Disco 2 Airbags - Why no recall?

One of my other vehicles recently had both front airbags replaced - Takata airbags. Strangely, even though there are eight airbags they only replace the main driver and front passenger airbag - anyway, that's another question maybe for another day.

Thing is, I haven't noticed any airbag recall on any Land Rover vehicles yet, even though there is another recall (voluntary manufacturer recall at this early stage) just announced by the ACCC here in Australia for wide a range of vehicles now going back as far as MY1996.

I understand that the explosive compound (ammonium nitrate from memory?) used in the inflator to fire the airbag during a collision in the Takata airbags can absorb moisture (particularly in humid conditions) over time. I would hazard a guess that the hydrated form of the ammonium nitrate is more highly explosive (unpredictable) and this is where the safety problem lies when it is activated during a collision.

What sort (make) of airbag does/did Land Rover use? I'm assuming with different ownership (Ford and BMW) over the years that the make (and type) of airbag may have changed? I'm assuming since there have been no recalls for Land Rover that an airbag with a different type of inflator (not ammonium nitrate?) has been in use?

I doubt many owners will be well versed in who manufactured the airbags. Safety isn't high on most peoples agenda. Sorry that I can't offer any info.

Airbags are like insurance - you only find out you had a dud policy (airbag) when you make a claim (have an accident). Bit more keenly focused on vehicle safety with kids ready to learn how to drive! Noticed that the LR service schedule mentions replacing airbags after so many kms (forgot how many) - prohibitively expensive though!

I can imagine them being very expensive. Perhaps Britpart make an alternative.

Intestinalworm said:

What sort (make) of airbag does/did Land Rover use?

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Takata Corporation started to supply airbags to UK vehicle builders in 1980 so i presume that the bags for LR are being made by them since then.... about what technology they used i have no ideea

It seems more and more vehicles keep getting recalled - just wondered whether other manufacturers used the same inherently flawed firing mechanism or different systems altogether? I did read that early on when they were aware of the problem Takata were using desiccant (silica gel) to absorb the moisture before it could react with (hydrate) the explosive chemical; can't see the point really, just delays the inevitable. Will do a bit of research...

I believe that Honda were the first to issue a recall around 10 years a go, a few years later my Honda company car at the time went in to the dealers and half an hour later job done, its the firing module that’s replace not the bag I believe, not that I was that interested in the info I was told.
Earlier this year my wife’s Honda had the recall done and again only half hour job.

In America there’s a list of vehicles affected. https://thomasjhenrylaw.com/blog/pr...-recall-a-complete-list-of-affected-vehicles/
Here in the UK the Government has a search facility https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall

Just Google as there’s more that I don’t have the time to find, so it’s back to work.




Sent from my iPad on a train

Irc lL/R said the bags were good for 10yrs then they upped it to 15yrs and I have not heard anything since, I suppose they assume most cars are dead by 15yrs old.

lynall said:

Irc lL/R said the bags were good for 10yrs then they upped it to 15yrs and I have not heard anything since, I suppose they assume most cars are dead by 15yrs old.

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You have missed the point I think, some Takata SRS airbags used in various vehicles around the world have proved to be faulty, therefore unfortunately some have a deployed with deadly force, it’s nothing to do with age.
My company car wasn’t alone when it was recalled, there was another three cars that the company had which went into the dealer at the same time to be fixed, all were only two years old, the four cars were replace a year later again for Honda cars, which had no issues for the following three years and then replaced again.
According to our Honda Dealer it could take years to deal with recall on just the vehicle known to them, i.e new vehicle sales and or service of the vehicles.
My wife’s Honda and purchased new was recalled this year and dealt with, but its now four years old and serviced by the same dealer every year so known to them.

The chemical at the heart of the air bag reaction is called sodium azide, or NaN3. CRASHES trip sensors in cars that send an electric signal to an ignitor. The heat generated causes sodium azide to decompose into sodium metal and nitrogen gas, which inflates the car's air bags.
https://www.scientificamerican.com › article › how-do-air-bags-work

Guess I'll leave them alone - replacement with new likely c.$5K for both front air bags. Reckon that's one of the main reasons a lot of vehicles get written off - too expensive to replace airbags.

I have the feeling that you became a bit too paranoic in this area... please rest your mind cos i've never seen any problems with the D2 airbags whatsoever, better drink a pint of beer and forget about it

sierrafery said:

I have the feeling that you became a bit too paranoic in this area... please rest your mind cos i've never seen any problems with the D2 airbags whatsoever, better drink a pint of beer and forget about it

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Yeah, just that the teenage daughter wants to drive - she prefers to drive the Td5 because she sees the road better! Should be okay - not on recall, so guess no minuscule risk of shrapnel injury/death if they go off! Likely outcome is at some stage they may not work (go off at all) - like everything else I guess. It is strange that LR include airbag replacement in their maintenance schedule - as if, given $$$s?!