What is the reason for the Lavida recall to replace the airbag gas generator?
2 Answers
Lavida is recalling and replacing the airbag gas generator because some vehicles are equipped with ammonium nitrate gas generators produced by the company without a desiccant in the driver and front passenger seats. Introduction to ammonium nitrate gas: It is an ammonium salt with the chemical formula NH4NO3, appearing as white crystalline powder, highly soluble in water, prone to moisture absorption and caking, and absorbs a large amount of heat when dissolved. It is an oxidizing agent that decomposes explosively under strong impact or heating, and decomposes in the presence of alkali. It is mainly used as fertilizer and for industrial and military explosives. Principle of airbags: Car airbags are designed to deploy within a very short time after a collision. The ECU sends an ignition command, the gas generator detonates to release gas, and the airbag inflates, breaking through the cover to form a cushion, preventing the forward-moving occupants from hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, or other car components.
The core reason for the Lavida's recall to replace airbag inflators lies in manufacturing defects found in certain batches of inflators. Specifically, when these inflators are stored in high-temperature and high-humidity environments for extended periods, the internal chemical propellant may degrade. During a collision when airbag deployment is required, the deteriorated propellant can cause abnormally accelerated combustion, subjecting the metal housing to excessive pressure and causing it to rupture. The scattered metal fragments, acting like small blades, may cause serious injuries to drivers or passengers. Last year, my friend's car received free replacement at the dealership for this very reason. He mentioned visible corrosion marks on the removed old inflators. This type of recall actually reflects automakers' zero-tolerance attitude toward safety hazards—after all, airbags are life-saving devices that must be guaranteed to function flawlessly.
