GM, Mercedes-Benz Korea rapped for safety lapse

By Jhoo Dong-chan

GM Korea and Mercedes-Benz Korea are still refusing to recall their cars equipped with faulty Takata airbags that were found to propel shrapnel at passengers when deployed.

Nineteen people have reportedly been killed globally by the Japanese automotive supplier’s faulty airbag systems, while 200 people have been injured in related accidents.

More than 100 million cars have so far been recalled worldwide due to Takata airbags since 2013, and the government also requested domestic and foreign imported car brands to expand their recall plans for affected vehicles with Takata airbags last year. However, the two companies still refuse to comply with the government request.

Mercedes-Benz Korea has enjoyed its highest sales record this year, selling 58,606 cars during the January-October period, but is now under fire for its evasive stance on passenger safety.

Consumer groups say the two carmakers’ responses are extremely regrettable.

“GM Korea and Mercedes-Benz’s response to the government’s request on Takata airbags is irresponsible,” consumer group Citizens United for Consumer Sovereignty said. “The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport should impose a penalty and force the recall with the two companies.”

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, 17 car brands have sold vehicle models with Takata airbags in Korea. Of them, 14 brands are carrying out the related recall.

The ministry said it has continuously requested the same of Mercedes-Benz Korea and two GM affiliate companies.

“Car brands were lukewarm at first, but eventually joined the airbag recall since it is directly related to passenger safety,” a ministry official was quoted as saying. “Only Mercedes-Benz Korea and two GM Korea affiliates haven’t carried out the recall.”

The ministry added that 165,861 cars were found to be affected by the faulty airbags but have yet to be recalled. Of them, 147,137 cars were GM Korea models while Mercedes-Benz Korea has yet to recall 18,724 cars with Takata airbags.

A GM Korea official said their vehicles with Takata airbags are different from the Takata airbag inflators that ruptured in other manufacturers’ vehicles.

“There have been no known airbag ruptures related to Takata airbag inflators in relevant GM-designed and -manufactured vehicles worldwide, and we currently do not believe the airbag inflators in these GM vehicles pose an unreasonable risk to vehicle safety,” the official said.

“GM is currently investigating the long-term performance of the specific Takata inflators used in GM vehicles to determine if they will continue to operate safely for consumers globally.”

Mercedes-Benz Korea also took a similar stance.

The German carmaker’s local affiliate in Korea said it will collect 284 cars to its German headquarter to test its safety and then decide whether it should recall affected models.

The two carmakers’ stance, however, was disclosed to the market since it reportedly carried out the related recall in China.

Reuters said last month Mercedes-Benz decided to recall about 350,000 affected cars, the exact same models with defective Takata airbags. GM also announced it would recall more than 2.5 million vehicles with the faulty Japanese airbags in September.