U.S. Regulators Urge Supplier to Recall 67 Million Air-Bag Inflators for Potential Explosions

GM recalled nearly one million SUVs on Friday related to potential air-bag inflator defect

Federal auto-safety regulators are demanding a supplier recall 67 million air-bag inflators that can potentially explode, in what could be one of the largest safety actions on record.

The potentially defective inflators, manufactured by Knoxville, Tenn.-based ARC Automotive, have been linked to two fatalities and six injuries in the U.S. and Canada, according to documents released Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In a letter sent to ARC Friday, the safety agency said it has tentatively concluded that the inflators should be recalled. The devices were used by at least 12 car companies, including General Motors GM -2.17%decrease; red down pointing triangle, Volkswagen and Hyundai Motor, the agency’s records show.

In a statement, ARC said: “We disagree with NHTSA’s new sweeping request when extensive field testing has found no inherent defect.”

Also Friday, General Motors recalled nearly one million SUVs that used the ARC air bags, including Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia from model years 2014 to 2017.

The probe by the NHTSA into these air-bag inflators dates back to 2015, making it one of the agency’s longest-running defect investigations. Before GM’s recall late Friday, the investigation had led to seven limited recalls, covering about 6,400 vehicles.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys who have filed pending lawsuits against ARC and carmakers over the years estimate that more than 30 million cars have air-bag inflators covered by the probe.

The scope of the vehicle population affected by the ARC investigation is similar to the Takata air-bag recall campaign, which began in 2014 and covers more than 67 million vehicles, the largest in U.S. history.

In its recall notice Friday, GM said that in the affected vehicles, the front-driver air-bag inflator may contain a manufacturing defect that could cause it to rupture during deployment.

“GM is taking this expanded field action out of an abundance of caution and with the safety of our customers as our highest priority,” GM said in a statement. Dealers will replace the front-driver air-bag module, the company said.