해당 에어백은 팽창될 때 금속파편이 튀어 승객을 다치게 할 수 있어 전세계적으로 리콜이 진행되고 있는 상황. 그 동안 벤츠는 중국 등 다른 시장과는 달리 한국에서는 “자체조사가 진행 중”이라며 리콜을 1년 가까이 미뤄 국토교통부와 여론의 비난을 받아왔다.
일반적으로는 제조사들이 부품을 먼저 수급한 이후에 리콜을 진행하기 때문에 대기기간이 길어져 문제가 되는 사례는 극히 드물었다.
역시 다카타 에어백 관련 리콜을 진행하고 있는 BMW코리아 관계자는 “리콜 통보 전에 부품을 수급해 고객들의 대기기간을 최대한 줄이고 있다"고 설명했다.
이에 벤츠관계자는 “국토부에서 리콜을 지시했지만 자체조사에서는 해당 에어백에서 결함을 발견하지 못했다"며 "지나치게 우려할 필요가 없다"고 말했다.
하지만 전문가들은 이미 해당 에어백과 관련한 사고가 있었던 만큼 사고 가능성은 충분하다고 지적한다.
대덕대학교 자동차학과 이호근 교수는 “국내에는 제조사가 사고원인규명과 관련해 소극적인 태도를 보였다는 이유만으로도 벌금을 부과하는 징벌적인 제도가 없기 때문에 벤츠와 같이 리콜에 소극적인 상황이 발생한다”며 관련 규정의 미비를 지적하기도 했다.
벤츠코리아가 국내에서 리콜하는 차량은 약 32,000대다. 대상차종은 2008-2012년식 C클래스, 2010-2012년식 E클래스 등이다. 앞서 국토부는 18,724대를 리콜대상차량으로 분류했다.
<영문 원본 기사>
Mercedes-Benz face flak for negligent recalls[THE INVESTOR] Complaints are rising in Korea over negligence of Mercedes-Benz in carrying through an effective recall program for the German carmaker’s vehicles.
When car owners who were informed to receive recall services for faulty air bags called up Mercedes-Benz last week, some were told to wait for a month until they can secure the right parts. When asked what happens if an accident occurs before the recall, they were told to “drive safely.”
“They told me to wait until the end of February, and when I asked what happens if I get in an accident, the person on the other end just told me to try and drive safely,” one Mercedes owner told The Investor on the condition of anonymity on Jan. 22.
Mercedes-Benz also told customers that if an accident does happen and they incur injuries, they would have to prove legally that it was due to their air bags.
In December last year, Mercedes-Benz Korea decided to recall 32,000 vehicles equipped with Takata air bags, widely known as “deadly” air bags, after postponing the decision for more than a year since the ministry first gave the order. The company delayed the recall saying that the issue has not been resolved with its headquarters.
The problematic air bags have been blamed for the deaths of at least 18 passengers worldwide due to shrapnel that are expelled when it inflates.
Despite the findings, Mercedes-Benz says it’s OK to be relaxed about safety because it’s doing something it doesn’t really need to do.
“Our independent findings show that the air bags aren’t defective, so we are actually doing something that isn’t necessary,” a spokesperson explained. “And we also agreed to do more recalls than the government asked, so it’s taking more time to prepare the parts.”
Experts say the German carmaker appears to be dragging its feet due to a lack of stronger guidelines or penalties in Korea.
“Unlike the US, where carmakers can be fined for being passive in examining the cause of accidents, there are no such regulations here. This is why it’s almost as if companies like Mercedes are doing us a big favor by 'agreeing' to recalls,” said Lee Ho-geun, professor of automotive engineering at Daeduk University.
He added that even if the auto company does not find problems on its own, there is a reason why the government ordered a recall, and the first priority should be safety.
Mercedes-Benz’s attitude on safety is also in contrast with BMW Korea, which is also undergoing recalls for the same Takata airbags.
“We inform our customers to receive recall services after we are fully prepared,” said a spokesperson of the local unit of the Germany luxury carmaker. Customers can come in immediately to get their services, so the chance of an accident happening is quite slim.”
Mercedes-Benz started selling cars in Korea in in 2002. Last year, the carmaker sold 68,861 units here with its sales growing 22.2 percent from the previous year.
By Song Seung-hyun (
ssh@heraldcorp.com)
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