Chevrolet has sent a reminder to its Malaysian customers about the Recall campaign of 3,725 units of Chevrolet and Saab vehicles in Malaysia which was done in June of last year. The company says the recall, which is aimed at replacing potentially faulty Takata driver airbag inflators in affected vehicles, is still ongoing.
As a summary, the affected models are:
- Chevrolet Cruze (model year 2010-2015)
- Chevrolet Orlando (2013-2015 model year)
- Chevrolet Sonic (2013-2014 model year)
- Chevrolet Trax (2017 model year)
- Saab 9-3 (2007 model year)
As highlighted last year, the company said affected vehicles may be equipped with driver airbag inflators containing non-desiccated PSAN (phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate) propellant tablets, which may undergo alterations after exposure to high temperatures and daytime temperature cycles in a high humidity environment.
As a result, the inflator can rupture if gas generation exceeds the inflator’s ability to vent gas. This can result in a higher rate of pressurization and pressure spikes that can exceed the mechanical strength of the inflator, causing casing rupture.
A spokesman for Chevrolet Sales Thailand, the company responsible for the recall campaign in the Southeast Asia region, said the response rate in Malaysia has been below expectations, hence the reminder. The company said the low uptake is alarming, as fatalities can occur if faulty airbags deploy in a crash, and urged owners of these vehicles to replace the airbags.
“We hope Malaysian motorists will help spread the word, or forward it to friends and loved ones who may have an affected Chevrolet vehicle. Affected Chevrolet owners who did not receive alerts or calls due to outdated data are encouraged to contact our call team or log on to the recall campaign microsite for more details. For your safety and that of your loved ones, it is ideal to replace the airbag before vacation travel begins,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
According to Chevrolet, since the affected vehicles are not new, it has been difficult to trace customers and owners due to outdated customer data. This is compounded by the lack of an official Chevrolet office in Malaysia.
However, since the free airbag replacements are handled by select authorized Honda dealers, Chevrolet hopes that owners and customers will take advantage of the convenience of Honda’s comprehensive service center network. He added that although the timeline for the end of the collaboration has not been announced, affected owners are encouraged to take advantage of this convenience as soon as possible, as it will be very difficult to access the recall repairs once the collaboration with Honda Malaysia ends. .
Affected homeowners are encouraged to visit the Chevrolet recall microsite for all the necessary details. A call team has also been set up to contact customers who may have difficulties connecting to the Internet. For additional inquiries, vehicle owners may also call 011-3129-9963 either 011-3129-9965.
