At this point, it may seem like there are no more vehicles that can take part in the Takata airbag recall, the largest recall in automotive history. However, in January the company announced that it is adding 3.3 million vehicles to the mammoth undertaking.
Overall, the recall covers 19 automakers and 42 million vehicles. It concerns faulty inflators in the vehicle’s airbag, which can cause a metal canister inside to heat up and explode through the airbag when it deploys, shooting pieces of metal shrapnel toward the driver and passengers. So far, the faulty inflators have killed 20 people.
Who’s affected?
The latest round announced by Takata and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, covers certain 2009, 2010 and 2013 vehicles manufactured by a wide range of car companies from across the globe, including:
- Honda
- Toyota
- Audi
- BMW
- Ford
- General Motors
- Mazda
- Tesla
- Nissan
Chances are that anyone here in Lancaster knows someone who drives a vehicle covered by this massive recall. It’s never a bad time to ask your family and friends if they have had their cars checked out if they are a part of the recall.
What to do
Automakers have been slow to replace the faulty inflators, putting millions of drivers and passengers at risk if they ever find themselves in a situation where they will need an airbag. Just like any defective product situation, manufacturers have a duty to let people know when a possibly defective product is endangering their safety and take corrective action.
While these millions of potentially defective airbag inflators have only injured approximately 180 people, that is still 180 too many. Should you or someone you care about find themselves injured due to a defective Takata airbag or any other consumer product, it is important to seek legal advice as quickly as possible. While Takata and automakers are taking action to correct the problem, they will also try to limit the amount of money they have to pay out to individuals. An experienced attorney can help level the playing field.