The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced the largest airbag recall in history in 2016 over Takata Airbags, but this wasn’t the first recall. In 1995, Takata Aribags were recalled, making it the second largest in the history of the Department of Transportation. Then again in 2016, another recall was announced. The problem, Takata airbags are the most used airbags in the United States.
Takata airbags are in 19 different automaker vehicles, e.g. Hondas, Acuras, Mazdas, Fords, BMWs, Jeeps, Chryslers, Dodges, Fiats, and Toyotas. The challenge is that the recalls go back decades. For example, in May of 2021, BMW recalled vehicles manufactured from 1999-2001 for issues with Takata airbags.
Takata eventually filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017, but the company is still in business and distributing airbags, but now under the new name, Joyson Safety Systems.. The investigation, which spans over 20 different automakers across 13 different model years, is projected to affect some 67 million vehicles across the country and 100 million vehicles worldwide. The airbags in question, made by manufacturing giant Takata, have been deemed responsible for a number of deaths due to explosive deployment rooted in a defect with its activation.
Background on the Investigation
The roots of the 2016 recalls was a 2014 New York Times article that revealed Takata knowledge of dangerous defects in its airbags. From there, the NHTSA opened its initial investigation, which eventually led to incremental recalls over the next seven years from major auto brands like Ford, Honda, and Toyota. During that same period,19 separate deaths have been directly attributed to the defect in the Takata airbags. Every new case that has emerged has resulted in increasing pressure on the NHTSA to place more stringent recalls on the airbag manufacturer. This has led to the most recent sweeping recall, which is set to impact more vehicles than any other recall in history.
What To Do If You’ve Been Injured
Over the years, Takata airbags have not only been linked to auto fatalities over the years, they’ve also been the cause of a number of serious injuries as well. Statistically, there are many vehicles with Takata airbags still on the road today, and their owners may not have any idea there was a recall. In other words, this story is far from over. Unfortunately, it’s likely that more people in the coming years will be hurt in accidents due to the improper deployment of their Takata airbags.
If you have been injured in a car accident, and your vehicle had a faulty Takata airbag inflator, you may be entitled to a product liability case. And if you’ve lost a loved one, you could be entitled to compensation for damages ranging from medical and funeral expenses to future loss of income, pain and suffering, and much more.
Contact Gokal Law
Have you experienced an injury as a result of manufacturing negligence? You may be entitled to a case. Contact Alison Gokal of Gokal Law Group, Inc. Our team will diligently investigate your claims, interview witnesses, and give you the support you need to win your case. The sooner you contact us, the more effective we are at getting you the justice you deserve.
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