Tennessee company refuses US request to recall 67 million potentially dangerous air bag inflators

A Tennessee The company is facing a legal battle with US auto safety agencies after it rejected a request to recall millions of potentially dangerous airbag inflators.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday that ARC Automotive Inc. is out Knoxville should recall 67 million gas generators in the US because they could explode and throw shrapnel. At least two people have been killed in the United States Canadaand six others were injured by malfunctioning ARC inflators, the agency said.

The recall could affect nearly a quarter of vehicles currently on US roads.

In a letter released Friday, ARC said it had reached the tentative conclusion after an eight-year investigation that ARC’s front driver and passenger inflators had a safety defect.

However, ARC responded that there was no defect in the inflators and that all issues were related to isolated manufacturing issues.

The next step in this process is for NHTSA to schedule a public hearing. The company could then force a recall in court.

Also on Friday, NHTSA released documents proving this General Motors is recalling nearly 1 million vehicles equipped with ARC inflators. The recall affects certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia SUVs.

The automaker says that an inflator explosion “can result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death.”

Owners will be notified by letter starting June 25, but no solution is available yet. You will receive another letter when one is ready.