General Motors to recall six million cars in US over airbag safety issue

The recall is expected to cost the company $400m next year and about $1.2bn in total

GM has agreed to recall almost six million pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles that contain Takata airbags in the US, and another 544,000 in Canada. The recall has been one of the biggest in history, affecting 63 million airbags. AFP / Getty ImagesShow less

General Motors is recalling 5.9 million vehicles in the US after losing an appeal over a government-ordered callback related to a massive safety issue affecting more than 60 million air bags and almost every major car maker.

The company said on Monday it will comply with a ruling by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall the vehicles after the agency denied its appeal, saying the carmaker had not established the callback was unnecessary.

“Based on data generated through independent scientific evaluation conducted over several years, we disagree with NHTSA’s position. However, we will abide by NHTSA’s decision and begin taking the necessary steps,” the company said in a statement.

GM had argued the design and integration of Takata air bags into certain of its vehicles made the risk of defective equipment inconsequential, but NHTSA denied that petition and forced the automaker to abide by its recall order.

The recall is expected to cost $1.2 billion over a period of several years, including about $400 million in 2021, said Dan Flores, a company spokesman. The recall totals 7 million vehicles globally, with most sold in the US and some 544,000 in Canada, he said.

The affected vehicles include certain 2007-2014 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, Chevy Avalanche, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade models.

The recall of Takata airbags is the largest and longest safety actions in history, covering 63 million air bags in vehicles from GM, BMW, Ford, Honda, Tesla, Toyota, and 11 others, or one of every five cars on the road in the US.