Feds recall nearly 200,000 Suzuki models for airbag defect
Suzuki is recalling nearly 200,000 vehicles in the U.S. to fix an airbag sensor that could cause it to deploy improperly during an accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the recall affects 193,936 Grand Vitara SUVs from the 2006 to 2011 model years and SX4s from the 2007 to 2011 model years.
At issue is an airbag sensor in the front passenger seat that could fail, causing the airbag to deploy during an accident, regardless of whether an adult or a child is sitting in the seat.
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Should the airbag deploy at full force with a child in the seat, it could potentially injure the child, the NHTSA said. The malfunction could also cause the airbag to refrain from deploying, even when an adult is sitting in the seat.
The recall is an escalation of an issue the safety agency first started investigating in June, after 128 owners had filed complaints saying airbag warning lights were indicating the seat was empty when in fact it was occupied.
No injuries or accidents have been reported as a result of this issue.
Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by Suzuki in October, although due to a parts shortage, a second note will be sent out when dealers are ready to fix the vehicles. Any repairs would be done free of charge for the consumer.
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