automakers. Takata’s air bag crisis ultimately contributed to the supplier’s bankruptcy, and the company is now defunct.
NHTSA has confirmed 28 deaths in the United States tied to defective Takata air bags. Between 2015 and 2024, at least 12 fatalities occurred in vehicles that had open recalls but had not been repaired. Millions of recalled vehicles remain unfixed.
According to the latest NHTSA data, GM has completed repairs on about half of the Takata air bags covered under its recalls. Regulators continue to urge owners of affected vehicles to complete recall repairs as soon as possible to reduce the risk of serious injury.
