Synopsis
- Wagner Reese product liability attorneys have been following the Takata
air bag disaster since it hit in 2013. - The recall is the largest series of automotive recalls in U.S. history
making Takata the recipient of the largest-ever civil penalty in violation
of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. - In May 2016 the Takata air bag recalls were expanded into phases according
to priority and regional risk. - Several additional recall updates were released in Summer 2018 including
information on Ford’s class-action settlement agreement and concerns
for Florida car owners and others who reside in warm weather states to
take special caution in checking their VIN and repair any air bag issues
immediately. - Additional Takata air bags have been scheduled to be recalled thru December
2019 with a recall completion date of December 31, 2020. Stay connected
with Wagner Reese for all future Takata air bag recall updates.
Takata Air Bag Disaster Updates, Summer 2018
So far, 37 million vehicles have been identified to replace defective and
potentially deadly Takata air bag inflators that could put drivers at
risk of death or major injury. According to Consumer Affairs, “At
the heart of the problem is the airbag’s inflator, a metal cartridge
loaded with propellant wafers, which in some cases has ignited with explosive
force. If the inflator housing ruptures in a crash, metal shards from
the airbag can be sprayed throughout the passenger cabin—a potentially
disastrous outcome from a supposedly life-saving device.”
Summer 2018 updates on the massive air bag recall by Consumer Reports includes:
- July 17: Ford’s
class-action settlement agreement over Takata airbags promises to give consumers some relief. It’s
the seventh such deal cut by the class-action attorneys handling claims
against the 19 car companies. The owners of Ford vehicles who agree to
the deal will receive free loaner cars while waiting for their Takata
repairs, as well as small cash payments for their out-of-pocket expenses. - June 7: NHTSA has urged Florida car owners to check their Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) to see if their car is involved and if so, to take urgent
action. There is concern that South Florida, in particular, is a high-risk
area due to the weather and the number of extremely low, unrepaired completion
rate of identified faulty vehicles in South Florida.
The Takata Air Bag recall is the largest series of automotive recalls in
U.S. history making Takata the recipient of the largest-ever civil penalty
imposed by the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) for violations of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. At this date, 23 car
brands by 19 automakers have recalled 69 million inflators in 42 million
vehicles. At least 24 people have died worldwide and more than 260 have
been hurt.
Owners Can Use Their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to Identify Any
Known Vehicle Recall
Car owners can visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls to find out if their car or truck is under recall by searching with their
vehicle’s unique 17-character VIN, found on the lower left of a
car or truck windshield. Vehicles scheduled for future recalls will not
show up in this initial search, so it is important to check regularly,
at least twice per year. If the vehicle does have a recall, local dealers
are responsible for the free repair. There are priority groups and U.S.
regions in urgent need for the Takata air bag recalls and parts are only
available for certain vehicles starting on certain dates.
Car Accident Injury Due to Faulty Airbag or Auto Part?
Wagner Reese attorneys are experienced with
car accidents and
product liability. If you believe a faulty Takata airbag or other defective auto part caused
your injury, contact us at (888) 204-8440 to schedule an appointment
or use our confidential
contact form. Vehicle defects and vehicle-related recalls are not only an inconvenience
and huge economic loss, they can also lead to serious
accidents and injuries and tragic deaths.
Additional resources:
- Visit
www.safercar.gov to check the recall status of your vehicles. - Go to
https://www.airbagrecall.com to check if your vehicle has been affected.