U.S. auto safety regulators and General Motors are investigating a crash involving a recalled 2010 GMC Sierra pickup in which a passenger was injured after an airbag ruptured during deployment, renewing concerns about defective airbags still in use on American roads.
An Open Recall, an Unresolved Question
The investigation centers on a Sierra that had an open safety recall tied to faulty airbags, an issue linked to inflators originally supplied by Takata. The incident has drawn attention from both General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which are working to determine whether the airbag malfunctioned and why it ruptured during the crash.
Details surrounding the collision remain limited. Investigators haven’t confirmed when or where the crash happened, nor have they determined whether the ruptured airbag was the original Takata inflator or a replacement unit installed later. According to people familiar with the matter, understanding exactly how the airbag deployed and failed is central to the ongoing review.
A Known Defect With a Deadly History
The 2010 GMC Sierra was originally equipped with Takata airbags, whose inflators have been linked over the years to serious injuries and deaths caused by metal fragments expelled when the devices rupture. General Motors issued a recall for certain Sierra pickups affected by the Takata airbag defect back in 2021. The automaker says it hasn’t yet been able to inspect the specific vehicle involved in this crash, noting that access to the truck is necessary before any conclusions can be reached.
NHTSA confirmed it’s collecting information related to the airbag rupture and reiterated that unrepaired Takata airbags present an immediate danger to vehicle occupants. The agency has repeatedly warned that inflator failures have caused severe injuries and fatalities in crashes that might otherwise have been survivable.
The Numbers Behind the Recall
Data compiled by The Wall Street Journal estimates that at least 12 people died between 2015 and 2024 in crashes involving vehicles with unrepaired recalled airbags. NHTSA has confirmed a total of 28 deaths in the United States linked to defective Takata airbags.
Despite years of recall efforts, repair rates remain incomplete. About half of the General Motors vehicles affected by the Takata airbag recall have yet to be fixed, leaving millions of drivers potentially exposed to a known safety risk.