Holden in huge car recall
From: AAP

March 14, 2006


LOCAL car producer Holden has recalled more than 120,000 cars to fix a problem with the side airbag system.
Holden today said the recall involved 89,167 cars sold in the domestic market and 34,552 export vehicles built in Australia between April 2003 and December 2005.

The list included Commodore, Statesman, Caprice, Monaro and Crewman models sold in Australia and similar vehicles sold in various countries, badged as other brands and models.

Holden said the recall only affected cars fitted with a side airbag system as a standard feature or an optional extra.

It had been issued following reports that side impact airbags had inflated under circumstances which did not warrant inflation.

"This may be caused by static electricity charge, generated in particular conditions, which stimulates the airbag inflator if an earthing wire under the seat has come loose," the company said.

"Such conditions can be generated only when the car is stationary and the person is exiting or has exited one of the front seats, as sufficient charge must be generated and the outer side seat bolster compressed to reach the side airbag inflator."

Holden said the problem would be fixed free of charge with the installation of an additional earth spring at the front of each height adjustable seat to correctly earth any charge.

It said there had been 13 reports of incorrect airbag inflation since 2003 but no reports of any accidents as a result.

Holden's executive director of engineering, Tony Hyde, said inflation would occur only while the car was stationary.

"Electrostatic charge accumulation usually requires some sort of moving activity which is generated while swinging out of a seat," Mr Hyde said.

"This action also brings the occupant closer to the side impact airbags as the backrest side bolster is compressed when getting out of the seat.

"The bolster will not be sufficiently compressed while driving to allow any charge to reach the inflator."

Holden said owners with affected cars would be contacted individually.

Details of the recall also were being published in national newspapers.

mm not good

but then ford has had simalar recalls as well

recalls are normal now days
even though car companies spend big $$ reproducing real world situations nothing can replicate a real world situation as well as normal ppl
things such as static charge like this

meh,. why do recalls bother anyone ... considering the amount recalls that happen every year - it isn't like Ford hasn't had any....

Much prefer a manufacturer to recall the cars as opposed to turning a blind eye. Much prefer conservatism in this area.

Should benefit the brand as opposed to harming it IMO. And besides, cant sell new cars to dead people.

Does sound like an expensive one tho.

I also thought FOMOCO had a similar issue with static building up and discharging airbags?

It's only airbags.

It would have been more exciting if it were engine or tranny issues.

THEN we would have had somethig to give Holden lovers the s**t about.

I'm not exactly going to tell my work mate (who LOVES Holdens) "Oh suck s**t, Holden had to recall it's dog s**t cars because of..........................................................................................................................air bag depolyment issues..."

I guess Ford learn't a lesson about turning a blind eye in the US. I think it was the Ford Pinto or some el cheepo car they made there that had a problem with exploding fuel tanks if the car was rear ended. Turns out Ford new about it, and had worked out that it was probably going to be cheaper to do nothing and settle any cases against them than to actually do a recall. In the end the judge stung Ford Motor Company for it!

Do falcons even have side air bags in the new models anyway?

some do i belive? territory maybe?

yeh i was reading that it would have only cost about $11 or so to fix

Yeah Falcons, have side airbags, my mates BA Series 1 Futura has them.
They're the same at the Crumpledoors, they have them in up-spec models, or their safety models, like Acclaim/Futura.

this is the second time holden has had recalls on airbags, the first time had something to do with the bosch module or sensors.
i'm not sure if it was a recall or a 'fix while being serviced' fix.

Can you recall about 2 years ago they had another recall regarding the power steering failing!!
A mate at work has to have her side airbags checked, it involves removing the seat covers to gain access to the faulty components then hopefully getting the seat covers back on with no visible damage. Holden dealers knew about the problem befor the media told us!