NHTSA Investigates Spontaneous Air Bag Deployment in GM Cars

10/28/96

Reuters reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Thursday that it will step up its investigation of spontaneously deploying air bags in several GM cars.

The NHTSA said it has received five reports of air bags deploying without a collision in 1996-model GM mid-size sedans. The agency attributes all of the deployments to to corrosion in the air bag sensing and diagnostic module, and says that in each case water was spilled or leaked onto the floor of the vehicle. Three of the "inappropriate deployments" resulted in injuries, but none resulted in death. Four of the five cars were moving at a speed between 10 and 40 mph when the bags inflated.

The NHTSA investigation involves 395,994 cars, including the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina and Monte Carlo, Buick Regal, Pontiac Grand Prix and Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. The investigation coincides with greater national concern over the safety of air bags and growing attention over reports of child deaths caused by air bags.

NHTSA spokeswoman Liz Neblett says air bags have saved the lives of more than 1,136 adults since 1986, but that bags deploying at up to 200 mph have also killed 28 children since 1990. NHTSA advises that all children under the age of 12 should ride in the back seats of cars and trucks equipped with dual front air bags.

The NHTSA is considering several ways to address the problem of children dying because of air bags, including an auto industry request to reduce the inflation pressure of passenger air bags, thus making them "softer". Other alternatives include requiring "smart" air bag systems that can detect the size and weight of the occupant and adjust inflation accordingly.

NHTSA's investigation of the GM cars shows that all of the vehicles in question use an air bag sensing and diagnostic module that is located underneath the front passenger seat on top of the carpeting. It is not sealed, making it susceptible to moisture intrusion.

NHTSA said owners of the vehicles reported that they:

-- Spilled a glass of water on the vehicle floor.
-- Drove through a car wash.
-- Spilled a bucket of water on the vehicle floor.
-- Spilled soapy water on the vehicle floor.
-- Discovered a trunk leak in the vehicle.

GM uses the same air bag sensor on 1994 and 1995 model versions of the same cars, but has reported only two instances of air bag deployments due to corrosion. In one, the vehicle was apparently flooded by an ocean tide, and in another case, the entire rear end of the vehicle was severely corroded.

The NHTSA upgraded its probe to an engineering analysis, which means the agency will examine and physically test the components in question. A GM spokesman said the automaker was cooperating with the probe.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel