That recall is actually far larger than a few airbags made over a couple days (it's more like 65-70 million airbags) but this is exactly my point. The operating principle of an SRS system is pretty straightforward. Computer detects a crash, computer fires the airbags. It's actually a separate module that's only got the one job. Despite its relative simplicity there are also recalls where it sometimes fails to fire the airbag [1], or sometimes fires it for no reason at all! [2]

If the automakers can't catch problems in a simple system like this, just imagine what sort of new and exciting failures we'll see in an inadequately-tested car autopilot! These things need to be very thoroughly tested before we allow lots of them on the road, and that needs to happen before they omit the steering wheel.

[1] http://www.automotive-fleet.com/channel/safety-accident-mana...

[2] https://www.autoblog.com/2015/10/30/fca-recalls-894k-total-v...

Don’t you think that the number of recalls would be even higher without motor racing being used as a proving ground?

If your airbag fires you’re already in an accident and might die anyway. You’ve already accepted that risk. There are probably better recall examples but I’m not sure it’d disprove the underlying point though.