US Safety Group Calls for NHTSA Investigation into Chevy Impala Airbags
The Center for Auto Safety has urged US regulators to investigate potential airbag failures in Chevrolet Impalas from model years 2003 to 2010, following reports of fatal non-deployments.
A leading US automotive safety group has asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate whether a defect in Chevrolet Impalas built between 2003 and 2010 could prevent airbags from deploying in a crash.
The request was made by the Center for Auto Safety, which cited a pattern of fatal front-impact crashes involving these Impalas where airbags failed to deploy. According to the group, 143 deaths have occurred in such crashes, with 98 of the victims reportedly wearing seat belts. The Center alleges that a flaw in the car’s computer code could cause the passenger airbag to switch off if the occupant is jostled on the seat before a collision. This could leave both driver and passenger unprotected in a serious impact.
Focus on airbag non-deployments
The Center for Auto Safety has asked NHTSA to review each fatal crash involving non-deployment to determine whether the airbags should have activated and to identify any underlying causes. The group’s letter to regulators follows a series of high-profile safety recalls at General Motors, including the 2014 ignition switch recall that affected 2.6 million vehicles and could also disable airbags in the event of a fault.
The safety group’s intervention comes amid heightened scrutiny of GM’s safety record. The company’s earlier ignition switch defect led to a wave of recalls and regulatory investigations, raising questions about the robustness of airbag and safety systems in several GM models from the same era.
What the investigation could mean for owners and GM
If NHTSA opens a formal investigation and finds a defect, General Motors could be required to recall hundreds of thousands of Impalas from the 2003–2010 model years. Such a recall would add to the manufacturer’s recent history of large-scale safety actions and could affect resale values and insurance costs for current owners. For drivers, the central concern is whether their vehicles’ airbags will function as intended in a crash.
At the time of the group’s request, NHTSA had not announced whether it would open an investigation. General Motors had already faced scrutiny for other safety-related recalls but had not issued a recall for the Impala airbag issue raised by the Center for Auto Safety.
Context: GM’s broader safety challenges
The push for an Impala airbag probe followed a difficult period for GM, which had announced a recall of 2.6 million vehicles earlier in 2014 for ignition switch problems that could also affect airbag deployment. The Center for Auto Safety has previously called attention to other safety issues, including the Jeep fuel tank controversy. The group’s actions have often led to regulatory reviews and, in some cases, recalls.
Owners of affected Impalas are advised to monitor NHTSA communications for updates. Any formal investigation or recall would be detailed on the agency’s website and through direct notifications to registered owners.
