VW recalls Beetles due to defective Takata air bags

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VW Beetle recall overview: 

• Who: Volkswagen recalled more than 42,000 model years 2015-2016 Beetle and Beetle Convertibles in the United States and Canada.
• Why: The Beetles contain potentially dangerous Takata air bag inflators.
• Where: The VW recall is active in the United States and Canada.

Volkswagen recalled more than 37,000 Beetles in the United States and 5,000 in Canada because they contain potentially dangerous Takata airbag inflators.

The recall affects the automaker’s 2015-2016 Beetle and Beetle Convertibles vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website posted the recall notice Dec. 21, which says the side air bag inflator in the affected vehicles can explode.

“An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death,” the VW recall states.

The inflator can explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high temperature cycling, the recall says.

Dealers will replace the driver’s side air bag, free of charge, the Beetle recall says. VW says it expects to mail owner notification letters Feb. 17.

Takata air bags recalled worldwide amid million-dollar settlements

In 2021, Volkswagen and Audi agreed to pay $42 million as part of an airbag class action lawsuit settlement resolving allegations the companies’ cars use defective Takata airbags that could cause injuries or deaths.

The settlement was one of many surrounding the massive airbag recall scandal. Takata airbags installed in millions of vehicles caused at least 10 deaths and more than 100 injuries due to allegedly faulty inflators, which may shoot shrapnel into the vehicle when activated. 

Companies such as BMW, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota also reached class action settlements over the defective airbags. The U.S. Department of Justice ordered Takata to pay up to $1 billion in penalties.

Are you affected by this Beetle recall? Let us know in the comments! 

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