CALIFORNIA, USA — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a consumer alert about decorative emblem decals for steering wheels. It says in the event of a crash, the force of the airbag could turn the decoration into a "projectile."
These rhinestone-covered emblems or shiny decals are often placed on or near the logo of the vehicle and have an adhesive back.
The NHTSA says at least one driver was seriously hurt, losing their sight in one eye because they were hit in the face by one of these aftermarket emblems that came off the steering wheel in a crash.
It says these decals could potentially cause serious injuries or death. The NHTSA also says alterations or changes to the airbag or the cover could cause it not to work correctly.
Jennifer Morrison, a leader of vehicle safety at Mazda, says when there's a crash anything can and will break loose and move inside of the vehicle, so her advice is to steer clear of decorations and leave the vehicle as it was originally designed.
"We get why people might be encouraged to decorate them or personalize them but putting an emblem or any kind of decoration on top of an airbag can be problematic," said Morrison. "Even something as small as a rhinestone or a gem can cause injury and people forget that airbags are all around modern vehicles these days."
Morrison says airbags are meant to react fast in the event of a crash and can inflate 12 to 18 inches in milliseconds, which is a lot of force.
She says the tiniest details are considered when these systems are going through testing and design so they can react, deploy, and decelerate properly.
Morrison says airbags can be found in the steering wheel, outboard edges, glove compartment area, and even in seats, so seat covers can be another issue.
If people already have these decals in their cars, the NHTSA recommends removing them.
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