The blog has previously discussed the growing concerns associated with the airbag recall that continues to worsen. Most of us use our cars on a daily basis so it is important that they are safe to drive and ride in. It is possible that millions of people are at risk, however, because of the defective airbags that have been recalled. Earlier in May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration expanded the recall again to include 70 million more vehicles impacted, making it the largest automotive recall in U.S. history.
Unfortunately, because of the size of the recall, many car owners impacted by the recall are sitting and waiting for their defective airbags to be replaced. The manufacturer of the defective airbags, that sold them to a high number of car makers, has been overwhelmed by the need for replacement of the defective airbags which has created an extremely serious situation, according to the NHTSA. The recall impacts nearly all, if not all, Takata airbags which were sold to 21 different automakers and impact 150 different automobile models.
Late last year, the manufacturer noted that it knew about the airbag problems for years, withheld information and misled investigators. The defect has been located in the airbag’s inflator. According to federal investigators, the airbag’s assembly can explode and send metal shrapnel into the driver. In addition, the airbag can also deploy and the cylindrical inflator will shoot at the driver in a manner resembling a missile. To date, 10 victims have died due to the airbags in the United States and 13 other victims have died across the globe as a result of the defective airbags.
Automotive recalls can impact any and all of us and defective automotive parts and motor vehicles can cause significant harm. There are a variety of protections in place to help keep consumers safe and legal options available to help protect victims when harmed; it is important that consumers and victims of defective motor vehicles are familiar with all of the resources available to them if they have suffered damages as a result of an automotive defect.
Source: Denver.cbslocal.com, “Airbag Recall Putting Millions At Risk ‘Like A House Of Cards’,” Stan Bush, May 16, 2016