Volkswagen is recalling 114,478 vehicles due to the potential for the front airbag inflator to explode, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a notification on Wednesday.
Volkswagen issued a report to the NHTSA on Oct. 30 stating that the recall affects owners of certain 2017 to 2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible models, 2012 to 2014 Passat models, 2017 Passat wagons, and certain 2006 to 2007 Passat sedans.
According to the NHTSA safety recall report, the affected vehicles have a frontal airbag inflator on the driver’s side with a propellant that can degrade over time due to exposure to high humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
If such an inflator explodes, it may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants and causing serious injury or death, the report states.
Volkswagen consulted with the NHTSA and found that although the recalled vehicles currently do not pose a safety risk to drivers, the agency said they are “concerned that after additional time, the airbag inflator may not perform properly in the event of a crash.”
No incidents related to this potential defect have been reported, and the recall was initiated out of an “abundance of caution,” the report said.
The affected vehicles are fitted with Takata SDI-D driver frontal airbag inflators. According to a document by the NHTSA that outlines the historical timeline of events surrounding the rupture of Takata inflators, Takata airbags have a long and complex recall history that dates back to May 2004.
The agency reports that around 67 million defective airbag inflators have been recalled across 19 vehicle manufacturers in the United States, as the airbags can explode when deployed, causing serious injury or even death.
The agency confirmed that 28 people in the United States have been killed when their defective Takata airbag inflators exploded and that at least 400 people have allegedly been injured by the devices.
Volkswagen will send notification letters to owners affected by the recall by Dec. 27. Dealers will replace the driver’s side front airbag module free of charge.
Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen’s code numbers for this recall are 69EG and 69GQ.