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A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 5 december 2019
Deadly defect found in another version of Takata airbags

TOM KRISHER Satanovsky said those cars
AP Auto Writer have inflators that were
DETROIT (AP) — A new and made at a Takata factory
distinct problem has been and are known to be
discovered in air bags faulty because they were
made by the now bankrupt manufactured before
company Takata which has production improvements.
led to at least one death. The company also is
The recently discovered recalling another 34,000
malfunction is different 323i and 328i sedans from
than the defect that 1999-2000 and 323Ci and
led to at least 24 deaths 328Ci coupes from the 2000
and hundreds of injuries model year. These cars
worldwide, though the were made from March
result, like the earlier issue, of 1998 through March of
leads to air bags that can 2000 and have inflators
explode and hurl shrapnel, made at two Takata plants
killing or injuring people. that could be defective.
Takata is adding about 1.4 Satanovsky says these cars
million front driver inflators to will be inspected and some
recalls in the U.S., according could get new inflators.
to government documents This June 25, 2017 file photo shows TK Holdings Inc. headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich. Bankrupt A third group of cars,
posted Wednesday. air bag maker Takata is recalling about 1.4 million driver's side inflators in the U.S. because they just over 74,000, is being
BMW is warning owners of could explode and hurl shrapnel. recalled. This group
some older 3-series cars to Associated Press includes 323i, 325i, 328i,
stop driving them. from 1995 to 2000 also inflators worldwide but A4, A6, A8, or TT vehicles 330i sedans from the 1999
A driver in Australia are being recalled, but only a portion are still in use are affected in the U.S. through 2001 model years.
was killed by an airbag information on which because the vehicles are The U.S. National Highway They were produced from
malfunction, while another models was not available so old. The faulty inflators Traffic Safety Administration May 1999 through July of
Australian and a driver Wednesday. have problems with said in a statement that 2000 and may have had air
in Cyprus were injured, Unlike previous recalls, insufficient seals. it is in discussions with bag inflators replaced by
according to government the Takata non-azide Toyota and Honda said automakers about the defective ones. They also
documents. inflators do not use volatile they’re still figuring out recalls. It urged owners will be inspected.
Included in the recall ammonium nitrate to fill the which models will have to search for recalls in the BMW is still developing a
Wednesday are more air bags in a crash. But the to be recalled. U.S. safety coming weeks by entering remedy for the problem,
than 116,000 BMW 3-Series air bag propellant can still regulators said they were their vehicle identification but the company intends to
cars from the 1999 to 2001 deteriorate over time when told by Mitsubishi that the number at www.nhtsa.dot. replace faulty inflators with
model years. About 8,000 exposed to moisture and only U.S. vehicle affected gov/recalls new ones. The company
definitely have faulty explode too fast, blowing is the 1998 through 2000 In the BMW recalls, the says owners will be notified
inflators and should be apart the inflator body. They Montero. A company company is recommending when parts are available.
parked, BMW said. The rest also might not fully inflate to spokesman was seeking that people stop driving The recall is another in a
can still be driven. protect people in a crash. more information. certain 1999 323i and 328i long saga of problems
In addition, certain Audi, Takata says in government In a statement, Audi said it sedans made from July with Takata inflators that
Honda, Toyota and documents that it made is investigating whether any of 1998 through January sent the company into
Mitsubishi vehicles made about 4.5 million of the 1997 to 1999 model year of 1999. Spokesman Oleg bankruptcy.q
Boeing chief engineer who defended Max airliner is retiring

CHICAGO (AP) — The which investigators believe tration. He was named to
Boeing engineer who has happened in both crashes, his current position in March
played a key role in the pushing down the noses of to deal with the accident
company's response to the the planes. investigations and other
grounding of the 737 Max is At other times he defend- technical risks, according
retiring. ed Boeing's safety culture. to the company.
Boeing said Wednes- While a couple lawmakers Boeing's expectations for
day that John Hamilton expressed frustration with returning the Max to flight
planned to retire last year Hamilton's answers, they re- have been set back sev-
as chief engineer of com- served most of their anger eral times.
mercial airplanes, but he for Muilenburg. Boeing engineers began
stayed on to help get the Hamilton has spent 35 years updating flight-control soft-
Max back into service. at Boeing and served as ware called MCAS shortly
Hamilton appeared along- chief project engineer for after it was determined to
side CEO Dennis Muilen- several planes including have played a role in the
burg during two congres- In this Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, file photo, Boeing Commercial the 737 NG, the version that crash of a Lion Air Max off
sional hearings in late Oc- Airplanes Vice President and Chief Engineer John Hamilton, preceded the Max. the coast of Indonesia in
tober and explained the testifies during a House Transportation and Infrastructure He was responsible for engi- October 2018.
design and production of Committee hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington. neering design and safety They were still working on
the Max, which has been Associated Press for all Boeing airliners when the software when an Ethi-
grounded since March fol- Boeing made some mis- ing tested whether a faulty the company got final ap- opian Airlines Max crashed
lowing two deadly crashes. takes. sensor could trigger the proval of the Max from the near Addis Ababa in
Hamilton acknowledged Those included not hav- plane's anti-stall system, Federal Aviation Adminis- March. q