Case Info
ARC Automotive is facing numerous lawsuits for defective airbag inflators which may rupture and send shrapnel into the automobile, resulting in serious injury or even death. Owners or operators of certain GM, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Hyundai, and Kia vehicles which are equipped with ARC Automotive Airbag Inflators may be eligible for compensation.
ARC Automotive Hybrid Airbag Inflator Lawsuit
ARC automotive hybrid airbag inflators may rupture on airbag deployment and send shrapnel into the car, injuring or even killing vehicle occupants. ARC automotive airbag inflator malfunction has already resulted in multiple serious injuries and at least two deaths.
Owners or operators of vehicles affected by a malfunctioning ARC Automotive Hybrid Airbag Inflator in a GM Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Hyundai, or Kia vehicle may be eligible for compensation.
ARC Automotive Hybrid Airbag Inflator in Popular Vehicles
ARC Automotive is the leading manufacturer of airbag inflators which are integral parts of airbags used in millions of vehicles. ARC automotive hybrid airbag inflators installed in certain vehicles may contain a defect which is potentially deadly.
Affected vehicles may include:
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA)
- Chrysler 200 2015-2017
- Chrysler 300 LX 2016-2017
- Chrysler PT Cruiser 2001-2002
- Chrysler Town & Country 2001-2007
- Dodge Caravan 2001-2007
- Dodge Challenger 2015-2017
- Dodge Charger/Magnum LX 2016-2017
- Dodge Grand Caravan 2001-2007
- Jeep Cherokee 2016-2017
Ford
- Ford Crown Victoria 2004-2011
- Lincoln Town Car 2004-2011
- Mercury Grand Marquis 2004-2011
- Ford F150 2015-2017
- Ford Mustang 2015-2017
Saab
- Saab 9-3 2003-2012
- Saab 9-5 2010-2012
Saturn
- Aura 2007-2010
- Outlook 2007-2010
- Relay 2005-2008
- Vue 2002-2007
Hyundai
- Hyundai Accent 2012-2017
- Hyundai Azera 2006-2011
- Hyundai Elantra 2007-2017
- Hyundai Genesis 2009-2013
- Hyundai Sonata 2009-2010
- Hyundai Tiburon 2003-2005
- Hyundai Tucson 2005
- Hyundai Tucson 2007-2010
- Hyundai XG350 2002-2005
Kia
- Kia Amanti 2006-2009
- Kia Forte 2014-2016
- Kia Optima 2001-2006
- Kia Rio 2009-2011
- Kia Rondo 2007-2010
- Kia- Sedona 2006-2014
- Kia Sportage 2005-2016
General Motors
- Buick Envision 2016-2017
- Buick LaSabre 2002-2005
- Buick Terraza 2005-2008
- Buick Enclave 2008-2017
- Buick Encore 2013-2017
- Buick LaCrosse 2005-2009
- Buick Lucerne 2006-2011
- Buick Rainier 2004-2007
- Buick Rendezvous 2002-2007
- Cadillac ATS 2013 – 2017
- Cadillac CTS 2003-2007
- Cadillac CTS 2008-2014
- Cadillac CTS 2014 – 2017
- Cadillac Deville 2002-2005
- Cadillac DTS 2006-2011
- Cadillac ELR 2013-2016
- Cadillac Escalade 1500 2002-2006
- Cadillac Escalade 1500 2007-2014
- Cadillac Escalade 1500 2015-2017
- Cadillac Escalade ESV 2002-2006
- Cadillac Escalade ESV 2007-2014
- Cadillac Escalade ESV 2015-2017
- Cadillac Escalade EXT 2002-2006
- Cadillac Escalade EXT 2007-2013
- Cadillac SRX 2004-2009
- Cadillac SRX 2010-2016
- Cadillac STS 2005-2007
- Cadillac XLR 2004-2009
- Cadillac XT5 2017
- Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 2002-2006
- Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 2007-2013
- Chevrolet Avalanche 2500 2002-2006
- Chevrolet Camaro 2010-2015
- Chevrolet Camaro 2016-2017
- Chevrolet Captiva 2011-2017
- Chevrolet Cavalier 2000-2005
- Chevrolet Colorado 2015-2017
- Chevrolet Corvette 2005-2013
- Chevrolet Cruze 2016-2017
- Chevrolet Encore 2014-2017
- Chevrolet Equinox 2005-2009
- Chevrolet Equinox 2010-2017
- Chevrolet Express 1500 2003-2017
- Chevrolet Express 2500 2003-2017
- Chevrolet Express 3500 2003-2017
- Chevrolet HHR 2006-2010
- Chevrolet Impala 2006-2014
- Chevrolet Impala 2015-2017
- Chevrolet Malibu 2004-2007
- Chevrolet Malibu 2008-2012
- Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2004-2007
- Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2006-2017
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2000-2007
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2007-2014
- Chevrolet Silverado 2500 2000-2007
- Chevrolet Silverado 2500 2007-2014
- Chevrolet Silverado 3500 2000-2007
- Chevrolet Silverado 3500 2007-2014
- Chevrolet SSR 2003-2005
- Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2000-2006
- Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2007-2014
- Chevrolet Suburban 2500 2007-2013
- Chevrolet Tahoe 1500 2000-2006
- Chevrolet Tahoe 1500 2007-2014
- Chevrolet Trailblazer 2003-2009
- Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 2003-2006
- Chevrolet Traverse 2009-2017
- Chevrolet Trax 2014-2017
- Chevrolet Uplander 2005-2008
- Chevrolet Venture 2000-2005
- Chevrolet Volt 2011-2015
- GMC Canyon 2015-2017
- GMC Savana 1500 2003-2017
- GMC Savana 2500 2003-2017
- GMC Savana 3500 2003-2017
- GMC Sierra 1500 2000-2007
- GMC Sierra 1500 2007-2014
- GMC Sierra 2500 2000-2007
- GMC Sierra 2500 2007-2014
- GMC Sierra 3500 2000-2007
- GMC Sierra 3500 2007-2014
- GMC Terrain 2010-2017
- GMC Yukon 1500 2000-2006
- GMC Yukon 1500 2007-2014
- GMC Yukon XL 1500 2000-2006
- GMC Yukon XL 1500 2007-2014
- GMC Yukon XL 2500 2000-2006
- GMC Yukon XL 2500 2007-2014
- GMC Acadia 2017
- GMC Acadia 2007-2016
- GMC Envoy 2003-2009
- GMC Envoy XL 2003-2006
- GMC Envoy XUV 2004-2005
- Hummer H2 2003-2009
- Hummer H3 2006-2010
- Isuzu Ascender 2003-2008
- Oldsmobile Silhoutte 2000-2004
- Oldsmobile Bravada 2002-2004
- Oldsmobile Silhoutte 2005-2008
- Pontiac Aztek 2002-2007
- Pontiac Bonniville 2002-2005
- Pontiac Montana 2000-2004
- Pontiac Montana 2005-2009
- Pontiac Sunfire 2000-2005
- Pontiac G6 2005-2010
- Pontiac Grand Am 2005-2006
- Pontiac Torrent 2006-2009
Other vehicles from Toyota, Stellantis, Audi, BMW and Porsche may also be involved, but a full list of potentially affected vehicles has not been released.
A defect formed during manufacturing, known as weld flash, may collect on components and may break off during airbag deployment. This may result in shrapnel or metal debris flying into the passenger compartment, placing driver and passengers at risk of serious injury or death.
ARC Friction Weld Flash Common Due to Manufacturing Irregularities
Hybrid airbag inflators manufactured by ARC Automotive employ a process known as friction welding to bond metallic components to one another during manufacture. Excess weld flash is metal which is deposited on internal components, particularly when manufacturing processes are not within specified parameters of rotational speed, alignment, or force.
Excess weld flash in ARC airbag inflators is irregularly shaped and can break loose during deployment of the inflator, resulting in flying debris in the passenger compartment. Flying metal fragments projected from ARC airbag inflators have resulted in serious injuries and at least two deaths.
ARC Knew of Airbag Inflator Weld Flash Dangers
ARC has been suspected of poor production processes and inadequate quality control measures and was the subject of a 2016 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation due to reports of injuries and death.
Despite this knowledge, ARC continued to manufacture millions of inflators, advertise, and promote the components where they have been installed in countless vehicles. ARC failed to implement design changes or improve quality control methods which may have led to serious risks to drivers and passengers of vehicles.
Though small recalls have been issued by automakers such as GM and despite pressure by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), ARC has failed to recall the airbags in up to 33 million vehicles and has not addressed safety concerns. In September 2023, the NHTSA announced that they are seeking to compel ARC to issue a recall. A required October 2023 public hearing will address the pending recall, but no comment has been made by ARC Automotive.
ARC Automotive Hybrid Airbag Inflator Risk to GM Drivers and Passengers
Drivers and passengers of vehicles equipped with ARC Automotive Hybrid Airbag inflators may have been placed at risk of serious bodily injury or death. At least four serious injuries including one case of severed artery, and two deaths have been linked to flying debris caused by ARC airbag inflator malfunction.
Vehicle owners and lessees may have paid more than they would have for the vehicles if the defect had been disclosed. Vehicles manufactured with the faulty airbag inflators may also lose value as they are perceived as “unsafe”.
Owners, operators, and passengers of vehicles which use an ARC Automotive Hybrid Airbag inflator, may have suffered financial harm, or been placed at risk of serious injury or death and may be eligible for compensation.