S'pore man, 57, killed by metal piece ejected from defective airbag during SLE chain collision

A 57-year-old man, who died in a 2022 chain collision along the Seleter Expressway (SLE), was found to have been killed by a metal piece discharged with force from a defective Takata airbag.

The airbag has a defect that may cause metal shrapnel to be ejected when deployed.

It was recalled worldwide in 2013, but is possibly still used by thousands of cars here, CNA reported.

Object penetrated his head

The driver, Michael Ong Kong Meng, was killed when a metal piece, apparently broken off from an object in the airbag, penetrated his head.

He was the only driver injured in the collision.

Killed by metal object

Ong had been driving along the SLE on Oct. 10, 2022, when the chain collision happened, the coroner's court heard on Sep. 29.

Six cars were involved.

Ong's was the fifth.

Only car whose airbags were deployed

When Ong collided with the vehicle in front of him, it caused a "quite extensive" impact that led to his airbags being deployed.

His was the only vehicle that had its airbags deployed, CNA reported.

He was subsequently taken unconscious to the hospital, where he later died.

An autopsy found that a metal object, measuring 1.5cm in length and 2.2cm in diameter, had penetrated his head.

The object was determined to have been from the internal components of the airbag, which could have been broken and expelled.

It had apparently exited the airbag at an upward angle.

The airbag

Ong's is the first death in Singapore involving the Takata airbag, the court heard.

But over a dozen people have been killed globally due to the defect, and many others maimed, CNA reported.

Ever since the recall was issued in 2013, 198,800 vehicles have been recalled in Singapore.

This represents a completion rate of 94 per cent, which means that up to 11,928 cars may still be in possession of a defective airbag.

The Takata airbag affected multiple car models, including several by Honda, said distributor Kah Motor.

These include the Civic, City, Jazz, Stream, and Accord, which were manufactured between 2002 and 2011.

Kah Motor said that between 2012 and 2014, 415 of the 2,100 vehicles they sold were affected by the recall.

They have replaced 410 of those.

The owners of the five remaining vehicles did not respond to the recall.

On the remaining 6 per cent of vehicles affected by the recall, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) was asked if they knew of the vehicle's status.

Ng Lok Yee, an LTA principal engineer who testified at the hearing, said the agency does know the status, as it tracks them, and the recall is ongoing.

Car had passed hands

Ong's car was registered in March 2009 and imported and sold by car importer Hong Sin Motors.

He had not purchased the car directly from Hong Sin, but the car had "passed a few hands", his widow's lawyer said.

Ng said that manufacturers and dealers — including parallel importers like Hong Sin — are legally required to give notice of recalls to Land Transport Authority (LTA).

Hong Sin Motors would then have had to notify LTA and follow up with the car owners.

But the company has been defunct since 2017, the court heard.

It did not notify LTA about the recall, and did not report the recall exercise for the vehicle belonging to Ong.

Recall framework

As Hong Sin Motors was a parallel importer, it did not have a direct link with the manufacturer.

This is unlike authorised motor dealers, who are notified by the manufacturer about recalls.

Parallel importers are hence required to do their due diligence on recalls, and check if any vehicles they sold are affected, Ng said.

LTA may take action against those who fail to fulfil their legal obligations.

But without dealer confirmation, the agency cannot confirm if a vehicle was affected by a recall.

It is also operationally impossible for LTA to reach out, as it has no business relations with the manufacturer.

LTA said it adopts a "balanced approach" by ensuring that recall notices are sent to vehicle owners after dealers confirm they are affected.

Vehicle owners who have received recall notifications from their dealers should contact their motor dealer, who will advise on rectification and interim measures.

Failure to comply with a recall order is an offence under the Road Traffic Act, Ng said.

Top image from OneMotoring