GM recalls 7 million bakkies, SUVs worldwide due to airbag manufacturing fault

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ordered GM to make a recall in the US on 23 November, rejecting the vehicle manufacturer's argument that the airbags didn't need to be replaced.

The recall centres on a defect in airbags made by now-bankrupt Japanese manufacturer Takata that caused the bags to explode, spraying shrapnel through the vehicle. In addition to the deaths, other drivers or passengers have been blinded or maimed.

Another report by Al Jazeera mentions that GM did not fight the recall.

The automaker had petitioned the agency four times starting in 2016 to avoid a recall, contending the air bag inflator canisters have been safe on the road and in testing.

The recall covers GM's full-size bakkies and SUVs from the 2007 through 2014 model years, including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 bakkies.

The Silverado is GM’s top-selling vehicle and the second-best-selling vehicle in the US. Also covered are the Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe and Avalanche, the Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, and the GMC Yukon.