Takata Air Bags ....seriously?

[RUCRAYZE]

Let me pose a question, there are not many companies that can supply the required amount of air bags. Let's start from the position that to Takata is the lowest bidder to supply air bags, How much more will you be willing to add to the cost of your Elio to use a different supplier? Two hundred three five?

I might go an extra $200 as I am not fond of Takata.... How about you?

Remember Takata is Atakat spelled backwards which in Japanese is their Chinese company, from which, they will undersell Takata, and all others- and corner the market as they replace the bags. i.e. they make money either way, so no matter the additional cost you are ready to pay, you'll wind up with, perhaps lower quality. I hope in fact EM stays with Takata

 

[Bert]

Hmm? o_O
May have to go to Washington to find enough air bags!!

Seriously though, the bits of metal they found in the passenger side systems of "some" vehicles, hardly equates to abandoning a company. Especially when we know they'll fix the problem!
We can feel certain no one knew about this ahead of time. The ignition problem was known for years, not just of GM either. The answer was hardly a difficult one, simply don't add junk to your keychain!
Second best fix, make it so you HAD to push the tumblers (switch) in before turning it!

 

[Stephen Workman]

Stephen, I don't think anyone here is replying in a mean spirited way, aggravated, yes, frustrated, yes but mostly trying to convince you that a perceived danger is really not much of one at all and by acting on that perceived danger you are putting your life at risk. I, for one, am relieved you are reconsidering your stance. I can see where you might have thought no airbags are better than ones that fill your face and chest with shrapnel! Please though, consider the odds, check out the info (the internet is going to be flooded with it I'm guessing) and join the rest of us knuckleheads to live another day to do something foolish that we enjoy doing! Thousands of surviving crash dummies can't be wrong! And then there are those mechanical human analogs that did pretty well too!

Thanks, Mike! At 53, I'm still learning. I guess I'm just getting older - and not certain I like these 'new-fangled gizmos'! Humor I'll take my Elio as it's built and just be thankful when I can drive it. I'm a pretty defensive driver (and a defensive parker too - as my wife would add). I feel safe when I'm driving - sometimes I have to be reminded that I'm seldom alone on the road - and that is what all of you have reminded me. Thanks, guys and gals! I hope none of us never gets to go through an Elio airbag deployment. I want to drive mine until the end.

 

[Mike W]

Thanks, Mike! At 53, I'm still learning. I guess I'm just getting older - and not certain I like these 'new-fangled gizmos'! Humor I'll take my Elio as it's built and just be thankful when I can drive it. I'm a pretty defensive driver (and a defensive parker too - as my wife would add). I feel safe when I'm driving - sometimes I have to be reminded that I'm seldom alone on the road - and that is what all of you have reminded me. Thanks, guys and gals! I hope none of us never gets to go through an Elio airbag deployment. I want to drive mine until the end.

I know what you mean, with electronica I master the stuff I want to use and don't worry about the rest. I have a dumb cell phone (I use it to talk, it has some other rudimentary functions I rarely use). My life uses electronics and electronic related features and services that make my life easier. The airbag is just one of those things that fall in that catagory. Can I live without it? Yup, but as long as it is there and statistically keeps me safer I'll go with it. You are right, defensive driving is what will keep you safe 95% of the time, it's those idiots that are drunk, texting or simply choose to drive as they will that will make you glad you have the airbags! I have never had to experience airbag deployment and hope to keep my record that way!

 

[Ty]

Let me pose a question, there are not many companies that can supply the required amount of air bags. Let's start from the position that to Takata is the lowest bidder to supply air bags, How much more will you be willing to add to the cost of your Elio to use a different supplier? Two hundred three five?

I might go an extra $200 as I am not fond of Takata.... How about you?

$0. Takata is the most experienced Air Bag manufacturer out there. Why should I worry about something that happens about as often as I win the lottery?

 

[Jambe]

Takata is the most experienced Air Bag manufacturer out there.

More experienced than Autoliv which produces airbags in Utah?
http://www.autoliv.com/AboutUs/Pages/InBrief/default.aspx

 

[Stephen Workman]

More experienced than Autoliv which produces airbags in Utah?
http://www.autoliv.com/AboutUs/Pages/InBrief/default.aspx

Sounds more US-based than Takata. Perhaps someone could notify Elio Motors as a possible new source for safety/airbags.

 

[Buckeyejake]

Yesterday at our Ohio Elio Owners get together the Takata airbag recall issue came up. With the major player in airbags having to recall millions of airbags in the market will they be able to supply Elio with the needed components when production begins? This major airbag recall may take years to resolve. Will Elio's needs take a back seat to the major players in the industry?

 

[WilliamH]

Yesterday at our Ohio Elio Owners get together the Takata airbag recall issue came up. With the major player in airbags having to recall millions of airbags in the market will they be able to supply Elio with the needed components when production begins? This major airbag recall may take years to resolve. Will Elio's needs take a back seat to the major players in the industry?

Interesting question, but do we potentially want shrapnel impinging on our seating space from three different directions?
Keeping in mind the Elio's airbags are set to all trip at once.

 

[JEBar]

according to a news report they showed the component module that needs to be changed .... my guess would be that they would have to boost the production of those modules .... with a recall this extensive it would seem to me that they will do all they can to up production of their airbags so as to help cover the cost of the recall .... the good news is by the time EM gets into production, Takata should have restructured their production to meet whatever the demand proves to be