Dessicated Takata airbags

[Burgundy17]

From my reading it seems Ford is still using Takata air bags. They are using the ammonium nitrate propellant desiccated inflators. The present large recall involving many makers deals with non desiccated inflators. Takata has been ordered to stop producing any inflators that use ammonium nitrate by the end of 2018. Takata has until the end of 2019 to prove the safety of the desiccated inflators. If the desiccated inflators are unsafe it will have to recall all of those too.

 

I have not heard any results on the long term safety of the desiccated inflators. All Takata will say is it is testing them. Does anyone have any additional information they have learned? The recall of earlier produced 2016 and 2017 Edges was over the Takata air bag NOT inflating. Did the ammonium nitrate propellant not work? If the airbag does not inflate do the seat belts work?

 

When I asked about the Takata airbags at the time I bought my car I was told by Service that if it was determined the Takata airbags were a problem they would be replaced at Ford's expense. If Takata was no longer in business at some point in the future to supply replacements Ford would contract with other airbag manufacturers to provide you an airbag.

 

I don't know what to make of all this. There have been no instances of rupture with ammonium nitrate desiccated inflators. As to the safety of these inflators time will tell. Does anyone have any speculation on the safety of these inflators and what are you basing that on?

[enigma-2]

The root cause of the problem is the airbags that use ammonium nitrate-based propellent, without a chemical drying agent. (Simular to the little bag of desiccant you see stuffed into prescription bottles and the like. Takata took the low road to save a penny on each airbag).

 

Environmental moisture, high temperatures and age can deteriorate the charge, causing the airbags to

improperly inflate and even send shrapnel into the occupant due to a more violent explosion.