Rebuilt Airbags

Sequence of Events: Rebuilt Air Bags

June 27, 2001
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in a letter addressed to the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), informed us that the air bags rebuilt by Coussins gonflables Demers inc. of Québec City were apparently substandard and represented a risk for occupants of vehicles so equipped.

July 10 to 20, 2001
Inquiry, acquisition of air bags and rebuilding of these by Coussins gonflables Demers inc..

July 24 and August 28, 2001
Meetings with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the École polytechnique of Montréal, and development of a protocol for a scientific study on air bags by his team. Acquisition and rebuilding of other air bags.

August 28 to November 12, 2001
Scientific study on air bags: Documentary research, approach of manufacturers, removal and observation of the intactness of the components of two air bags, visual expertise of six air bags, etc.

November 13, 2001
Deployment test of four air bags at the Centre d'essais de PMG Technologie in Blainville. Findings: two of the four air bags could be risky for the occupants of a vehicle in the event of deployment.

November 16 and 20, 2001
Meetings with the company. The SAAQ demands a halt to the sale of rebuilt air bags and recalls the rebuilt air bags installed in all 1997-1999 Ford Escort and 2000-2001 Ford Focus vehicles.

November 21, 2001
Issue of a press release: “The SAAQ demands the recall of certain faulty airbags.”

November 23 to 26, 2001
Acquisition of additional air bags and further testing.

November 23, 2001
Notice given to the Sûreté du Québec, Property Crime Division.

November 27, 2001

• Press conference and issue of a press release: “Warning from the SAAQ about rebuilt air bags / Injunction sought against two firms in the Québec City area.”
• Procedure launched on November 28 for an interim injunction.
• The Transport Minister sends a letter to the federal Transport Minister and all provincial counterparts to inform them of the dangers represented by air bags rebuilt by the two Québec firms.

November 29, 2001

• Public Notice issued: “Warning from the SAAQ”
• Letter sent to the Corporation des concessionnaires automobiles du Québec (Quebec Automobile Dealers Corporation) with a request for collaboration to deactivate and replace the air bags, including a list of tips showing how to spot a rebuilt air bag.

December 1, 2001
Public Notice issued: “Warning from the SAAQ”.

December 2 to 4, 2001
Presentation, explanation of the situation and remittance of documentation concerning rebuilt air bags at a meeting held in Ottawa of the CCMTA (Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators). Intervention leading to the creation of a pan-Canadian Project Group on Airbags, chaired by the SAAQ, to establish a framework for the use of rebuilt and recycled air bags.

December 6, 2001

• Letter sent to the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (request for information and collaboration).
• Letter to the AIAMC Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada (request for information and collaboration).

December 7, 2001
Letter sent to the Corporation des concessionnaires automobiles du Québec (Quebec Automobile Dealers Corporation) accompanied by an intervention form.

December 12, 2001
Letter sent to automotive bodyshops (3,000) accompanied by an intervention form.

December 13, 2001

• Letter sent to the owners of rebuilt vehicles
• Letter reiterating the recall sent by Coussins gonflables Demers inc. to Québec purchasers.

December 17, 2001 to January 9, 2002
Radio broadcast: “Warning from the SAAQ”.

December 19, 2001
Information dispatched to the CCMTA “drivers and vehicles committee”.

December 20, 2001
Bankruptcy of the firms Demers and National coussins gonflables (Syndic Roy, Métivier, Roberge inc. (trustee) replacing the two said firms).

December 21, 2001 to January 8, 2002
Communication with the Trustee in order to dispatch a recall letter destined to purchasers outside Québec.

January 15, 2002
Meeting with Natural Resources Canada and request for a deployment procedure for rebuilt air bags.

January 25, 2002
Recall letter of the Trustee to purchasers outside Québec.

February 6, 2002
Press release by the Office de la protection du consommateur (Consumer Protection Bureau) on possible recourse for consumers with problems of rebuilt air bags.

February 15, 2002
Mailing of rebuilt air bag deployment procedure drafted by Natural Resources Canada (Explosives Regulation Division) to the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada and all Québec bodyshops.

March 4 to 10, 2002
Québec City's Automotive Fair (Kiosk on air bags and restraint devices).

March 11, 2002
Press conference and news release: the SAAQ issues another warning – presentation of a report from the École polytechnique de Montréal on tests done of rebuilt air bags with a video showing sequences of hazardous deployment.

April 4, 2002
Letter signed by the SAAQ's chairman and CEO to the purchasers of air bags rebuilt by Coussins gonflables Demers inc., automotive dealers, body shops and the owners of rebuilt vehicles, reiterating the recall of December 2001.

April 8, 2002
First meeting of the CCATM-initiated pan-Canadian Project Group on Airbags, chaired by the SAAQ.

(Source: Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec, April 2002)

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