Airbags are intended to keep you safe. In fact, the evidence supporting airbag use is so strong that, in 1999, the federal government began requiring all new cars, trucks and SUVs to come standard with driver and passenger front airbags. However, recent reports suggest that certain airbags manufactured by Arc Automotive have exploded rather than deploying normally, in some cases, sending metal shrapnel shooting through the vehicle’s cabin. Thus, not only are there very valid concerns that ARC Automotive airbags do not protect vehicle occupants in the event of a crash, but they can actually cause accident victims to experience severe injury or even death following an otherwise minor collision.

If you were involved in an accident and suffered an airbag injury, it is important that you understand your options and how to pursue them. As we’ve discussed in previous posts, auto manufacturers and companies that produce component parts have a legal duty to ensure the safety of their products. In the event that a defective airbag causes serious injuries or death, the manufacturer of the airbag may be liable. Those interested in learning more about bringing a lawsuit against Arc Automotive should consult with an experienced defective airbag attorney for immediate assistance.

Are Airbags Safe?

Yes, when properly manufactured and installed, airbags are safe for adults and teenagers. Of course, airbags are not designed to protect children under 13, so children and tweens should always ride in the back seat. However, airbags only protect vehicle occupants when they are well-designed and free of any defects. For example, the recent Takata airbag recall has been linked to 24 deaths and more than 400 injuries.

Are Arc Automotive Airbags Safe?

According to thousands of consumers who suffered airbag injuries during collisions, ARC Airbags are not safe because they can explode upon impact. However, ARC disputes these claims, maintaining that their airbags are safe. Thus, as of April 2023, there has not yet been any major recall of ARC Automotive airbags.

Product liability attorneys representing those who were injured as a result of an ARC Automotive airbag explosion explain that the potential defect stems from the use of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) as a secondary propellant in the company’s toroidal stored gas hybrid inflators. An airbag inflator is a metal canister that contains compressed gas. The inflator also contains a secondary chemical compound called a propellant. ARC Automotive airbags use PSAN, which heats the gas in the canister. The heat causes the gasses stored inside the airbag to rapidly inflate, causing the airbag to expand, or deploy.

The potential issue is that ammonium nitrate can over inflate the airbag, causing it to explode when triggered by even a minor collision. If an airbag canister explodes, it can essentially shred the metal airbag canister, causing shrapnel to shoot through the cabin of a vehicle at extremely high speeds.

Which Vehicles Could Contain Dangerous Airbag Inflators?

ARC Automotive airbags are installed in an estimated 30 million vehicles across the United States. According to the most recently available information, the following makes and models contain ARC Automotive airbag inflators:

• 2013 GMC Acadia
• 2014 GMC Acadia
• 2015 GMC Acadia
• 2016 GMC Acadia
• 2017 GMC Acadia
• 2015 Audi A3
• 2016 Audi A3
• 2017 Audi A3
• 2018 Audi A3
• 2019 Audi A3
• 2020 Audi A3
• 2018 Volkswagen Jetta
• 2019 Volkswagen Jetta
• 2015 Ford F-150
• 2016 Ford F-150
• 2017 Ford F-150
• 2015 Ford Mustang
• 2016 Ford Mustang

Some of these vehicle manufacturers have issued specific recalls; however, consumers believe that the recalled vehicles make up only a small number of the vehicles that contain these allegedly dangerous airbags—most of which are still on the road.

How Can You Tell If Your Vehicle Has a Defective Airbag Inflator?

At this point, consumers who have any of the models on the above-referenced list of vehicles should assume that their vehicle contains an Arc Automotive airbag inflator. However, Arc Automotive sold its inflators to other companies that were not mentioned on the list. Thus, anyone who believes that they may have a defective airbag should reach out to an experienced airbag defect lawyer so that their attorney can determine whether the consumer’s vehicle indeed contains a dangerous airbag inflator.

What to Do if You’ve Been Hurt by an Airbag

Those who have suffered serious injuries or lost a loved one after they experienced airbag-related injuries may have a legal claim against any manufacturer that created a defective product that contributed to the accident or resulted in more severe injuries. These product liability claims typically fall under a class of personal injury cases involving strict liability. Strict liability is a legal theory that holds manufacturers liable for any injuries caused by their products and does not require accident victims to prove that the company was negligent. However, victims still need to show that the allegedly defective part, in this case, an airbag deflator, caused or contributed to the accident or put the victim in a position where they suffered more serious injuries than they would have otherwise experienced. An experienced airbag product liability attorney can help accident victims understand their options and effectively pursue a claim against the manufacturer.

About Arc Automotive

Founded in 1949, Arc Automotive is a manufacturing company based in Knoxville, Tennessee. The company exclusively manufactures inflator products for driver-side, passenger-side, side, curtain, and knee airbags, including the following models:

• SH5 Hybrid Inflator
• AHS Hybrid Inflator
• CH5-30mm Hybrid Inflator
• CH5-35mm Hybrid Inflator
• Dual Level CADH Hybrid Inflator
• Single Level G2Ps Hybrid Passenger Inflator
• Dual Level PH7 (120) Hybrid Inflator
• MPD Pyro Inflator
• Single Level PH5.1 Hybrid Inflator
• Dual Level PH5.1 Hybrid Inflator
• Single Level G2P Hybrid Passenger Inflator
• Single Level G2P+ Hybrid Passenger Inflator
• Dual Level G2P Hybrid Passenger Inflator
• Single Level PH7 (90) Hybrid Inflator
• Single Level PH7 (120) Hybrid Inflator
• Single Level CADH/DH7 Hybrid Inflator
• Single Level DH8 Hybrid Inflator

Arc Automotive employs approximately 1,700 people and generates roughly $337 million in annual revenue.